The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to show when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. You'll need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it can easily keep up with your demands. We recommend buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte Arts. It's important to note that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to operate and you'll have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which is more difficult to refill than its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to make the large hole. You can fill it up using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. At its full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. By pressing a single button, you can activate the machine. When you press it again, it will start dispense the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.
Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's a variety of blends available that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or on the floor.
- Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn how to use it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It performs better than many of the more expensive models. It's a great value for its class and is especially useful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception and offers enough control that it can be adjusted to allow aspiring baristas to develop their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.
The unit does not come without its quirks. For one, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't an issue however it can be a little annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also difficult to determine the amount of water left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
If you're willing some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may be a hindrance for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
- OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only downside is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a issue for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.