How Best Coffee Machine Has Become The Most Sought-After Trend In 2023
The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be familiar with the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home, without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with small counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and has a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's original design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also includes a black boiler pressure gauge to show when the boiler is ready to use.
One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having smaller footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is easy to make latte arts. It's important to know that this machine isn't designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to manage and you'll have to learn the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water source, which means you'll always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can also fill it with tap water if you want.
This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who don't have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and requires small counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine and again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quiet, too, and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
Pods aren't expensive, but there's a variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. 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 that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box containing nine Lavazza pods which 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 the floor or placed under the cupboard.
- Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's out of the budget of many average consumers. But if you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a great espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's the most affordable in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily cost them $100 or more.
This model sits right in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's an excellent option for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only do one thing at the same 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 exception and has enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.
The unit is not without its quirks. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal however it can be frustrating if you're trying to give multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine 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 drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It has only one dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The brewed coffee is then stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing times.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full cup 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 still within the range that coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can choose an manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and an hopper for beans that are whole.
The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a problem for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.