The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've rounded-up 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 requiring you to be familiar with the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with the smallest footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also includes a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than others. This means you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a trade-off that is a result of having less footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew a lot of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is easy to create latte arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for beginners and there's some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to a water source, allowing you to always be in a position to drink cold pure, filter-filtered water. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to make 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 create the large hole. You can even fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up small counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a light on the button, so you are able to see clearly the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can also manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand however, you can add creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is very quiet as well and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
They're not expensive, but there's an array of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets, along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of a majority of consumers. 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 great price for the class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
The model is just in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only perform one task at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
The unit does not come without its quirks. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really significant however it can be a little annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.
If you're willing time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue is the price, which could be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable website and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in a double-walled carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It after which it resumes brewing and is finished.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend to make a good cup.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can choose either a manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as a hopper for whole beans.
The only downside 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 design and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.