Which Coffee Machine is Best For Your Kitchen?
A top-quality coffee maker can change the way you and your family start the day. Which one is the best for your kitchen?
For a vibrant, strong brew, consider the GE Cafe Speciality Grind and Brew. Its striking design will make it the centerpiece of your kitchen bar. The fans of smart appliances will love that they can control the 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 picks however, this Cuisinart model is still an excellent option for those wanting to brew filter coffee or pods without costing a fortune. It's simple to use, inexpensive and comes with a range of convenient settings, including an automatic brew timer, and a "strong" setting to make strong cups. It also has an adjustable water reservoir as well as a an reusable filter, making it easy to clean.
The stainless brushed finish is timeless, and is a great addition to any kitchen. The control knob is a bit clunky, and it takes some time to get used to. The timer adjustment was more like playing a carnival game, rather than using an appliance. Families with a larger household will appreciate the large capacity and the programmable features, while those who tend to drink smaller quantities can enjoy the capability to make one cup at each time.
It performed as well as any of our top choices in terms of making coffee. The brewing process is fast, and the machine is equipped with a thermal carafe which kept our coffee hot for over an hour. It did appear to extract more ground than other models, however we don't think this is a major issue.
This espresso maker is a fantastic choice for the average consumer. It comes in an array of colors that will be noticeable on any kitchen counter. It's more sophisticated than the cheaper Diletta Mio and is perfect for those looking to make espresso as a hobby or for whom coffee-brewing is an integral part of their daily routine. It comes with a digital temperature control that regulates the water's temperature to a certain degree, and a solid steam wand, which is connected to its own heating system for near-simultaneous steaming and brewing.
The only downside to this model is that it's a little more expensive than the competition however, it's well worth the extra cost for those who take their coffee seriously and are willing to put time in learning the finer points of espresso making. In our tests, it produced espresso shots that were rich and balanced with nuanced flavor, no ashyness or bitterness.
2. Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus is the most reliable machine for making espresso. It may appear to be a basic model however it packs a wealth of features into a small size. It is easy for beginners to play around with the temperature settings that come with it that provide an effortless extraction right out of box. It also provides clear guidelines on which grinder sizes work with its dual wall filter baskets. It lets users alter how long the pre-infusion feature is able to dampen the coffee grounds before increasing the pressure. best coffee machine pods helps to ensure a consistent flow and balance of flavor.
This model is among the most user-friendly thanks to its easy-to-use interface. It doesn't come with an integrated grinder, which means you'll have to buy an espresso grinder that isn't as expensive as the other models on this list.
The Bambino Plus's other strengths include its ability to automatically purge its steam wand when it has finished frothing milk, and its three different milk texture settings. It also comes with a metal leveling tool and tamper which makes it easier to ensure an exact shot every time. If you want to take your steaming and brewing skills even further, the machine also has automatic reminders to clean and descale.
The Breville Bambino Plus is a great choice for anyone looking to make premium coffee at home. However, it is ideal for serious amateurs as well as baristas who are aspiring. The pre-infusion at low pressure ensures a balanced taste, and its 15 bar Italian pump guarantees a full, creamy body. It's also incredibly versatile, with a variable pressure setting and the option to switch between single- and double-shot quantities at the touch of the button. Its compact design also makes it ideal for small kitchens, making it the best coffee maker for cramped spaces. The machine is available in a variety of colors, but we prefer the sleek black finish.
3. Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One
The Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One uses the gold-standard pour-over method used to brew coffee. It's a greener option than the standard 10-cup brewer because it requires less energy to operate and produces a lot less grounds of coffee. This is a fantastic machine for a barista at home. It's fun to watch the process unfold, too. The heating element in copper will quickly heat the water and maintains temperatures between 91-96degC (196-205degF) to ensure the best extraction. The cone-shaped brew container ensures that every inch of ground is covered with full flavor and aroma. A single cup of coffee can take just four minutes to brew, although it may not seem that fast compared to other single-cup brewers however it is still incredibly fast by the standards of drip machines.
Like other Technivorm equipment, the Cup-One is manufactured in the Netherlands and backed by an impressive 5-year warranty. It's more expensive than other automatic brewers, but it gives you the peace of mind knowing that it'll be a reliable and durable machine to brew for a long time.
This is among the most beautiful brewing machine available. Particularly if you choose a stainless steel version. The brushed-finish is stunning and will complement any kitchen style. It is easy to use and clean. After each use, simply throw away the used filters and coffee grounds, and wash the brew pot. It's important to know that this brewer can't make espresso or cold brew however, which is the reason we're not listing it as our top pick.
It's easy to use and looks beautiful, just like the Rancilio. The only issue with this model is that the tank's water reservoir has prominent ridges that can be difficult to read in early morning light. There are also no indications of cups or ounces, so it's a bit difficult to know what amount of water to use and how much to place in the basket. The quality of the brew is well worth any minor issues.
4. Delonghi Eletta Explore
The Delonghi Eletta Explore is a highly-automatic coffee maker, with a variety of extras. It includes an insulated travel mug and two milk jugs to serve hot and cold drinks, ice cube trays for iced drinks, as well as two milk jugs. It also has a large assortment of iced and hot coffee recipes (more than 40 in total). The machine also comes with Wi-Fi and can be controlled using the Coffee Link app. Bean Adapt is its most impressive feature. It allows you to try out new espresso beans with the app. Then, it alters the espresso settings according to what it has learned about your tastes and preferences.
The Eletta has a smart interface that lets you select and save your preferred sizes of drinks and also create user profiles. It also comes with an integrated grinder that can make various types of ground coffee. It's among the most expensive machines we've reviewed in our list, but it could be a great investment for anyone who wants to make a range of drinks, including iced ones with just one device.
It's simple to use and the display is clear and easy to follow, but it does take some time to get used to the multiple steps involved in making espresso and other coffees. We'd suggest buying this machine only when you're planning to make a lot of espressos, and only if you're willing to make the effort required to use it correctly.
The only negatives we found with this machine was that it took longer to hea
