Entrada del blog por Genia Rusconi
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with small counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact 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 popular coffee machines at the same at the same time.
The machine looks stunning too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also has the black pressure gauge, which will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. You will need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a sacrifice that results in smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to improve the process of tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is easy to make Latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for novices and there's a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can even fill it with tap water if you want.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the models, but it packs a punch. When you buy it at full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those without the budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. Pressing one button will activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will begin dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller portions.
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'd like. The machine is very quiet, too and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and a frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug, a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to master it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially good for novices who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.
This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas who are on a tight budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, meaning it can only handle one thing at one time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.
It's not without its flaws however. The hopper is on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a big problem, but it could be a hassle if you need to disperse multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to know how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.
If you're willing some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only issue is the price, which could be a deterrent for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model can do.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It comes with one dial that lets you to set the number of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over the grounds, which many popular coffee machines lovers believe produces the most delicious coffee makers machines. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The brewed coffee is then stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you remove the carafe while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, meaning it complies with the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee machines prices grinder, or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as 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 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.