A top-quality coffee maker can change the way your family starts the day. Which is the best for your kitchen?
Try the GE Cafe Speciality Grind and Brewed to get the most vibrant and powerful coffee. Its striking design makes it a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen bar, and those who are smart will appreciate the ability to control the coffee maker via an app.
1. Cuisinart 12-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
This Cuisinart model, though it doesn't have the ability to make espresso or latte art like our top two options, is a great option for those looking to make filter coffee or pods without costing a fortune. It is simple to use, cheap and comes with a range of convenient settings, including the ability to brew at a specific time and the "strong" setting for strong cups. It has an adjustable reservoir that can be removed and reusable filter making it simple for you to clean.
The brushed stainless finish is timeless and looks stunning in any kitchen. However, the control knob is quite clunky and requires some time to get used to and adjusting the timer felt more like a carnival game rather than a real appliance. The large capacity and features that can be programmed will appeal to households with larger families and those who drink less frequently will benefit from the ability to only make one cup at a given time.
In terms of quality of brewing the machine performed just as well as our top picks. The brewing process is rapid, and the machine is equipped with a thermal cup that kept our coffee hot for an hour. We noticed that it appeared to draw more grounds than other models, however we don't believe this is a dealbreaker.
This espresso maker is a fantastic option for the average person. It comes in a variety of colors that will make a statement on any kitchen counter. It's more advanced than the cheaper Diletta Mio, and is ideal for those who make espresso for a hobby, or for those for whom coffee brewing plays an important part of their daily routine. It has a digital PID control system that regulates, to the degree it is, the temperature of the water as well as a solid steam wand connected to its own heating circuit for near-simultaneous brewing and steaming.
The model is a bit more expensive than its counterparts however, for those who are committed to their coffee and are willing to learn the finer points of espresso making it's worth it. It made espresso shots with rich, balanced flavors and no bitterness or ashiness.
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). It's a basic model, but packs a wealth of features into a compact design. It is easy for newbies to play around with the default temperature settings, which yield an easy extraction right out of box. Also, it provides clear guidelines on which sizes of grinders work with its dual wall filter baskets. It lets users adjust how long the pre-infusion feature is able to dampen 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 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 separately. This isn't as expensive as some other models on this list.
Other advantages 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 also has a metal leveling tool and tamper which makes it easier to ensure the perfect shot every time. If you're looking to take your steaming and brewing abilities to the next level, the machine is also equipped with automatic reminders to clean and descale.
While the Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent option for anyone looking to make top-quality espresso at home, it's the best for aspiring professional baristas and serious amateurs. Its pre-infusion function that uses low pressure ensures a balanced taste, and its 15-bar Italian pump provides a full, creamy body. It's also extremely versatile with a variable pressure setting and the option to switch between singleor double-shot amounts at the push of one button. Its compact design makes it suitable for small kitchens and makes it the ideal coffee maker for smaller space. The machine is available in a variety of colors, but we prefer the sleek black appearance.
3. Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One
The Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One uses the gold-standard pour-over method to brew coffee. It is a more environmentally sustainable choice than a 10-cup brewer as it uses less electricity and produces less grounds. This is an excellent machine for a barista at home. It's also a pleasure to watch the brewing unfold. The copper heating element will quickly heat the water and it maintains temperatures of 91-96degC (196-205degF) to ensure the best extraction. The cone-shaped brew tray guarantees that the entire ground coffee is saturated to bring out the full aroma and flavor. The time to brew a single cup of coffee is four minutes. This may not seem as fast as other single-cup brewers however, it's still quite quick by drip machine standards.
The Cup-One like all Technivorm machines, is manufactured in the Netherlands. It is also covered by a 5-year warranty. It's more expensive than other automated brewers, but it is backed by the assurance that you'll receive a dependable and reliable brewing machine that will continue to produce top-quality coffee for an extended period of time.
This is among the most stunning brewing machines available. Particularly if you choose a stainless steel version. The brushed look is stunning and compliments any kitchen design. It is simple to clean and use. You just need to throw away the old filter and ground coffee, and rinse the brew container after every use. This brewer doesn't make cold brew, or espresso. That's why it's not among our top choices.
Like the Rancilio Silvia, it's a beautiful machine that looks stunning in the showroom and is easy to operate. The only issue with this model is the water tank's prominent ridges that can be difficult to read early in the morning. There are no indications of ounces or cup sizes and it's difficult to figure out the amount of water you need and how much in the basket. The brew quality is well over any minor problems.
4. Delonghi Eletta Explore
The Delonghi Eletta Explore is a super-automatic coffee maker with lots of extras. It includes the travel cup as well as two milk jugs for hot and cold drinks, an ice cube trays to serve iced drinks and two milk jugs. It also has a large selection of hot and iced coffee recipes (more than 40 in total). The machine also has built-in Wi-Fi and can be controlled through the Coffee Link app. Bean Adapt is its most impressive feature. It lets you test new espresso beans by using the app. It can adjust the espresso settings according to what it learns from your preferences and taste.
The Eletta comes with a sophisticated interface that lets you choose and save your preferred drink sizes and create user profiles. It comes with a built-in grinder that can produce various types of coffee. It's the most expensive device in our list, but it's a great investment for those looking to make a variety of drinks including iced drinks from one device.
It's easy to use and the display is clear and intuitive, but it does take some time to adjust to the many steps involved in making an espresso, as well as other coffees. For this reason we'd recommend purchasing this machine only when you're planning to make many espressos, and only if you're willing to invest the time and effort to operate it properly.
The only negatives we found with this machine was that it took a bit longer to heat up compared to other models, and the water tank isn't marked for cups or ounces. The coffee brewed by the machine was fantastic, with a great flavour and texture. It's also extremely quiet when the grinder is running and making coffee. It's the quietest super-automatic machine that we've ever tested. A real boon for those who live in apartments. The to-go function lets you to pour coffee directly into the cup, which is a great option for those who are in the middle of a rush.
