The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest 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 same simultaneously.
The machine looks stunning as well, and has a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's original design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a natural tradeoff for smaller footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. However, we would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. It's important to know that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to control 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, which allows you to always have clean, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.
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 quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it up using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the series, yet it packs a punch. At full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can clearly see the amount of dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink 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 want. The machine is quiet as well and can be utilized in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
They aren't cheap, but there is a variety of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty document, a quick guide, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's out of the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able to master it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially good for novices who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.
This model is a bit in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for baristas at home on a budget. It's loaded with 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 one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
The unit is not without its flaws. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a huge issue, but it can be a problem if you wish to give several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.
If you're willing some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has one dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe is the most delicious coffee. The best coffee machines water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine stops the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has 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 the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that 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 must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual 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 is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a hassle for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.