The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer 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 Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and has 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 that is already impressive for a compact machine. It also has an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a trade-off that is a result of having smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. However, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.
As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's simple to create the latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for novices and has some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate and you'll have to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, which means you'll always have cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The tank can be filled easily, as the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can fill it with tap water should you wish.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the series, yet 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. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up very little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can easily see the amount of dispensed, and you can manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.
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 like. The machine is very quiet also and can be utilized in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
Pods aren't cheap, but there is a variety of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty document and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be stored on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be check here a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's an excellent value for its class and is especially useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas working 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 machine, which means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring develop their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
It's not without its flaws, though. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a huge deal, but can be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.
But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance 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 an affordable 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 are a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It comes with one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour function lets you to remove the carafe during making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. 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 we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less 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 is also necessary to grind your beans before brewing. You can select an manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe this could be a issue for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and easy-to-use interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.