The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, starting with a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look of Rocket that is already impressive for a small machine. It also comes with the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. 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 to have less footprint, however it is not a problem that is unique to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with your demands. That being said, we would recommend investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and there's a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it with tap water, if you like.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for traditional espresso machines, but nevertheless want to drink a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very little counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the pod you have selected. The button has a backlight so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
This model does not come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a 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 sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document, a quick guide, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing put in the work to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso machine yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model sits right in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) However, it's an excellent option 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 that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending more than they have to.
It's not without its flaws however. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't an issue however it can be a little difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.
But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for any home espresso lover. which review coffee machines is the price, which can be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you less than the Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens creates a chic kitchen look. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee brewed is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.
You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a issue for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, though. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.