Ten Best Coffee Machine Myths That Don't Always Hold
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, from 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 the need to know the ropes 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 who are looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with small counter space. It combines excellent build quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.
The machine is also beautiful and has a circular design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. You will need be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural trade-off to have less footprint, however this is not a problem that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to improve tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to make Latte arts. It's important to know that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for those who upgrade from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate 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 which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can fill it up using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. 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 ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can clearly see the amount of dispensed, and you can manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand however, you can add creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be placed under a cabinet or on the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to invest the time to learn how to use it, this is an excellent do-it-all home espresso maker that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. 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 cost them $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.
The unit is not without its flaws. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to see how much water is left in the tank due to its rear placement.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer 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 with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated appearance. It has one dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process 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 cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit 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 for making a quality cup.
It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. which review coffee machines can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.