The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've put together our top choices, ranging from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be familiar with the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who want to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and tiny footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same simultaneously.
The machine looks stunning too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than others. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural trade-off for less footprint, however this is not a problem particular to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to improve the process of tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create latte art. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, that means you will always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is able to be filled by removing the lid. be removed to make a large hole. You can fill it up using tap water, if you like.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the models, but it is a powerful machine. At its 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 an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. Pressing one button will start the machine. When you press it again, it will start dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. There's a backlight on the button to ensure that you are able to see clearly the amount of dispensed, and you can manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is quiet, too and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods are not cheap, but they come in a wide range of blends that will suit all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most 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 machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card, a quick guide, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on an even surface or placed under the cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able to learn how to use it, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's an excellent price for the class and is especially useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.
This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas who are on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much less expensive. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to develop their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
The unit does not come without its quirks. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal however it can be a little annoying if you're read more trying give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It comes with one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict technical standards. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can select either a manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a hassle for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.