Blog entry by 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 top picks, 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 automation and the need to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've come across.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has an black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.
One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a natural trade-off for smaller footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is able to handle your coffee machines prices demands. We recommend buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to improve the tamping process.
As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and is easy to create latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for novices and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to control and you'll have to master the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, which means you'll always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The tank can be easily refilled by removing the lid. be removed to make the large hole. It can be filled with tap water if you like.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine and again to start dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand included on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is very quiet also and can be utilized in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that will suit all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a test 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 be able to be stowed on a flat surface or slipped under your cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a great espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent choice for baristas working on a 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 machine that means that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to develop their abilities without spending more than they have to.
The unit has its quirks. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't an issue, but it can be frustrating if you're trying to give multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee machine for latte lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great uk coffee machines with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee machines for offices is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops brewing 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 is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the strict standards of SCAA's 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 tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual uk coffee makers grinder, or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe and could cause problem for certain users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, though. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.