The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people who have small counter space. It is built to last and has excellent 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 your Coffee machine For business at the same at the same time.
The machine looks stunning as well and features a round side panel insert 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 compact machine. It also includes an black gauge for boiler pressure to show when the boiler is ready for use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners and has an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit tricky to manage, and you will have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be capable of drinking cold, filtered water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is also fast and easy to refill and the lid can be removed completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. Pressing a single button will activate the machine. When you press it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a backlight on the button to ensure that you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed, and you can manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.
This model doesn't come with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or workspace.
They aren't expensive, but there's a wide variety of blends available that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to fit under a cabinet or on a flat surface.
- Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's a good choice for baristas on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.
The unit has its flaws. The hopper is located on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a major issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to disperse several shots at once. It's also difficult to determine how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.
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 is a coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you less than the Breville model can do.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It features a single dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in a double-walled carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew time is approximately as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range of time that coffee experts recommend for a great cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only downside is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.