The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There’s no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We’ve compiled our top picks, starting with a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process and needing you to be knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It’s the best bean-to cup machine we’ve found.
1. 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 small-footprint espresso machine was specifically designed for people who have little counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It comes 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 the same simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round panel on the side with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket’s classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a machine that is so small. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. This means that you’ll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a normal trade-off for having less footprint, however, and not an issue specific to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it’s easy to make the latte art. It’s important to note that the machine was not designed for beginners and there’s an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit difficult to control and you’ll need to master the basics of 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 able to drink cold, purified water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the brewing temperature quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is also fast and easy to refill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if that’s what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the series, yet it packs a punch. It’s priced at less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and requires small counter space. Pressing a single button will start the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the specific pod you’ve chosen. There’s a light on the button to ensure that you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
There’s no steam wand included on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quiet also and can be utilized in a small space or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
Pods aren’t cheap, but there is an array of blends available that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and 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 fit under a cupboard or the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you’re willing to learn how to use it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It’s more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It’s the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don’t have an espresso machine yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.
This model is a bit below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it’s an excellent choice for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience more affordable. It’s also a single boiler machine that means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let new baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.
The unit does not come without its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not at the top of the model. It’s not a big problem, but it could be a hassle if you need to disperse several shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.
If you’re willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it’s an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which coffee machine is the best can be a deterrent 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 offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great Amazon Coffee machine with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee machine professional. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee machine maker grounds using shower heads. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee machines cheap maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee 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 well within the range that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can choose a manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside to this product is that it’s not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup’s sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.