The Best Coffee Machines For Home Baristas

The purchase of a coffee maker allows you to enjoy a variety of caffeinated beverages in the at-home convenience of your own. If you prefer pods or filters there's a machine to fit every taste and budget.

A real workhorse, this bean-to-cup machine provides a unique level of control that is typical of an expensive model. This is a great option if you're looking for convenience and milky options without fuss.

1. Breville Barista Max

A mid-priced bean-to-cup that has a built-in grinder, Breville Barista Max+ VCF152 is a great choice for anyone keen to learn how to make coffee in the correct way (rather than using pods or an espresso machine) and also for those looking to upgrade from a less powerful manual machine. It can produce excellent coffee and milk with a good texture.

The Barista max+ comes with a huge drip pan, a separate trough to collect grounds that have been spilled, and a storage space for extra accessories. It's also a sturdy and well-built machine, with all removable parts clicking into place with ease. It's available in stylish silver as well as a more classic stainless steel.

It's designed with a professional touch and inspired by commercial machines, with features like Temp IQ Shot Control that gives precise water temperatures for every cup, as well as a Tap & Go on-demand burr grinder that has 30 settings. It makes use of a preinfusion technique to gently infuse ground beans to create the perfect balance and full flavor.

There's a useful guide in the instruction manual that explains how to calibrate the machine, which is essential to do correctly to make a consistent, excellent cup of espresso. It also explains how to do the decalcification cycle which is crucial to ensure that your machine is clean and functioning.

The manual controls are easy to master, and there's a dial that can set the machine to hot water (with a simple turn of the knob to the left) or initiates the dispensing of steam (a further turn). The coffee spout is of sufficient to be tall enough to fit in a standard espresso cup or latte-style glass, but not a jug. Therefore, you'll need to prepare and dispensing your milk prior to pouring your espresso into larger cups for cappuccinos or lattes.

Breville only provides a one-year warranty on the machine. If something goes wrong after that period, you'll be accountable for the repair cost. This could be a deterrent for some, particularly considering how expensive the machine is when purchased new.

2. Smeg Bean-to-Cup

The enduring Smeg name is synonymous with kitchen appliances that ooze retro 1950's style and quality. However, what's interesting is that until recently, the best bean to cup coffee machines brand's collection didn't include the bean-to-cup model. This was until the sleek BCC02 model launched in September.

The bean-to cup coffee machine allows you to make your favorite drinks at the one button. This includes ristretto as well as espresso and hot water for tea or other hot drinks. You simply need to place the desired amount of beans in the hopper and choose your drink using the buttons that are flat. Then press brew. It's easy and fast with only a few inputs required, and it even includes a handy alarm that informs you when it's time to remove the grounds from the drawer (although this is an easy one to ignore if you don't do it often).

Our barista friend tried the Smeg Bean-to-Cup and loved the ease of use as well as the fact that she could also make milky coffee classics like cappuccino, latte and macchiato. She was pleasantly surprised by the speedy warm-up times and the quietness while working. She was also happy that the brewing process took just 45 seconds, and that she could choose the strength of the drink. The only issue was that the BCC02 didn't come with a metal jug which you'll have to purchase separately.

This coffee maker does not require packets or pods of plastic. You will save money while doing your part for the environment. The Smeg Bean to Cup coffee maker comes in a variety of matt colours, including white, taupe and smouldering. It also comes with a new addition to the collection is black. You can match the coffee maker to your kitchen decor and change the look of your kitchen area while you're at it. If you're a Smeg lover, this is a machine that you should definitely check out.

3. Gaggia Milano V60

This Gaggia Milano espresso machine is an excellent choice for those who are a home barista, or have an interest in making espresso. It has a fast-heat boiler that enables you to make espresso quickly and efficiently. It also comes with a professional steam wand for producing great foamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. You can also adjust the grind settings length, length, and body of your espresso to meet your personal preferences.

This coffee maker is a single-boiler machine and was originally released in the year 1991. Over the years it has become one of most popular home espresso machines around the world, especially for home baristas. It is renowned for its simplicity, low price and great performance. The design is sleek and simple and has some modern touches. It's also simple to use and maintain.

The Gaggia coffee maker does not have the latest features such as PID or a preinfusion It may appear a bit outdated to some people. However, it will provide excellent espresso and is a great option for those who want an old-fashioned machine.

There are some key distinctions between this Gaggia coffee maker and other models of the same type, however. For instance, it features a the forged chrome-plated portafilter handle. This is a nice touch that differentiates it from other espresso home machines. It also has a thermo-bloc boiler that's a nice feature for this price.

In addition to the above features, this coffee machine also comes with a reservoir for water that can be easily filled and maintenance. It also comes with a stainless steel infusion chamber that keeps the water at the right temperature which makes a more flavorful espresso. It also comes with a high-end ceramic grinder that helps to keep your best espresso machine under 200 fresher for a longer period of time.

The coffee maker also comes with an automatic water level detector. This feature makes it simpler to operate the machine and ensures that you're always running a full tank of clean, fresh water. This is essential to get the best latte machine results from your espresso.

4. Sage Barista

Sage is known for rethinking how coffee machines work. The Oracle Touch is no different. It's a dual boiler, with an integrated grinder and on-board barista. While most bean to cup machines tend to tip the scales away from quality and towards convenience The Oracle Touch delivers a well-balanced approach. The machine takes care of all the grinding, dosing, and tamping as well as steaming and frothing milk for you. This helps you get the most value from the beans you choose and avoids the kinds of disappointing results you might encounter when using pre-ground coffee from the mainstream supermarket.

The Oracle features 30 different grind settings making it possible to determine the ideal level of fineness for your favorite drink. It also comes with a cradle holding the portafilter that is an essential feature for those who want to replicate the full barista experience. Other features that are useful include the Razor Precision Dose Trimming Tool for wiping away any leftover beans. A stainless milk jug of steel is included, as well as a steam wand to create Latte art.

You can pick from a variety of beverages, and the machine will recommend the right grind size, brew speed, and the temperature of milk for each. This feature lets you save your favorite settings for future use. It eliminates the guesswork involved in finding the ideal cup. This model is a great option for those who are just beginning to learn about espresso, since it will allow you to get the most out of the beans you select.

It's a stylishly designed machine with a gorgeous brushed stainless-steel finish that will look great on your kitchen counter. It's a large machine at H41cm x W33cm x D38cm and could struggle to fit under cabinets. It is important to measure the space before purchasing to ensure that you have enough space. Keeping the machine clean is fairly easy, but you'll have to regularly wipe down the steam wand as well as the detachable drip tray. Sage offers weekly masterclasses as well as individualized tutorials to help you get the most from your new coffee maker.