Everything You Need To Learn About Best Coffee Machine
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've put together our top picks, from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into 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 making you knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who want to make espresso at home, without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have limited counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same time.
The machine looks fantastic too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also comes with a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having less footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet your demands. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and is easy to make latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and has a bit of a learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to master the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply that means you will always have clean, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank can be filled easily, as the lid can be removed to make the large hole. You can fill it up with tap water if you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the series, yet it packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. Pressing a single button will begin the process. When you press it again, it will start dispense the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
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 want. The machine is very quiet, too, and can be used in a small space or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
They're not expensive, but there's a variety of blends available to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with 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 comes with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test 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 compact 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 master it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It performs better than many of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for its class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso maker, which can cost up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas working on a budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at a time.
Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let new baristas hone their abilities without spending more than necessary.
It's not without its flaws, though. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really an issue however it can be a little annoying if you're trying give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to see the amount of water left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
If you're willing to put in some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which could be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It has a single dial to program the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made 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 the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can select a manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.