The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've rounded-up our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and requiring you to be knowledgeable about the art of making espresso. It's our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people who have small counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and has a round design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a small machine. It also comes with an black pressure gauge that shows 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 the majority of machines. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff to have a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem particular to this model.
This machine is able to handle your coffee demands. That being said, we would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is easy to create latte arts. It's important to note that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit difficult to operate and you'll need to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have fresh, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it up using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still has a lot of punch. It costs less than PS100 at full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or money for traditional espresso machines however, they still want to experience a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. Pressing a single button will begin the process. When you press it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee website and coffee beans. 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. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card, 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 kept on an even surface or placed under your cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing invest the time to master its use this is a fantastic 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 is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily set them back another $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much less expensive. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it offers just enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to burnish their skills without spending more than they should.
There are some quirks, though. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a major issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at a time. It's also not very easy to see how much water remains in the tank, due to its rear placement.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price, which may be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It comes with one dial that lets you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 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 pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It after which it resumes brewing and is finished.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range of time that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before making. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only issue is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause problem for certain users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.