The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and has a round panel on the side with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic look of Rocket and is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than other models. You will need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural tradeoff to have smaller footprint, however, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. However, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the grinding process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes delicious drinks and it is easy to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for beginners and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll have to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be in a position to drink cold pure, purified water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, so you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. It's priced less than PS100 at full price and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand included on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. The machine is quite quiet also, and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing anyone else.
They're not cheap, but there is an array of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
coffee pot machine and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cabinet or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able master it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for its class and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas on a budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do one thing at the same time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending more than is necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really significant however it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It comes with one dial to set the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with a carafe full in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.
You must also grind your own beans prior to making. You can opt for either a manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe and could cause problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.