The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, 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 strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be familiar with the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have small counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and has a circular panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a machine that is so small. It also has a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means that you will be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though this is not a problem particular to this model.
You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it will easily meet the demands of your customers. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create delicious drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit tricky to manage, and you will have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be capable of drinking cold, purified water. The latter comes with smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare 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 a large hole. It can be filled using tap water, if you like.
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 retail - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and requires small counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. When you press it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a light on the button, so you can clearly see how much has been dispensed, and you can 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, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.
The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee 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 a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box of nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
- Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing invest the time to master its use this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's a great value for the money and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that costs up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent choice for baristas working on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the whole experience much less expensive. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let new baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a major issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to invest some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its price, which may be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It features one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make and includes two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew time is approximately the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee with a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range of time that coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.
You must also grind your beans before brewing. You can choose a manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as a hopper for whole beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.