The Best Coffee Machines For Home Baristas
A coffee maker allows you to enjoy a variety of caffeinated drinks in the comfort of your own home. If you prefer pod or filter there's a coffee machine to suit every taste and budget.
The bean-to-cup machine is a reliable machine. It gives you an amount of control that's not often seen for a premium model. This is a great choice when you're looking for a simple and milky options without fuss.
1. Breville Barista Max
A mid-range bean-to-cup with a built-in grinder, Breville Barista Max+ VCF152 is a good choice for those who want to learn how to make coffee the proper way (rather than using pods or an espresso machine) and for those looking to upgrade from a less powerful manual machine. It is capable of producing the highest quality espresso and milk that has an excellent texture.
The Barista Max+ comes with a large drip tray with a separate trough for grounds that spill out, and a handy storage compartment for extra accessories. The machine is also built well and solid and has all the components that can be removed clicking into place. It's available in fashionable silver, and a more traditional stainless steel.
It's made with a professional look and is influenced by commercial machines, with features like Temp IQ Shot Control that delivers precise water temperatures for each cup, and a Tap & Go on-demand burr grinder that has 30 settings. It uses a preinfusion technique to gently infuse ground beans to create the perfect balance and full flavor.
There's a helpful guide in the instruction manual that describes how to calibrate the machine, which is important to get right in order to produce a consistent and excellent cup of espresso. It also explains the decalcification cycle that is required to ensure that your machine is in good condition.
best budget coffee machine are easy to use, and there's a dial that sets the machine to hot water (with one turn of the knob to the left) or initiates the dispensing of steam (a further turn). The coffee spout is tall enough to fit into an espresso cup or latte glass, but it's not a huge jug. You'll have to pre-infuse your milk before dispense it before pouring espresso into larger cups for cappuccinos and lattes.
One thing to bear in mind is that Breville only provides one year of guarantee on this machine, so if something goes wrong after that time you'll have to pay for repairs. This could be a deterrent for some, especially given how expensive the machine is when purchased new.
2. Smeg Bean-to-Cup
Smeg is synonymous with retro kitchen gadgets and 1950's style. However, what's interesting is that, until recently, Smeg's range didn't include a bean-to-cup maker. This was until the sleek BCC02 model came out in September.
The bean-to-cup machine can provide the full range of your favourite drinks at the push of a button, including espresso, ristretto and Americano plus hot water for tea and other hot drinks. All you have to do is put your desired quantity of ground beans into the hopper, choose your drink from the intuitive menu using the flat buttons and press to brew. It's easy and quick with only a few inputs and has an alert that lets you know when it's time 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 could make milky coffees like cappuccino and the latte. She was amazed by how quickly it heated up and how quiet the machine was. She was also happy that the process only took 45 seconds, and that she could select the strength of the drink. The only minor issue is that the BCC02 doesn't come with a milk jug that you'll need to purchase separately.
The most appealing aspect is the fact that this coffee maker does not require any plastic pods or sachets, which means you'll save money and doing your bit for the environment. The Smeg Bean to Cup coffee maker comes in a variety of matt colors, including taupe, white as well as smouldering and new to the collection, black. You can match your coffee maker to your kitchen decor and change the look of your kitchen area while you're at it. It's definitely worth a look if you're a fan of the Smeg brand.
3. Gaggia Milano V60
If you're a professional barista or are interested in espresso coffee, then this Gaggia Milano coffee machine is an excellent choice. It comes with a quick-heat boiler, which allows you to make espresso quickly and efficiently. It has a professional steaming wand to create great foamed milk for cappuccinos and lattes. You can also adjust the grind settings, length, and body of your espresso to suit your personal taste.
This coffee machine is a single boiler machine that was initially released in 1991. It's now one of the most sought-after espresso machines at home especially among baristas who work from home. It's known for its simplicity, low cost and outstanding performance. The design is sleek and simple and has some modern-day touches. It's also easy to use and maintain.
It's important to note that this Gaggia coffee maker does not have any newer features, like preinfusion or a preinfusion device, so it might be a little bit dated for some. It still offers great espresso, and is a good choice for those who prefer a more traditional-looking machine.
There are a few key differences between the Gaggia and other models. For example, it has a forged chrome-plated brass portafilter handle. This is a nice feature that sets it apart from other espresso home machines. It also has an in-built thermo-bloc boiler, which is a nice feature at this price point.
In addition to the above features, this coffee machine also has a removable reservoir for water that can be easily filled and maintenance. It also has an infusion chamber made of stainless steel that keeps the water at a suitable temperature to make more delicious espresso. It also comes with a top-quality ceramic grinder to help keep your espresso fresher for longer.
This coffee maker also features an automatic water level detector. This feature makes it simpler to operate the machine and ensures that you're always using a full tank of clean, fresh water. This is vital to get the most out of your espresso.
4. Sage Barista
Sage is known for rethinking the way coffee machines function. The Oracle Touch is no different. It's a dual boiler, with integrated grinder and an on-board barista. While many bean to cup machines tend to tip the scales away from quality and towards ease of use, the Oracle Touch offers a balanced approach. The machine takes care of grinding, dosing, and tamping for you, while steaming and foaming milk. This allows you to get the most out of the beans you choose and avoids the kind of disappointing results that you can sometimes get when using pre-ground coffee from the supermarkets of the main chain.
The Oracle comes with 30 different grind settings making it possible to determine the ideal level of fineness for your favorite drink. It also comes with a cradle for holding the portafilter that is an essential feature for those who want to recreate the barista experience. Other useful features include the Razor Precision Dose Trimming Tool to clean off any beans that are not needed. A stainless milk jug made of steel is included, as is steam wands to create latte art.
You can choose from a variety of beverages and the machine will recommend a suitable grind size, brew speed and the temperature of milk for each. This feature allows you to save your favorite settings for later use. It eliminates the guesswork of finding the perfect cup. This model is ideal for those who are new to espresso-making, as it helps you get the most out of your beans.
The machine is elegantly made with a beautiful brushed stainless-steel finish. It looks great on your kitchen counter. However, it's an enormous machine with dimensions of H41cm x W33cm x D38cm. It may be difficult to fit under cabinets. It's worth measuring your space to ensure that you have enough room before purchasing. Cleaning the machine is easy, however you'll need to regularly wipe down the steam wand and removeable drip tray. Sage offers weekly masterclasses, as well as personalized tutorials that will ensure you get the most from your new coffee maker.