The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those looking to make espresso at home, without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small 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 and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round design on the side panel with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a trade-off that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's easy to create Latte art. It is important to remember that this machine isn't intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle, and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be able to drink cold, filtered water. The latter 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 might expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the temperature of brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. It can be filled with tap water if you like.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it is a powerful machine. At full cost, it's less than 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 would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand included on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quite quiet also and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
They aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card along with a quick guide and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to fit under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to learn to use it, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially good for novices who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.
This model sits right in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's an excellent option for home baristas who are 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 that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough control that it can be adjusted to let aspiring baristas burnish their abilities without spending more than they have to.
The unit has its quirks. The hopper is on the side, not on the top, of this model. It's not a big deal, but can be a hassle if you need to dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to see how much water is left in the tank due to its rear placement.
But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback is the price, which could be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that produces great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. self serve coffee machines stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.
You must also 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 issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.