The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've put together our top picks, starting with an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while needing you to be knowledgeable about the art of making espresso. This is our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and tiny footprint. It comes 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 simultaneously.
The machine looks great as well and features an elongated side panel with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem that is unique to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily meet your demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to operate and you'll need to master the basics 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 capable of drinking cold and purified water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to fill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can even fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a punch. When you buy it at full price, it costs under 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 for an espresso maker, but want to get their fix of 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. After pressing it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods are not cheap, but they come in a variety of blends that will suit all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. 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 on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document, a quick guide, 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 small enough to be kept on the floor or placed under the cupboard.
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 to learn to use it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It performs better than many of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and is especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.
This model sits right below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at the same time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let new baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
The unit is not without its quirks. 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 however it can be a little annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.
But if you're prepared to learn 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 drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive 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 less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and read more can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can choose either a manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.