The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've put together our top picks, from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and making you familiar with the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with limited counter space. coffee machine coffee is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped 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 same simultaneously.
The machine looks great as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look of Rocket that is already impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than other models. You'll need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a trade-off that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it can easily meet the demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to make Latte art. It's important to note that this machine isn't designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be capable of drinking cold pure, filtered water. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the temperature of brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The tank is able to be filled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can also fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a light on the button, so you can easily see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can also manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking the pod in smaller amounts.
This model does not come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.
The pods aren't 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 readily available in many supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box containing nine Lavazza pods: 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 cabinet or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. But if you're willing to invest the time to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and is especially good for novices who don't have an espresso machine yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.
The model is just 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 options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
There are some quirks, though. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a big deal, but can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.
If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue is the price, which could be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display creates a chic kitchen design. It has one dial that lets you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.
You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can select either a manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and a hopper for whole beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe and could cause 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 easy-to use interface.