The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our favorite picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks stunning as well and features a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also comes with an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. This means that you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a natural trade-off for having smaller footprint, however, and not an issue particular to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet your demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is easy to create latte arts. It's important to note that this machine isn't designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for those upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll have to master the art 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 always be able to drink cold pure, purified water. The latter comes with a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature of brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank can be filled easily, as the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can fill it with tap water if you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at retail which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those without the budget or space for an espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to operate and takes up just a little counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine and again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.
The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (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 your cabinet.
- Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing to learn to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.
This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas at home on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let new baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a major issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to disperse multiple shots at once. The rear placement 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 an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue is the price, which could be a nagging issue for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model can do.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish design. It has a single dial to program the amount of cups you want to make. It comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee then collects in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe while brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it, after which it resumes brewing and is finished.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. 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 times.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.