The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. That's why we've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to a semiautomatic that gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have small counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped 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 time.
The machine looks stunning too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than most other machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a natural trade-off for less footprint, however it is not a problem that is unique to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. We suggest buying a good 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 improve tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine is not intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to operate and you'll need to learn the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be in a position to drink cold pure, filtered water. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult 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, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. 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 choice for those who do not have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they nevertheless want to drink a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up just a little counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button, so you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with 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 with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card, a quick guide, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on the floor or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing to learn how to use it, then this is a fantastic 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 particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them $100 or more.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas working on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at a time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough adjustability to allow aspiring baristas to burnish their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.
It's not without its quirks, though. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal, but it can be annoying if you're trying give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.
If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen design. It comes with one dial to set how many cups you want it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using a shower head. coffee machines online is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it complies with the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans before making. You can opt for a 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 drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.