The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, ranging 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 automatizing the process and making you familiar with the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who want to make espresso at home, without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It is equipped 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 at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and has a circular design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's original design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with an black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a natural tradeoff for having less footprint, however, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. That being said, we would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and has some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate, and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to be able to drink cold pure, purified water. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can fill it up with tap water depending on what 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. The Jolie is a great option for those who don't have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type however still want to experience an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and takes up little counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.
They aren't expensive, but there's an array of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, 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 be able to be stowed on the floor or placed under your cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able learn to use it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.
This model sits right below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for baristas at home on a tight budget. It read more comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only perform one task at the same time.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas burnish their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is located on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a major deal, but can be frustrating if you want to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to know how much water is left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give an elegant design to your kitchen. It features one dial to set how many cups you want it to make and includes two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful 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. The pause-and pour feature lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. after which it resumes brewing and is finished.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew cycle is about as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with a carafe full in just 7 minutes 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 coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before making. You can opt for an manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only downside is that the carafe and water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe and could cause hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.