The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top picks, starting with an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with tiny footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and features a round panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's original design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than those of other machines. You'll need be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though this is not a problem that is unique to this model.
You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it can easily meet your demands. We would recommend investing in a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to improve tamping.
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 was not designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for those upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit difficult to manage and you'll have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it packs a punch. At its 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 who don't have the money or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and requires small counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, then again to start dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is very quiet also, and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
The pods are not cheap, but they come in a range of blends that are suitable for everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets, along with 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 smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document and a quick reference, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo KRUPS White Nescafé Dolce Gusto XS Coffee Machine) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under your cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able learn to use it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for the money and is particularly useful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
The model is just below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and has a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at the same time.
Breville, a relative newcomer on 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 aspiring baristas hone their abilities without spending more than is necessary.
The unit does not come without its flaws. The hopper is located on the side, not on the top, of this model. It's not a major deal, but can be frustrating if you want to give several shots at once. It's also not very easy to know how much water is left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
But if you're prepared to spend 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 downside is the price, which could be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee is stored in a double-walled carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and then fill your 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 complies with the strict standards in terms of technology. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with a carafe full in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range coffee machines on amazon experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.
It is also necessary to grind your beans before brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and easy-to-use interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.