The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, starting with 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 strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be familiar with the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and has a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's original design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has the black pressure gauge, which indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this model than other models. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is able to handle your coffee demands. That being said, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is simple to make latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners and there's some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle, and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill by removing the lid completely to make a wide opening. You can even fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. When you buy it 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 a great option for those without the budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up just a little counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods are not cheap, but they come in a range of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be able to be stowed on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing and able master it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.
This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199) However, it's 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, meaning it can only perform one task at the same time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control that it can be adjusted to let baristas who are aspiring develop their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a big issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to disperse multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to see the amount of click here water left in the tank, due to its rear placement.
But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside is the cost, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated design to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops brewing 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 strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making. You can use a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.