The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top picks, 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 achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home, without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was created for those with limited counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks great too, and comes with a round side panel insert with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready to use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. You will need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a sacrifice that comes with having smaller footprint. This isn't an issue that is specific to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. We would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and is easy to create latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for novices and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to learn how to perform 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, filtered water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is 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 minutes. The water tank is quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it with tap water if you want.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those who don't have the money or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and requires little counter space. Pressing a single button will activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you have selected. The button is illuminated so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
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 quite quiet also and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods aren't cheap, but they come in a range of blends that are suitable for 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 buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods which include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. But if you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a fantastic do-it-all home coffee machine espresso maker that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.
This model sits right in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much cheaper. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only perform one task at a time.
Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it offers just enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring develop their abilities without spending more than they need to.
There are some quirks however. For instance, 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 annoying if you're trying give multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to know the amount of water left in the tank due to its rear placement.
If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may 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 have similar capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish look to your kitchen. It features one dial to set the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycle is about longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.