For a machine that has a milk frother that offers the best espresso in a cafe, choose one with a digital PID which regulates, to a certain degree the temperature of the water as well as steam wand that heats up quickly. Also consider how important the quality of the milk steamed is for you.
1. Breville Bambino Plus
If you're looking for a high-quality coffee maker that doesn't eat up your countertop space or drain your budget then look no further than the Breville Bambino Plus (known as the Sage Bambino Plus in the UK). This small machine comes with a variety of features that are not common in machines within this price including customizable pre-infusions and double or single walled cups.
The Bambinos powerful, hands-free steam wand lets you to easily produce whipped or frothed milk for Latte Arts and other specialty drinks. It can produce microfoam with minimal to no effort, and you can alter the temperature and texture of the frothed milk by simply pressing the button.
Breville's proprietary ThermoJet heating system allows the machine to heat up to temperature in just three seconds. This speedy heating reduces the risk of accidentally scalding or over-brewing, which can result in sour flavors. The Bambinos internal PID system also helps maintain consistent water temperatures during extraction, resulting in a smooth and balanced flavor.
The preset volumes for one and two shots are great for beginners. Advanced users can change the settings by pressing a button. This simple-to-programme control system also has an automatic shutoff function when the desired volume is reached.
A simple control panel and easy to use icons make it simple to operate the Bambino Plus, even for beginners. There aren't which coffee machine is best on the front. There is only a button to start your milk cycle and two buttons to choose between one cup or two cups of brew. This makes it simple to use, and removes any learning curve that other entry level models have.
2. De'Longhi Dinamica
The Dinamica is a great bean-to-cup machine for those who want high-end coffee shop drinks but don't have time to learn a complex 19-step espresso procedure. It's easy to use and doesn't need an enormous amount of maintenance. It can make a cappuccino or Latte with just a touch of the button. It comes with a convenient drip tray that is easily removable.
The Dinamica is the ultimate in convenience, with its large LCD screen and adjustable frother. The Dinamica automatically saves your most loved recipes, allowing you to make them again with a press of a button. You can personalize the drink menu to include your preferred strength, size, and kind of milk that includes rice, oats, or soy.
The Over Ice process delivers a smooth, full-bodied coffee that is not diluted. It's the first and only fully automated coffee and espresso machine with this technology.
A high-performance pump with 15 bar speeds up the brewing process. The machine can heat up in under 40 seconds and make the perfect cup of coffee in only 10 seconds. The machine is designed to be self-cleaning. The coffee container that is ground and the brew basket and the milk tank can be cleaned and removed.
The only issue with the Dinamica is that it can be prone to overflow the milk whenever you press the cappuccino or latte buttons. You can prevent this from happening by making sure the milk tank is full before pressing the button for drinks. The machine also freezes milk prior to adding coffee. This could cause dispersion and a inconsistent results.
3. Rancilio Silvia
The Rancilio Silvia is one of the most robust espresso machines available that is available and provides an excellent value for its price. It is also among the most modern espresso machines for home use in its class and is capable of producing cafe-quality coffee in the hands of an experienced barista. However, it does require some patience to learn how to use it.
The Silvia is made with professional-grade components and comes with a single boiler for both brew temperatures as well as steam temperatures. It comes with a steel casing with 2 liter stainless steel reservoir that can be removed to refill. Its commercial group head is a tried and tested design from Rancilio's professional line ensures consistency in excellent espresso.
In addition, the Silvia comes with a soft-infusion variable feature. This feature allows the machine to slowly saturate beans in a ball prior to applying pressure, which decreases the channeling process and improves shots. The machine also has a dedicated steam solenoid to eliminate excess pressure, which can cause portafilter sneezes on older models.
If you're looking to froth milk for cappuccinos or lattes, the Silvia has a powerful steam wand with a single-hole steam tip. It can quickly bring milk to the right temperature to froth and is capable of producing microfoam for stunning lattes. The steam wand is also helpful in heating water to make tea as well as other hot drinks.
Silvia Silvia comes with a 7 gram scoop, tamper and filter baskets (single and double). It doesn't come with a pan or milk frother however it can be used with a variety of commercial-style pans that are available for purchase separately. It also comes with a top cup warmer that uses radiant heat to keep cups warm.
4. Sage Bambino
Sage Bambino is a compact version of their renowned Oracle Touch coffee machine. It provides a high-end experience with a small footprint. As a home espresso machine, it offers the four key elements of third wave specialty coffee: dose control with precise temperature and pressure as well as strong steam and a true hands-free microfoam milk that is perfect for the perfect latte.
ThermoJet's revolutionary heating system can reach the optimal extraction temperature in 3 seconds, and consumes around 32 percent less energy than a thermoblock espresso machine. The PID temperature control guarantees that the temperature of the water stays constant throughout the entire brewing process, allowing the full flavour to be extracted.
The brew timer allows you to schedule your favourite coffee at the right time of your day. This is a fantastic method to start your day with a delicious coffee.
This compact and light machine also includes an tamper made of plastic and baskets that can be used for both single shots and double shots. The tank that is accessible from the rear makes it easy to fill the machine with bottled or jug water. It can also produce a smooth nine bar espresso.
It's also quiet. Our decibel meter recorded it at 74dB. This is just slightly louder that the noise made by vacuum cleaners. It's a small and compact machine that looks great in any kitchen.
5. Delonghi Elita
This model from De'Longhi is among the top models for a milk-based espresso machine with frother, especially for lovers of cappuccino. It's a highly-automatic bean-to-cup coffee maker that has 15 bars of Italian high-performance pump. It brews coffee shop-quality drinks with a smooth, silky milk foam at the touch of one button.
It includes 13 predefined drinks and an automatic cappuccino machine for those who wish to add frothing. A 4.3-inch touchscreen provides simple and easy access to all the machine's functions. You can create and customize recipes and link the machine with your smartphone via the Coffee Link App.
The patent-pending LatteCrema System heats and whips milk, resulting in luxurious microfoam. This is perfect for making flatwhites, cappuccinos and other milk-based espresso drinks. The froth dial lets you customize the thickness of foam. It also includes a cleaning feature which flushes the wand with hot water.
The model has two separate heating systems, one for coffee, and another for milk. This eliminates the need for the coffee to cool prior to heating the milk, and also reduces the amount of ground beans in the grinder. The tubeless system also prevents coffee grounds from being stuck inside the brewing chamber.
The machine comes with an auto-clean function, which runs on boot-up and at the time of shut-off to eliminate any residue that may have accumulated in the brew path. The waste holder can be used to store used grounds. For a longer-term, simple operation, this machine rinses itself on boot-up and at the end of its cycle, and also gives the nozzle and spout an extensive cleaning after each use.
