The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was specifically designed for people with small counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality with 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 looks fantastic as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a cost that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not something that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to create Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for beginners and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply, which means you'll always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is harder to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. It can be filled using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. When you buy it at full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who don't have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but 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, then again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button, so you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet also, and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that will suit all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box that contains 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 fit under a cabinet or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able to master it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's a great value for its class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas working on a budget. It's loaded with 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.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let new baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.
The unit is not without its quirks. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal however it can be difficult to dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to see how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.
But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside is the price, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated appearance. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the number of cups. There are two settings: website 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
You should also grind your own beans prior to making. You can use a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and a hopper that holds 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 is easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.