The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and has a round design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's classic design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff to have less footprint, however, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it will easily meet your demands. We recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for novices and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to do 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 always be able to drink cold pure, filtered water. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to create a large 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. It's priced at less than PS100 at retail - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or money for traditional espresso machines however still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up just a little counter space. Pressing a single button will start the machine. Pressing it again will start dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, however, you can add 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 workspace.
Pods aren't expensive, but there's an array of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box containing nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's out of the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially good for novices who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas who are on a tight budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder to make the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring develop their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
The unit has its quirks. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't an issue, but it can be annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know the amount of liquid left.
If you're willing some time in learning how to make use of 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 hindrance for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you less than the Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design coffee machines sale and backlit LED display add a sophisticated design to your kitchen. It has one dial that lets you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee is stored in a double-walled carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses 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 Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee with the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that coffee experts suggest for a decent 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 a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy to use interface.