The Best Coffee Machines For Home Baristas
The purchase of a coffee maker lets you enjoy a variety of coffee-infused drinks from the convenience of your home. If you prefer pods or filters there's a machine to suit every taste and budget.
The bean-to-cup machine is a real workhorse. It provides the kind of control that's not often seen for a high-end model. It's an excellent choice to enjoy the convenience of one-touch brewing as well as milky options with no fuss.
1. Breville Barista Max
The Breville Barista Max+ VCF152, a mid-range bean to cup that comes with a built-in grinder, is a good choice for those looking to learn how to make coffee in a proper manner (rather using pods or an inexpensive espresso machine) and also for those who want to replace an old manual machine that was not as efficient. It can make both high-quality coffee and milk with an excellent texture.
The Barista Max+ comes with an enormous drip tray with a separate trough for spilt grounds and a handy storage compartment for extra accessories. It's also a sturdy and well-built machine that has the removable parts slid into place beautifully. It's available in stylish silver as well as a more classic stainless steel.
It's made with a professional look and inspired by commercial equipment, with features like Temp IQ Shot Control that provides precise water temperatures for each cup, as well as a Tap & Go on-demand burr grinder with 30 settings. It employs a preinfusion method to gently infuse ground beans to create the perfect balance and full flavor.
There's a helpful guide in the instruction manual that explains how to calibrate the machine, which is essential to get right in order to ensure a consistent, good cup of espresso. It also explains the decalcification process which is essential to ensure that your machine is in good condition.
The manual controls are easy to use and there's a dial that sets the machine to hot water (with a simple turn of the knob to the left) or starts dispensing steam (a further turn). The coffee spout is tall enough to fit in an espresso glass or latte cup, but it's not a huge jug. You'll need to infuse your milk before dispense the espresso before pouring it into larger cups for lattes and cappuccinos.
One thing to bear in your mind is that Breville only provides a one year guarantee on this machine. So should something go wrong with it after that time, you'll need to pay for repairs. This could be a reason to avoid some, particularly considering the price of the machine when it's new.
2. Smeg Bean-to-Cup
Smeg is synonymous with retro kitchen gadgets and 1950's-style. best ground coffee machines that until recently the brand's collection did not include a bean to cup machine. This was until the sleek BCC02 model came out in September.
The bean-to-cup coffee machine offers the entire range of your favorite drinks at the touch of a button. It includes ristretto, espresso and Americano and hot water for tea and other hot beverages. All you need to do is place the desired amount of ground beans into the hopper, select your drink from the easy menu by using the flat buttons and then press brew. It's easy and quick with minimal input and even comes with an alert that will inform you when to descale your machine or empty the grounds drawer.
Our barista friend tried the Smeg Coffee-to-Cup. She was impressed with the ease of use and the fact that it can make milky coffees like cappuccino and latte. She was surprised at the speed at which it heated up and how it was silent. She also liked that the brewing process took 45 seconds and you can pick the strength you prefer in each drink, so there's no need to keep monitoring the process. The only complaint is that the BCC02 does not include a metal jug that you'll need to purchase separately.
The real benefit is the fact that this bean-to-cup coffee machine does not require plastic pods or sachets so you'll save money while helping the environment. The Smeg Bean to-Cup coffee maker is available in a selection of covetable matt colours including taupe sparkling white, smouldering red, and the latest addition to the collection, black in full. This means you can match your coffee machine to your kitchen's decor and effortlessly transform your kitchen area while at the same time. If you're a Smeg lover then this is a machine that you should definitely check out.
3. Gaggia Milano V60
If you're a home barista or are interested in espresso, then this Gaggia Milano coffee machine is an excellent option. It features a fast heat boiler technology, meaning you can make espresso quickly and effortlessly. It also comes with a professional steam wand that is capable of making great foamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. You can also adjust your espresso's length, body, and grind settings to meet your taste.
This coffee maker is a single boiler machine and was originally released in the year 1991. Through the years, it has become one of most popular home espresso machines around the world, particularly for baristas who work at home. It is renowned for its low price and simplicity, as well as its excellent performance. The design is simple and sleek, with a few modern touches. It's also simple to use and maintain.
It is important to know that this Gaggia coffee maker isn't equipped with any of the latest features, such as preinfusion or a PID which means it could be a little bit dated for some people. However, it does still provide excellent espresso and is a great option for those who prefer traditional design.
There are a few key distinctions between this Gaggia coffee maker and other similar models, however. For instance, it comes with a the forged chrome-plated portafilter handle. This is a great feature that makes it stand out from other entry level home espresso machines. It has a thermo-bloc, which is a great feature at this price.
This coffee maker has removable water reservoirs for easy refilling. It also comes with an infusion chamber made of stainless steel which keeps the water at the perfect temperature to make a more delicious espresso. It also comes with a high-end ceramic grinder that helps to keep your espresso fresher for longer.
The coffee maker also comes with an automatic water level sensor. This feature makes it easy to use the machine, and ensures that you have a full tank with clean, fresh water. This is essential for getting the best results with 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 baristas on board. While the majority of bean-to-cup machines tend to tip the scales away from quality and towards ease of use Oracle Touch is a different story. Oracle Touch offers a balanced approach. The machine handles all the grinding, dosing and tamping while steaming and frothing milk for you. This will help you get the most value from your chosen beans and avoids the kind of disappointing results you may encounter when using pre-ground coffee from the mainstream supermarket.
The Oracle comes with 30 different grind settings which means you'll be able discover the ideal level of fineness for your preferred drink. It also comes with a cradle holding the portafilter that is an essential extra for those looking to replicate the full barista experience. Other useful features include the Razor Precision Dose Trimming Tool that can be used to wipe off any beans that are not needed. A stainless milk jug made of steel is included, along with steam wand for creating latte art.
You can choose from a variety of drinks and the machine will automatically recommend the right grind size, brew speed and milk temperature for each. This feature allows you to save your favorite settings for the future. It eliminates the guesswork that comes with finding the perfect cup. This model is perfect for those who are brand new to espresso making, as it will help you get the most of your coffee beans.
This machine is stylishly constructed with a stunning brushed-stainless-steel finish. It looks great on your countertop in the kitchen. However, it's quite a large machine at H41cm x W33cm and D38cm. It may be difficult to fit under cabinets. It is important to measure the space prior to purchasing to ensure that you have enough room. Cleaning the machine is fairly easy, but you'll need to regularly wipe down the steam wand as well as the detachable drip tray. Sage offers weekly masterclasses as well as customized tutorials that can assist you in getting the most value from your new coffee maker.