The Best Coffee Machine Mistake That Every Beginner Makes
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top picks, starting with a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to be able to master the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and tiny footprint. It is equipped 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 and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design, which is already impressive for a small coffee machine appliance. It also includes an black gauge for boiler pressure to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of machines. This means you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. That being said, we would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to improve the process of tamping.
As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create latte art. It is important to remember that this machine isn't intended for novices. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to manage and you'll have to master 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 in a position to drink cold, purified water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built in coffee machine to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it packs a punch. When you buy coffee machine it at 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 an excellent choice for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and requires little counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
This model doesn't come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet, too, and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
They aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. 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 and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, and a test 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 fit under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing to learn to use it, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. 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 below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas working on a budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let budding baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.
The unit does not come without its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a major deal, but can be a hassle if you need to give several shots at once. The rear-facing 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 a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue is the price, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The automatic coffee machines that is brewed is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range that coffee experts suggest to make a great cup.
You should also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only downside 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 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee machine black friday maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.