There’s something incredibly satisfying about starting your morning with a delicious cup of coffee, and when you make it at home, you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas. If your home cup of coffee doesn’t taste as good as the one brewed by your local barista, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the best coffee and espresso machines for home employ.
When it comes to shopping for an espresso machine or espresso maker, knowing what you like to drink is key. “That should always be a guide to where you’re looking and what you’re looking for,” says Andrea Allen, co-founder of Onyx Coffee Lab and a 2020 USA Barista Champion. If you drink coffee but not espresso-based drinks, there’s no reason to invest in a machine that also makes lattes. She also recommends starting with a mid-priced option from a trusted brand. “People feel like they have to buy the best to make it good, but in reality, the coffee itself is the thing that has the biggest impact on your experience,” she says.
Tips on how to make a good cup of coffee
In addition to choosing a good coffee machine, remember these basic tips to aid you make great coffee at home.
- First, employ fresh (never ground) beans, advises Miles Butler, co-owner and founder of Many Hands Coffee Co.
- Second, how you grind your coffee beans is crucial to the quality of your cup. “Conical or flat burr grinders will give you the most even grind every time and will last a long time,” Butler says.
- Finally, if you are using a coffee maker, such as a piston brewer where you heat the water, do not “boil” the coffee by pouring boiling water over the ground coffee.
De’Longhi TrueBrew automatic coffee machine with bean extraction technology
Courtesy of Target
If you love freshly ground coffee but don’t want to buy a separate coffee grinder, the De’Longhi TrueBrew coffee maker makes life easier with its built-in burr grinder. Simply add your favorite coffee beans, make your selection (you can choose from five brewing styles: featherlight, gold, bold, over-ice and espresso) and watch your coffee be made to perfection. What’s more, when the coffee maker has finished brewing your cup, it collects the used coffee grounds in an easy-to-dispose disc.
Coffee Maker Ninja Scorching & Iced
Courtesy of Target
Some people prefer iced coffee to balmy coffee, or they just like having the option of making iced coffee at home every now and then. This coffee maker from Ninja has three brewing styles (classic, luxurious, and iced) and can make iced coffee without tasting diluted. Conveniently, there are also six different brewing sizes, from jug to single cup, meaning this coffee maker can handle a brunch crowd.
Philips 4300 Series fully automatic coffee machine with LatteGo function
Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
Bring the coffee shop to your home with this coffee machine. It makes espresso, latte, cappuccino, cafe au lait and americano in a snap. Customize your favorite settings with two easy-to-program user profiles and a guest profile for overnight guests.
The original AeroPress coffee machine
Courtesy of Amazon
A favorite of baristas and other coffee professionals, the Aeropress “is basic, rapid, and generally reliable,” Butler says. Experts often take the petite, handheld espresso machine with them when they travel.
It’s also great if you like to hit the snooze button but still want a top-quality cup of coffee in the morning — it takes about a minute to brew 1 to 3 cups of coffee. The machine uses a rapid, fully immersion brewing process that doesn’t require a long brewing time to produce a velvety, full-flavored coffee.
Tip: Butler says you can also employ the AeroPress to turn an espresso into an Americano by adding balmy water, or a latte into a latte by adding frothed milk.
Classic Chemex 6 Cup
Courtesy of Amazon
When it comes to pour-overs, you can’t go wrong with the Chemex, says Allen. “With its tempered glass and compact, ergonomic design, it’s a stunning, basic way to bring out the nuances of any origin or blend,” Butler says.
It recommends using a reusable stainless steel filter instead of paper filters to reduce waste. The Chemex is also a good way to brew coffee if you want to make it ahead of time and drink it later. The brand notes that coffee brewed in the Chemex can be cooled and reheated without losing its nuances of flavor.
Espro P5 French Press
Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
Not all French presses are created equal, and this one from Espro is a cut above, say our experts. Butler is a fan of the strong, elegant design and unique filter basket of the ESPRO P5. “The double-walled stainless steel filter mesh ‘cage’ is unlike any other French press I’ve brewed in, delivering velvety, ground-free coffee every time,” he says.
The Espro P5 press stops extraction immediately when the plunger is pressed, and its filter system is 9 to 12 times finer than standard filters available on the market.
Breville Barista Touch Coffee Maker
Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
Whether you’re up-to-date to espresso or a full-fledged barista, this user-friendly Breville espresso machine is a solid option for the earnest caffeine enthusiast. It comes with five pre-programmed favorites (espresso, Americano, latte, flat white, and cappuccino), and you can customize the brewing and steaming functions to make the perfect cup every time.
“This machine makes great espresso and has a built-in grinder and steam wand,” says Allen. He explains that it’s also the perfect size for home and can even be stored in a larger cabinet when not in employ.
Breville Oracle Touch Coffee Maker
Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
If you’re ready to fully commit to espresso at home, the Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine is “the Cadillac of home espresso machines,” says Allen. “I’ve literally never made a bad shot of espresso on it.”
It features a conical burr grinder that automatically grinds, doses and tamps grounds into a steel filter holder. With this device, you’re always a few taps away from a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Smeg 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma
The Smeg 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker is an aesthetically pleasing option that combines mid-century style with state-of-the-art conveniences like aroma control (so you can adjust the strength of your coffee) and auto start. It can make between 2 and 10 cups and has a keep-warm plate in case you want another cup later. This machine comes in a variety of colors to match your kitchen — or other SMEG appliances.
De’Longhi multifunctional coffee machine
Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma
For coffee enthusiasts who want it all—or if you’re a latte drinker but your partner prefers brewed coffee—De’Longhi has the answer. Its combination coffee maker makes both espresso and drip coffee. And yes, you can employ both sides at the same time. The coffee maker comes with a steam wand for frothing milk, a bold setting for stronger drip coffee, and a spill-proof 10-cup glass jug.
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