Which Coffee Machine is Best For Your Kitchen?
A top-quality coffee maker can transform the way you and your family start the day. Which one is the best for your kitchen?
For a bright, bold beverage, you can consider the GE Cafe Speciality Grind and Brew. Its striking design makes it a stunning centerpiece for your kitchen bar and those who are smart will appreciate the capability to control this coffee maker with an app.
1. Cuisinart 12-Cup Pod coffee maker
While it lacks the ability to make espresso (or Latte art) like our top two choices, this Cuisinart model is still an excellent choice for those looking to make pods or filter coffee without spending a fortune. It's user-friendly, affordable, and offers various settings such as an auto-brew timer and a "strong" setting that makes an extremely robust cup. It also has a water reservoir that is removable and a reusable filter, making it easy to clean.
The brushed stainless finish is timeless, and looks stunning in any kitchen. However, the control knob is a bit clunky and it takes some getting used to and adjusting the timer felt more like a carnival game than an actual appliance. Families with a larger household will appreciate the capacity and programmable features people who drink less frequently will appreciate the capability to make one cup at each time.
It was as good as any of our top choices in terms of making coffee. The brewing process was swift and the machine was equipped with a thermal carafe which kept our coffee warm for about an hour. It did appear to draw more ground than other models, however we don't think this is a major issue.
This espresso maker is a great choice for the average consumer. It's available in an array of colors that will be noticeable on any kitchen counter. It's more sophisticated than the less expensive Diletta Mio and is perfect for those looking to make espresso for a hobby or for those who believe that coffee brewing is an important part of their daily routine. It has a temperature control to control the water to a certain degree and a sturdy steam wand, which is connected to its own heating system to allow near-simultaneous steaming and brewing.
The model is a bit more expensive than its counterparts, but for those who are serious about their coffee and willing to spend some time learning the finer points of espresso making it's worth it. In our tests, it produced espresso shots that were smooth and balanced with nuanced flavor, no ashyness or bitterness.
2. Breville Bambino Plus
When you're making espresso, there is no more reliable machine than the Breville Bambino Plus (also known as Sage by some customers). This model may look entry-level however it packs a wealth of features in a compact form factor. It is easy for newbies to play around with the temperature settings that come with it, which yield an effortless extraction right out of the box. It also provides clear instructions on what size grinders are compatible with its two wall-mounted filter baskets. It lets users adjust the amount of time that the pre-infusion feature dampens the coffee grounds before increasing the pressure. This allows for that the flow remains consistent and maintains the balance of flavor.
This model is one of the easiest to use due to its simple interface. It doesn't come with a built-in grinder, so you'll have to buy an espresso grinder that is, fortunately, not as expensive as the other models on this list.
Other features of the Bambino Plus include its ability to purge its steam wand completely after it has frothed and its three different settings for milk texture. It comes with a leveler made of metal and tamper that make it easier to get the perfect shot every time. If you're looking to improve your brewing and steaming skills to the next level, this machine is also equipped with automatic reminders to clean and descale.
While the Breville Bambino Plus is an ideal choice for anyone looking to make top-quality espresso at home, it's ideal for professional baristas in training and serious amateurs. Its pre-infusion function that uses low pressure guarantees a balanced taste and its 15-bar Italian pump ensures a full, creamy body. It is also extremely versatile, with a water pressure setting that can be adjusted, as well as the capability to switch between a single-shot or double-shot quantity at the touch of the button. Its compact design also makes it ideal for kitchens with limited space, making it the best coffee maker for small space. The machine is available in different colors, but the sleek black finish is our top choice.
3. Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One
The Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One is a single-cup brewer that utilizes the most renowned pour-over coffee. It's a more sustainable choice than the average 10-cup brewer as it requires less energy to run and produces significantly fewer grounds of coffee. This is a great machine for the home barista. It's an absolute pleasure to watch the brewing process unfold. The heating element in copper will quickly heat the water and keeps temperatures between 91 and 96 degrees Celsius (196-205degF) to ensure optimal extraction. The cone-shaped brew basket also ensures that each and every ounce of ground is soaked to ensure full flavor and aroma. A single cup of coffee takes only four minutes to make, although it may not seem that fast in comparison to other single-cup brewers but is still very fast by drip machine standards.
The Cup-One as with other Technivorm machines is made in the Netherlands. It also comes with a five-year warranty. It's more expensive than many automatic brewers, but is backed by the security of knowing that you'll be getting an dependable and reliable brewing system that will continue to make top-quality coffee for a long time.
This is among the most beautiful brewing machine on the market. Particularly if you opt for the stainless steel version. The brushed finish is stunning and will complement any kitchen style. It is easy to clean and maintain. her response need to throw away the old filter and ground coffee, then wash the brew container after each use. It's important to know that this brewer isn't able to make espresso or cold brew however, which is the reason we're not listing it as our top choice.
Similar to the Rancilio Silvia it's a stunning machine that looks great in the showroom and is easy to operate. The only downside to this model is that the water tank has prominent ridges that can be difficult to read in the early morning light. Furthermore, there are no marking measurements for ounces or cups and it is difficult to figure out the amount of water to add and how much to put into the basket. The quality of the brew is over any minor inconveniences.
4. Delonghi Eletta Explore
The Delonghi Eletta Explore coffee maker is a super automatic machine with lots of extras. It includes two milk jugs (one for hot, the other for cold) and travel mugs and an ice cube tray for drinks with ice. It also comes with a wide assortment of iced and hot coffee recipes (more than 40 total). The machine has a built-in WiFI connection and is controlled by the Coffee Link app. The most notable feature is called Bean Adapt, which allows you to test new espresso beans using the app to inform the machine the kind, colour and roast of the beans. It then adjusts the espresso settings in accordance with what it learns about your preferences and tastes.
The Eletta has a smart interface that allows you to select and save your preferred drink sizes and create user profiles. It has a built in grinder that can create different types of coffee. It's among the most expensive machines in our list but it can be a good investment for anyone looking to brew a wide range of drinks, including iced using a single device.
The display is easy to use and user-friendly, but it takes a little while to get used to the many steps required to make an espresso or other coffees. This is why we suggest purchasing this machine only for those who are serious about making lots of espressos and only if you're willing to make the effort required to properly operate it.
The only negatives with this machine is that it takes longer than other models to heat up and that the water tank doesn't have markings for cups or ounces. The coffee that was brewed by the machine was excellent, with a great flavour and texture. It's also quiet when the grinder is in operation and making coffee. This is the most quiet super-automatic machine we've ever tested. Apartment dwellers will appreciate this machine. The to-go function lets you to dispense coffee directly into a cup which is useful for those who are in the middle of a rush.