The Best Coffee Machines For Home Baristas
A coffee maker allows you to enjoy a variety of caffeinated beverages in the comfort of home. Whether you prefer pod or filter there's a coffee machine that will suit your preferences and budget.
A real workhorse, this bean-to-cup maker offers a unique degree of control for a premium model. It's a great choice if you want the convenience of brewing with one touch and milky options with no fuss.
1. Breville Barista Max
The Breville Barista Max+ VCF152, a mid-range bean to cup with a built in grinder, is a good option for those who want to learn to make coffee properly (rather using pods or an inexpensive espresso machine) or for those looking to replace a manual machine that is less efficient. It can produce the highest quality espresso and milk with an excellent texture.
The Barista Max+ has large drip tray and a separate trough to collect grounds that have been sprayed and a handy storage compartment for extra accessories. It's also well-constructed and solid and has all the components that can be removed being able to be inserted. Available in both a classic stainless steel and a chic silver.
It's made with a professional look and inspired by commercial equipment, with features like Temp IQ Shot Control that gives precise water temperatures for each cup, and a Tap & Go on-demand burr grinder that has 30 settings. It also has an infusion technique that allows beans to be gently infused for the most balanced, full-bodied flavor.
There's a great guideline in the instruction manual that describes how to calibrate the machine, which is essential to ensure that it is calibrated correctly to make a consistent, excellent cup of espresso. It also explains how you can perform a decalcification cycle that is vital to ensure that your machine is clean and in working order.
The manual controls are easy to follow and there's a knob that sets the machine to hot water (with a turn of the knob to the left) or starts dispensing steam (a further turn). The coffee spout has enough to be tall enough to fit in a standard espresso glass or latte-style cup but not a jug, so you'll need to prepare and dispense your milk before pouring your espresso into larger cups for cappuccinos and lattes.
Breville only offers an one-year warranty on this machine. If something goes wrong after that period, you will be accountable for the repair cost. This could be a turn-off for some, considering the price of the machine when it was purchased new.
2. Smeg Bean-to-Cup
Smeg is synonymous with retro kitchen appliances and 1950's style. But what's notable is that, until recently, the brand's collection didn't include a bean-to-cup machine. That was until the debut of this elegantly designed BCC02 model this September.
The bean-to cup coffee machine provides the entire range of your favorite drinks at the push of a button including espresso, ristretto and Americano plus hot water for tea and other hot beverages. All you have to do is put the desired quantity of ground beans in the hopper, select your drink from the intuitive menu by using the flat buttons and then press to brew. It's quick and easy with minimal input and even comes with an alert that will inform you when to descale the machine or empty the grounds drawer.
Our barista from the past tried the Smeg Bean-to-Cup. She was impressed by the ease of use and the fact that it can create milky coffees like cappuccino and the latte. She was surprised at how quickly it heated up and how quiet the machine was. She also liked that the brewing process took 45 seconds, and you can pick your preferred strength of each drink, so there's no need to be constantly monitoring the process. The only complaint is that the BCC02 does not come with a jug made of metal that you'll need to purchase separately.
This coffee maker does not require packets or pods made of plastic. You will save money and do your part to protect the environment. The Smeg Bean to Cup coffee machine comes in a variety of matt colors, including taupe, white as well as smouldering and new to the collection is black. You can match your coffee maker to your kitchen decor, and transform your cooking area in the process. If you're a fan of Smeg, this is a machine that you must definitely look into.
3. Gaggia Milano V60
This Gaggia Milano espresso machine is a great choice if you are a barista at home, or have an interest in the field of espresso. It features a quick-heat boiler that allows you to make espresso quickly and efficiently. It has an expert steaming wand that can produce great foamed-milk for lattes or cappuccinos. You can also alter your espresso's length, body, and grind settings to meet your preferences.
This single boiler coffee machine was first released in 1991. It's now one of the most well-known espresso machines for home use especially among baristas who work from home. It's known for its simplicity, affordable price and great performance. The design is simple and sleek, with some modern features. It's also simple to use and maintain.
The Gaggia coffee maker does not have newer features like a preinfusion or PID which could make it appear somewhat outdated to some people. However, it can offer excellent espresso and is a great option for those who want a traditional-looking machine.
There are a few key differences between this Gaggia coffee maker and other models of the same type, however. For best coffee machines for home , it has a forged chrome-plated brass portafilter handle. This is a nice addition that differentiates it from other home espresso machines. It also comes with a thermo-bloc boiler that's an excellent feature at this price point.
This coffee maker has removable reservoirs of water for easy refilling. It also has an infusion chamber constructed of stainless steel that keeps the water at a perfect temperature to make more delicious espresso. It is also equipped with a high-quality ceramic grinder to help keep your espresso fresher longer.
The coffee maker also comes with an automatic water level detector. This feature makes it simple to operate the machine and ensures that you always have a the tank full of clean fresh, clean water. This is vital to get the most out of your espresso.
4. Sage Barista
Sage is known for their innovative approach to the way coffee machines function and their Oracle Touch is no exception. It's a dual-boiler, with an integrated grinder, and a barista on board. While most bean to cup machines tend to tilt the scales away from quality and toward convenience, the Oracle Touch delivers a well-balanced approach. The machine handles all the grinding, dosing and tamping tasks while steaming and the milk for you. This will help you get the most out of your coffee and prevents the kind of disappointing results that you may experience when using coffee that has been ground from the supermarkets of the main chain.
The Oracle has 30 grind settings to ensure that you can choose the perfect degree of fineness for your drink. It also comes with a cradle for holding the portafilter that is an essential extra for those looking to replicate the barista experience. Other features that are useful include the Razor Precision Dose Trimming Tool to clean away any excess beans. A stainless milk jug of steel is included, as well as steam wands to create latte art.
You can choose from a range of beverages and the machine will recommend the right grind size, brew rate and the temperature of your milk. You can save your preferred settings for future use, which is a great feature that eliminates the uncertainty of finding the perfect cup of coffee. This model is ideal for those who are new to making espresso, since it will help you get the most out of your beans.
It's a sleekly designed machine with a stunning brushed stainless-steel finish that looks great on your kitchen counter. It's a huge machine, measuring H41cm by W33cm by D38cm. This might make it difficult to fit under some cabinets. It is important to measure the space prior to buying to ensure that you have enough room. The machine is easy to clean, however you will need to wipe down the drip pan and the steam wand frequently. It's a good idea to set up an account with Sage to access weekly masterclasses, as well as personalized tutorials to get the most out of your brand new coffee machine.