The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with limited counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and features a round panel on the side with engravings of 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 comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. You'll need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a natural tradeoff for smaller footprint, however it is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew a lot of coffee with this machine, and it can easily keep up with the demands. We would suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's simple to make latte art. It's important to note that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with, 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, allowing you to be in a position to drink cold, purified water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can fill it up with tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of 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. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up small counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, 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, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide 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 placed under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.
- Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn to use it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is particularly useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's a good choice for baristas who are on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let new baristas develop their abilities without spending more than they need to.
The unit is not without its flaws. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a huge deal, but can be frustrating if you want to give several shots at a time. It's also difficult to determine how much water is left in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to put in time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only issue is the cost, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish look to your kitchen. It features one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee maker price enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in a double-walled carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe while brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycle is about longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee, with a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend to make a great cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.