The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker. We've rounded-up our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with a limited counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and has a circular insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. This means you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having less footprint, however, and not an issue specific to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to manage, and you will have to master the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can also fill it with tap water if you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it is a powerful machine. At full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can easily see how much has been dispensed and you can also manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quiet as well, and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as 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 smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card, a quick guide, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cabinet or on the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great value for the money and is especially useful for beginners who don't yet have an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent choice for baristas working on a budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no exception and has enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.
The unit is not without its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a major problem, but it could be frustrating if you want to dispense several shots at a time. It's also not very easy to know how much water remains in the tank due to its rear placement.
If you're willing some time to learn how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only issue is the price, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. For those seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or 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 can do.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee using a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens creates a chic kitchen appearance. It comes with a single dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored inside the double-walled thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to remove the carafe during making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more buy coffee machines control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.
You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can select either a manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and a hopper for whole beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.