The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and the need to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks great too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's traditional design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this model than others. You will need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a natural tradeoff to have smaller footprint, however this is not a problem that is unique to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. We would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the grinding process.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and is easy to create latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and has an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to manage, and you will have to master the basics of 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 be capable of drinking cold and filter-filtered water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. You can also fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it packs a punch. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or budget for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so 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 amounts.
There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.
The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is out of the budget of many average consumers. 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's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas who are on a budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at a time.
Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. coffee machines shop is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't significant, but it can be a little difficult to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to know how much water is left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its price, which may be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It has one dial that lets you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict technical standards. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.
In our tests in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range of time that experts in the field recommend to make a great cup.
You must also grind your beans before brewing. You can opt for an manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoirs 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 user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.