The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same simultaneously.
The machine also looks great and features a round panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes an black gauge for boiler pressure to show when the boiler is ready for use.
One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff for smaller footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's simple to create the latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with, and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to a water source, allowing you to be in a position to drink cold and purified water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. coffee machine for home
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank is quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it up with tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. There's a light on the button so that you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that will suit anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card along with a quick guide and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under your cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to learn to use it this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's a great price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.
The model is just in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas on a budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much cheaper. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only handle one thing at the same time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.
The unit has its flaws. The hopper is on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a huge problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know the amount of liquid left.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which could be a turnoff 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 machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It features one dial to set the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe in brewing and fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing times.
In our tests in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.
It also requires you to grind your own beans before making coffee. You can opt for a manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and a hopper for whole beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause issue 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 an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.