Ten Best Coffee Machines That Really Make Your Life Better
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've come across.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It is built in coffee machine to last with a high-end build quality and tiny footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and make espresso at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and has a circular insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes a black pressure gauge that will let you know 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 machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of uk coffee machine with this machine, and it will easily meet the demands. We recommend buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and there's an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to work with, and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with 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 highest standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it up with tap water, if you like.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the models, but it packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at the full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent 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 easy to use and takes up small counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button so that you can easily see the amount of dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or workspace.
They aren't inexpensive, but there's a variety of blends available that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are readily available in many supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet 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 itself is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of many average consumers. But if you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's a good value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It has a lot of customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.
Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has quickly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas develop their abilities without spending more than is necessary.
The unit is not without its quirks. The hopper is on the side, not on the top, of this model. It's not a big issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to give several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.
If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a hindrance for certain buyers. For those seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has one dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified cheapest coffee machines maker, which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making. 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 a hopper that holds whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe this could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.