The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. We've compiled our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same at the same time.
The machine looks stunning as well and features an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a machine that is so small. It also includes a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most others. You'll need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that results in less footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. We would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is simple to make Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate 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 a water source, allowing you to be capable of drinking cold and filter-filtered water. The latter comes with smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing 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 reveal a large opening. You can even fill it with tap water if you want.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it is a powerful machine. It's priced at less than PS100 at retail and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who don't have the space or budget for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to experience a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up small counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quite quiet also and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card along with a quick guide and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able master it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.
The model is just below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) However, it's an excellent choice for home baristas on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas burnish their abilities without spending more than they have to.
The unit does not come without its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a major problem, but it could be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. It's also not very easy to know how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.
If you're willing time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish look. machine coffee features one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make and includes two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled the carafe filled in 7 minutes 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder, or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some 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 top drip coffee makers.