The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker that is perfect for every. This is why we've compiled our favorite picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and having to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with 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 your coffee at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also has an black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when using it frequently. This is a natural trade-off for having less footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands of your customers. We would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is easy to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. The machine can reach the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank can be easily refilled with ease, since 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 is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type however nevertheless want to drink a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can begin the process. When you press it again, it will start dispense the specific pod you've chosen. There's a light on the button, so you can easily see the amount of dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.
There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quite quiet as well, and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.
They aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. 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 tester box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to fit under a cupboard or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing invest the time to master its use this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's a great price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.
This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let new baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.
The unit has its flaws. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really significant however it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.
If you're willing to learn 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 drawback is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over that many coffee machine professional enthusiasts believe is the best compact coffee machine tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee machine maker is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine pauses 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 an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.