The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and requiring you to be familiar with the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those with little counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact 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 at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and features a round design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff for less footprint, however, and not an issue 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 flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is easy to create Latte Arts. It's important to know that this machine was not intended for novices. There is a small learning curve for those upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to learn how to perform 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 fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. It costs less than PS100 at full price and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button so that you can easily see the amount of dispensed and you can also stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.
This model doesn't 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 work space.
They're not cheap, but there is an array of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods: six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be kept on the floor or placed under your cabinet.
- Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's beyond the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to master it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and it's especially good for novices who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is a bit below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas improve their abilities without spending more than they need to.
It's not without its flaws however. One example is that the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't an issue however it can be a little annoying if you're trying give multiple 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 invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue is the price, which could be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It has a single dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to take the carafe out while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe this could be a issue for certain users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.