The Best Coffee Machines For Home Baristas
A coffee maker allows you to enjoy a variety of coffee-infused beverages from the comfort of your home. If you prefer pods or filters there’s a coffee machine to fit every taste and budget.
A true workhorse bean-to-cup machine offers a rare degree of control for an expensive model. It’s a great option if you’re looking for convenience and milky options that aren’t a hassle.
1. Breville Barista Max
A mid-range bean-to-cup with an integrated grinder, the Breville Barista Max+ VCF152 is a great option for anyone keen to learn how to make coffee the right way (rather than using pods or a cheap espresso machine) and for those looking to upgrade from a less powerful manual machine. It is capable of producing high-quality espresso and milk that is well-textured, and is easy to use with just a little practice.
The Barista max+ comes with a large drip pan with a separate trough that can catch spilled grounds, and a storage space for extra accessories. It’s also a solid-looking and well-built machine with all the parts that can be removed and clicking into place pleasingly. It’s available in fashionable silver and a more classic stainless steel.
It’s designed with a professional look and inspired by commercial machines. Its features include Temp IQ Shot Control, which provides precise temperature for every cup and a Tap & Go burr grinder on-demand with 30 settings. It makes use of a preinfusion technique to gently infuse ground beans for an enticing, full-bodied flavor.
There’s a great guideline in the instruction manual that explains how to calibrate the machine, which is crucial to ensure that it is calibrated correctly to produce a consistent and excellent cup of espresso. It also explains how to do the decalcification process, which is essential to keep your machine clean and in working order.
The controls are simple to use. A dial allows you to set the machine for hot water by turning the knob to the left or to begin dispensing steam by turning the knob. The coffee spout is of sufficient height to fit a regular espresso glass or latte-style cup, but not a jug. Therefore, you’ll need to prepare and dispense your milk before pouring your espresso into larger cups for cappuccinos or lattes.
Breville only provides a one-year warranty on the machine. If something goes wrong after that period, you will be responsible for the repair cost. This could be a turn-off for some due to the price of the machine when purchased new.
2. Smeg Bean-to-Cup
Smeg is synonymous with retro kitchen gadgets and 1950’s-style. What’s noteworthy is that, until recently the brand’s collection did not include a bean to cup machine. That is until the launch of this sleekly designed BCC02 model in September.
The bean-to cup best capsule coffee machine machine provides the entire range of your favorite drinks at the touch of a button, including espresso, ristretto and Americano and hot water for tea and other hot beverages. You simply need to place the amount you want in the hopper, and then select your beverage by using the flat buttons. Then press to brew. It’s quick and easy with only a few inputs required, and it comes with a handy alert that will inform you when it’s time to remove the grounds or empty the drawer (although this is an easy one to overlook if you don’t look frequently).
Our barista friend tried the Smeg Bean-to-Cup and loved its ease of use, as well as the fact that it could make milky coffee classics like macchiato, latte, and cappuccino. She was pleasantly surprised by the quick warm-up time and how quiet it was while working. She also liked that the brewing process took 45 seconds, and you can pick the strength you prefer in each drink, meaning there’s no need to be constantly watching the process. The only slight complaint was that the BCC02 does not come with a jug made of metal, which you will need to purchase separately.
A real winner is the fact that this bean-to-cup coffee machine doesn’t require any plastic pods or sachets, which means you’ll be saving money as well as doing your bit for the environment. The Smeg Bean-to-Cup coffee machine is available in a variety of matt colors that are coveted, including taupe and sparkling white, smouldering red and recently, a new addition to the collection, full black. This means you can match your best pod coffee machine maker to the decor of your kitchen and easily transform your kitchen area simultaneously. A must-see If you’re a fan the Smeg brand.
3. Gaggia Milano V60
If you’re a home barista or have any interest in espresso and espresso, then this Gaggia Milano coffee machine is an excellent option. It has a quick heat boiler technology, meaning you can make espresso quickly and easily. It also comes with an expert steam wand for producing great foamed milk for cappuccinos and lattes. You can also adjust the length, body and grinding settings to suit your preference.
This best nespresso coffee machine maker is a single-boiler machine and was first introduced in the year 1991. Over the years it has become one of most sought-after home espresso machines around the world, specifically for baristas who work at home. It is known for its low cost simple design and outstanding performance. The design is sleek and simple and has a few modern touches. It’s also simple to use and maintain.
This Gaggia coffee maker does not have the latest features such as PID or preinfusion which could make it appear somewhat outdated to some people. However, it will provide excellent espresso and is a great alternative for those looking for an old-fashioned machine.
There are a few key distinctions between the Gaggia and other models. For example, it has a forged chrome-plated brass portafilter handle. This is a nice feature that makes it stand out from other entry level home espresso machines. It also has a thermo-bloc boiler that’s an excellent feature for this price range.
In addition to these features, this machine also has a removable reservoir for water that can be easily filled and maintenance. It also has a stainless-steel infusion chamber which keeps the water at the correct temperature, which helps to make more delicious espresso. It also comes with a top-quality ceramic grinder that helps keep your espresso fresher for longer.
Another great feature of this coffee maker is its automatic water level detection. This feature makes it much easier to operate the machine and ensures you’re always using a full tank of clean, fresh water. This is essential for getting the best tassimo machine results with your espresso.
4. Sage Barista
Sage is a brand that has a reputation for rethinking how coffee machines work. The Oracle Touch is no different. It’s a dual boiler with an integrated grinder as well as an on-board barista. While the majority of bean-to-cup machines tend to tilt the scales away from quality in favor of ease of use The Oracle Touch offers a balanced approach. The machine handles all the grinding, dosing and tamping tasks while steaming and frothering milk for you. This allows you to get the most out of your beans and avoids the disappointments that sometimes be experienced when using espresso that has been pre-ground from a supermarket.
The Oracle has 30 different grind settings so you can choose the perfect degree of fineness for your drink. It also comes with a cradle holding the portafilter, which is an important extra for those looking to recreate the barista experience. Other features that are useful include the Razor Precision Dose Trimming Tool to clean off any beans that are not needed. A stainless milk jug of steel is included, as is steam wands to create Latte art.
You can select from a variety of drinks and the machine will automatically suggest a suitable grind size, brew speed and the temperature of milk for each. You can then save your preferred settings for future use This is a fantastic feature that helps eliminate the confusion that comes with finding the perfect cup of coffee. This model is ideal for those who are brand new to making espresso, since it helps you get the best pod coffee machines uk out of your coffee beans.
The machine is elegantly made with a beautiful brushed stainless-steel finish. It’s a great look on your countertop in the kitchen. However, it’s big at H41cm x W33cm x D38cm, and may struggle to fit under some cabinets. It’s worth measuring the space to ensure that you have enough room before buying. Keeping the machine clean is relatively easy, but you’ll have to regularly wipe down the steam wand and removeable drip tray. Sage offers weekly masterclasses as well as personalized tutorials that will help you get the most from your new coffee maker.