Blog entry by Genia Rusconi
The best coffee machines for home (relevant internet page)
There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be knowledgeable about the art of making espresso. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with a 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 and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same time.
The machine looks great as well and features a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's original design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. You will need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to create the latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for novices and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, which means you'll always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can make your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it up with tap water if you want.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. 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 with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.
This model doesn't come with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee making machine in a small kitchen or workspace.
The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most 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 with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card along with a quick guide and a tester 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 the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is beyond the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to learn how to use it this is a great home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's a good value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
This model is a bit below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's an excellent option for baristas at home who are on a tight 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 that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.
It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a major deal, but can be frustrating if you want to give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.
If you're willing some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any espresso lover at home. The only downside is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability 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 machines prices maker with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish design to your kitchen. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The brewed coffee machine amazon then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while 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 it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycle is about the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.
In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before making coffee. You can opt for either a manual grinder or an automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only issue is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause issue for some users. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.