The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've come across.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a normal trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it will easily meet your demands. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and is easy to make the latte art. It's important to know that this machine is not designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate, and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll 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 fill than its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank is quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to reveal a large opening. It can be filled using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies very little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine and again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you can clearly see how much has been dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
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'd like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods aren't 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 ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box of nine Lavazza pods which include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be able to be stowed on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
- Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's not within the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's an excellent value for its class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker, which 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 choice for baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience less expensive. It's also a single boiler that means it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and offers enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas develop their abilities without spending more than they need to.
The unit has its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a big issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to disperse several shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine how much water is left in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you less than the Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen design. It comes with a single dial to program how many cups you want it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew cycle is about longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee with a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the time range that cheapest coffee machines experts suggest to make a great cup.
You must also grind your beans before brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.