Ten Best Coffee Machines That Really Change Your Life
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who want to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also comes with a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. You will need be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true when you are using it often. This is a natural trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee machine for latte needs. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to enhance the grinding process.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create Latte art. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll have to master the art of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered 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
As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can fill it up using tap water, should you wish.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it is a powerful machine. At full price, it's priced at PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or funds for a traditional espresso machine however still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. Pressing a single button will activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a backlight on the button so that you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed and you can also manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.
This model does not come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee machines on amazon beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. 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 roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under the cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing take the time to master its use this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet--which can easily set them back another $100 or more.
The model is just below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas develop their abilities without spending more than is necessary.
It's not without its flaws however. For one, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't a huge deal however it can be annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to know how much water is left in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee machines cheap that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine stops brewing 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 an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee and a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee machine maker makers.
