The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, starting with a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the most 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 choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have limited counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality with a compact footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic too, and comes with a round side panel insert with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. It is important be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it can easily meet the demands of your customers. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee 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 with tap water should you wish.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still packs a punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or funds for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very small counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.
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 like. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
Pods aren't expensive, but there's an array of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, 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 fit under a cabinet or on flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able master it, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso maker that costs up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's a good choice for baristas who are on a tight budget. It's loaded with options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville is a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending more than necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a big issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. The rear placement of the website tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It has one dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the time range that experts in the field recommend to make a great cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can choose an manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.