The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, ranging 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 is the perfect blend between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've come across.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and tiny 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 same time.
The machine looks fantastic as well and features an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also includes an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny 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, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff for having a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it will easily meet your demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and taste. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to improve the tamping process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is easy to make Latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to manage, and you will have to learn the ins and outs 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 clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine can reach the temperature of brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. It can be filled using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. When you buy it at full price, it's priced at PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies very little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can begin the process. When you press it again, it will start dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a light on the button to ensure that you can easily see the amount of dispensed and you can also stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking the pod in smaller amounts.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy click here froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that can be used by all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy 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 a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able to master it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.
The model is just below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the whole experience much cheaper. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only perform one task at the same time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let budding baristas develop their abilities without spending more than necessary.
It's not without its quirks, though. For one, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't an issue, but it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also difficult to see how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It has only one dial to program the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means that it complies with the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that coffee experts recommend to make a good cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.