The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've found.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and make espresso at the same time.
The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also has the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. It is important to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it can easily meet the demands of your customers. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's simple to make Latte art. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't designed for beginners and there's some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle, and you'll need to learn how to perform 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 water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to make the large hole. You can also fill it with tap water if you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is lower 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 who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. You only need to press 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 are able to see clearly the amount of dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand included on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The get more info machine is very quiet, too and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
They aren't expensive, but there's an array of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most 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 a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to fit under a cupboard or the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing and able learn to use it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet, which could cost them $100 or more.
This model is a bit below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it's a solid choice for baristas at home who are on a tight 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, which means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at the same time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.
It's not without its flaws however. The hopper is on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a huge deal, but can be a problem if you wish to give several shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.
But if you're prepared to invest 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 price which could be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide 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 machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has only one dial to program how many cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine stops the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend to make a good cup.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to making. You can opt for either a manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.