The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with the smallest footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round design on the side panel with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic look of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also comes with an black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. This means that you will be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a trade-off that comes with having a smaller footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. We suggest buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with the 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 the machine isn't made for novices and there's an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to control and you'll have to master the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill by removing the lid completely to make a wide opening. It can be filled with tap water if you like.
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 price, it costs under PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who don't have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button has a backlight so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.
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'd like. The machine is quiet, too, and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing anyone else.
Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends available to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase 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 frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods which include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on the floor or placed under your cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first, coffeee the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is beyond the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.
This model sits right below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for baristas at home on a budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at the same time.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let new baristas develop their abilities without spending more than they need to.
It's not without its quirks, though. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't an issue, but it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.
But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee using a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens creates a chic kitchen design. It has one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make and includes two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before making. You can select an manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some customers. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy to use interface.