The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you familiar with the art of making espresso. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've come across.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with limited counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a small machine. It also comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem particular to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create the latte art. It's important to know that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to operate and you'll need to learn the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, that means you will always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to fill than its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is also fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. At full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those without the budget or space for an espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up little counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you are able to see clearly the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can choose to stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.
There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. The machine is quite quiet also and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that are suitable for everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box of nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (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 flat surfaces.
- Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able master it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas who are on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and has a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.
The unit is not without its flaws. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal however it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know the amount of liquid left.
If you're willing to put in some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may 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 are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish design to your kitchen. It features a single dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour feature allows you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means that it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range of time that coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
You must also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.