The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, starting with an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you proficient in the art of espresso-making. This is 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 making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with tiny footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and features a round insert on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look of Rocket and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a normal trade-off for less footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. We suggest buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to improve the tamping process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to master the art 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 cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine can reach the brewing temperature quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. It can be filled with tap water should you wish.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price 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 an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up little counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, then again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you are able to see clearly the amount of dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
This model does not come with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.
They aren't cheap, but there is a variety of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be stored on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing put in the work to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.
This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas who are on a budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than necessary.
There are some quirks, though. The hopper is on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a huge deal, but can be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine the amount of water left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
If you're willing to put in some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens creates a chic kitchen design. It check here comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause-and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays a 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, meaning it complies with the strict technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It is also necessary to grind your beans before brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.