Ten Best Coffee Machines That Really Help You Live Better
The best coffee machine Coffee Machines For Home
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and requiring you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and tiny footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes a black boiler pressure gauge to show when the boiler is ready to use.
One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of coffeee machines. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This isn't a problem specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it can easily meet the demands. That being said, we would recommend investing in a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to improve tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create delicious drinks and it is easy to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit difficult to control and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is able to be filled with ease, since the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. At its full price, it's priced at PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so 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, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
They're not inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to choose from to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are readily available in many supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card, a quick guide, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be stored on the floor or placed under your cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than many of the more expensive models. It's a great value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and has a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler that means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at the same time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control that it can be adjusted to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.
The unit has its flaws. The hopper is on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a big issue, but it can be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which can be a nagging issue for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both coffeee machines are similar in capability and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee machine deals with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It has a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can choose either a manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy to use interface.