The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and making you proficient in the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people who have little counter space. It combines excellent build quality and a compact footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's original design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a natural tradeoff to have a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands of your customers. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is easy to make latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners, and there is an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to manage and you'll need to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. 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 able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can fill it with tap water, should you wish.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still has a lot of punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies very little counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink your drink 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 also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods aren't cheap, but they come in a range of blends that will coffee machine for business suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets alongside regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be stored on the floor or placed under the cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. But if you're willing to invest the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let budding baristas improve their abilities without spending more than necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. One example is that the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't a huge deal, but it can be a little annoying if you're trying give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.
But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for any home espresso lover. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a hindrance for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It has a single dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored inside the double-walled thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, meaning it complies with the strict technical standards. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.