The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have little counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than others. You'll need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that results in less footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it can easily keep up with the demands of your customers. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's simple to create Latte art. It's important to know that this machine was not designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for those upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit difficult to manage and you'll need to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be capable of drinking cold pure, filter-filtered water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can even fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at retail and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who don't have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they still want to experience a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up little counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. When you press it again, it will start dispense the pod you've selected. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.
This model doesn't come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet, too and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
Pods aren't cheap, but there is an array of blends to choose from that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty card, as well as a test box of nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's beyond the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a great do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso grinder yet--which can easily set them back another $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), but it's still an excellent option for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only do one thing at a time.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it offers just enough control that it can be adjusted to allow aspiring baristas to develop their skills 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. This isn't an issue however it can be frustrating if you're trying to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.
If buy coffee machines to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It has one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, after which it resumes brewing and is finished.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can choose an manual grinder or an automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and a hopper for whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.