The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from an automatic 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 the perfect balance between automatizing the process and requiring you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was specifically designed for people who have little counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine also looks great and has a round panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also has the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true if you use it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem specific to this model.
buy coffee machine online is able to handle the demands of your coffee. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte Arts. It's important to know that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those who upgrade from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to manage and you'll have to learn the ins and outs 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 filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to make the large hole. You can even fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it is a powerful machine. It's priced at less than PS100 at the full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but still want to experience a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up very little counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking 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 want. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or workspace.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that will suit anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most 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 smart-looking capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty document and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under the cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing and able learn how to use it this is a great home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas who are on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and has enough control that it can be adjusted to allow aspiring baristas to develop their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.
The unit has its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a huge deal, but can be frustrating if you want to disperse multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside is the price, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our tests in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans before making coffee. You can opt for either a manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.