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 the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true when you are using it often. This is a natural tradeoff for having less footprint, however, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
This machine is capable of handling the demands of your coffee machine office. However, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is simple to make Latte Arts. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to be able to drink cold and filtered water. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can fill it with tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. At its full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up very little counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.
Pods aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee machines prices. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. But if you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas who are on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
The unit has its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't an issue, but it can be annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to know how much water is left in the tank because of its position at the rear.
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 any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities 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, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it, then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. 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 produced an excellent pot of drip uk coffee machine that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the time range that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different 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 concern for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee drip machine maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true when you are using it often. This is a natural tradeoff for having less footprint, however, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
This machine is capable of handling the demands of your coffee machine office. However, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is simple to make Latte Arts. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to be able to drink cold and filtered water. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can fill it with tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. At its full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up very little counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.
Pods aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee machines prices. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. But if you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas who are on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
The unit has its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't an issue, but it can be annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to know how much water is left in the tank because of its position at the rear.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 any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities 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, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it, then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. 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 produced an excellent pot of drip uk coffee machine that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the time range that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different 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 concern for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee drip machine maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.