The Best Professional Coffee Machine Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our favorite picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a coffee-to-cup machine.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which 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'll need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that is a result of having smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's easy to make Latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for novices and has some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit difficult to manage and you'll need to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be in a position to drink cold and purified water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it is a powerful machine. It's priced at less than PS100 at the full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those with a limited budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine and again to start dispensing the chosen pod. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
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 very quiet, too, and can be used in a small space or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.
They're not cheap, but there is a variety of blends to choose from that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and a 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 tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to fit under a cupboard or flat surfaces.
- Breville BES870XL
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 and able to learn how to use it, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially good for novices who don't have an espresso grinder yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.
The model is just below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler, which means that it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustability to allow aspiring baristas to burnish their abilities without spending more than they have to.
It's not without its flaws, though. One example is that 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. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant design to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process and displays an 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 a 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 the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee and a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making. You can select an manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and a hopper for whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.