The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've put together our top choices, ranging from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've found.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with the smallest 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 coffee at same time.
The machine looks great too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also includes 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 model than other models. 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 natural trade-off for less footprint, however it is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee needs. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make 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 upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The tank can be filled easily, as the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the series, yet it is a powerful machine. When you buy it 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 option for those who do not have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen brew. The button has a backlight so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
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 want. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
They aren't expensive, but there's an array of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are readily available in many supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a tester pack of 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 on the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to take the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's a good value for the money and is especially useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker, which can cost up to $100.
This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas on a tight budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder to make the entire experience less expensive. It's also a one-boiler machine, meaning it can only handle one thing at a time.
Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.
It's not without its flaws however. One example is that the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really an issue, but it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside is the price, which could be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It comes with one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make and includes two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for coffeee machines the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycle is about longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with a carafe full in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that experts in the field recommend to make a good cup.
You must also grind your beans before brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.