Today, coffee machines have become a common household item. Of course, this to some extent removes the need for a trip to your favourite coffee shop to get a latte. But, investing in the best unit can be frustrating if you know little or nothing about what you want.
Fortunately, this guide is here to help you in choosing the best home latte machine. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a newbie it is good to consider the options available. Keep reading below to identify the most recommended and essential features that make your perfect coffee.
Things To Check Before Purchasing a Coffee Maker
When shopping for the best home latte machine on the market, it is good to know a few aspects to look out for. If your anything like me, and love your coffee you will want a quality machine for that perfect cup.
Features
Like any other home appliance, the features of a great coffee machine have an integral role. And the more the manufacturer adds does not certainly mean it is the best. Always look for what you think will be beneficial to you. If you prefer speed and convenience the option to have user-friendly touch pad interface is a must. In case you fancy experimenting there are some models that provide variety and flexibility.
Be clear on what you are looking for and build a checklist of must haves and nice to haves. If your are a novice in the coffee brewing area it would be wise to go for a less complicated model. Undoubtedly there are specific machines that are just designed for people with the expertise in brewing delicious coffee. Such users know the accurate temperatures and measurements for properly processing coffee. Although if you are dedicated to learning the in’s and out’s you may just welcome the learning curve.
Maintenance
As much as the manufacturer’s choice of construction material is vital in determining the lifespan of an appliance, cleaning is essential to extend the serviceability of a coffee machine. If done thoroughly it also guarantees that the coffee’s flavor and quality will not be impacted. Indeed, the buildup of leftover grinds after the previous use can have an affect over time. Aim to choose a machine with a de-scaler. That means no struggles in removing the leftovers inside the unit.
Size
Most coffee machines are made with large reservoirs. That means it might take up a big space on the kitchen counter. Compact models will, therefore, suit homes with limited space. Some small ones will hold itself well without comprising its performance.
Design
The aesthetics of a machine should are very much an individual choice. No doubt you will choose a design to match your current kitchen design wherever possible. Since this is not an appliance that will live in a cupboard. single service machines do however have the benefit of hide-ability.
Budget
Remember coffee machines are an investment, which can cost hundreds or thousands. Another consideration which will depend you your own budget and requirements. Every coffee enthusiast should go for a model that is the most affordable and provides quality.
Top 10 Best Coffee Maker
1. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
The design of this coffee machine is impressive because it is an all-in-one unit. Both newbies and experts will certainly enjoy the amazing espresso-based beverages daily. It comes with four filter baskets to provide single or double pressurized and non-pressurized shot types. Just choose the option you want by pushing the dial and wait for the perfect and exact amount of drink to fill your cup.
While its price tag is more on the high-end coffee maker category, it caters for this with both its features and high-quality material. Its conical burrs are made from stainless steel and in combination with its 16 grinding settings you can fine-tune your size of grind size and then dial for the right shot. It doesn’t get any fresher than dropping the beans right from the grinder into the portafilter.
This machine is semi-automatic and so users find a balance between perfect brewing and user-friendliness. When it comes to temperature control it features a 1600-watt Thermo coil that quickly starts heating. For optimal flavor extraction, it has 9 pressure bars to give the taste that you need. The hot water dispenser included separately is essential if you prefer pre-heating your cup of joe. This system is even excellent in case you enjoy tea or other hot drinks apart from coffee. If you love adding froth or foam to your drink, well this machine has a steam wand with a swivel-action. That means it is easy to get the best angle for the steaming pitcher to allow the infuser to perfectly work.
- Very aesthetic
- Easy to clean
- Warranty included
- Not beginner-friendly
- Needs large space
- Pressure can be inconsistent
2. Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker
With its K-cup, choose the brewing experience and serve quantities either 6, 8, 10, or 12-oz of your favorite cocoa, coffee, or tea. The included “Strong” setting enables you to brew a robust cup of coffee having a bolder taste with a single touch of a button.
Cleaning is something that is nobody’s hobby. And this machine cuts such worries while its functionality is not compromised. It features a frothier that is dishwasher-safe meaning you have an easy cleanup session.
You can become a professional barista by making creamy and silky-smooth foams quickly. Of course, the convenience comes from the fact you can easily pour your latte or cappuccino. Navigating the control panel is hassle-free thanks to its one-touch operation. Simply touch the right button to choose your style or the quantity.
Users benefit from its “Smart-Start” action that heats fast to allow you to enjoy brews from any other travel mug. The featured automatic shut-down ensures that the coffee maker does not waste energy. It will turn off after the last 2-hours of use. The machine has a soft and matte-black finish which makes look sleek. Overall, it will fit into any kitchen decor.
- Hassle-free operation.
- Strong construction.
- Highly versatile.
- Might lose pressure
- Needs large counter space
- Slightly pricey
3. Mr. Coffee Cafe Latte Maker
Another good feature of this machine is the water tanks with 24 ounces capacity. This volume means you can serve many drinks before refilling it. Equally, you have fewer trips to the sink even if your family is large. To make the latte making the experience better, this machine automatically powers off if the beverage is ready. It is no longer necessary to stand close by to stop it.
If there is a single reason to consider this latte maker, then it on its extreme user-friendliness. With just three simple steps including adding coffee, water, and milk, then flipping the switch and waiting, in no minutes you have a spectacular home latte taste. There is no learning the process of steaming milk here. Not only does it create lattes, but it can also give you multiple drinks including hot chocolate, cappuccino, and any other flavored beverages.
Cleaning this coffee maker is a breeze. Remove the leftover beverage from the jug and then take out the lid. There is no excuse for having off-flavors. Because a damp cloth is enough to wipe down the parts and the surfaces. Its brewing basket, however, is dishwasher safe.
- Very quiet
- Easy to use
- Makes multiple drinks
- Has a limited brew capacity
- Hard to clean its carafe
- Not ideal for making drip coffee
4. Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
This means the right flavor is never diluted in your beverages. Or you can combine your drink with hot or cold frothy milk. Of course, this machine creates coffeehouse-style drinks having true aroma and character. With the Ninja, you can fully control what you brew. You can choose the size that you feel suits you from a single teacup or travel-mug to filled carafes.
If you want hot drinks in the morning you will certainly create tasty and bold cups. Its over-ice feature makes delicious and energizing iced beverages with an aroma and full body. This machine is best for tea-lovers because it gives the chance of using loose-leaf. Thanks to its custom brew basket you have the choice to use even the conventional teabags.
This unit stands out from its rivals with its in-built frother. This component features the advanced Auto-IQ intelligence one-touch tech. That means in a few seconds you can make a silky-smooth froth with a touch on a button. If a characteristic cup of coffee is your favorite thing through the morning, simply fill its carafe with a roast of your choice and allow the machine to do the rest of the entire work as you plan for the morning.
- One-touch operation.
- Brews many beverages.
- Features packed
- The carafe cannot be cleaned in a dishwasher.
- Not fit for kitchens with limited space
- May leak sometimes
5. Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
As the name suggests, this coffee maker has the capacity to extract two shots at the same time. Thanks to the included pairs of single or double baskets, standard and pressurized ones. The types make the best ground coffee to experienced and beginning baristas. Additionally, it provides users with full control over espresso shot volumes manually. This machine features an extraordinary dual Italian pump and valves that offer balanced low-pressure brew and steadily increases it to achieve optimum extraction. It comes with a steam wand that froths milk and a water reservoir of 61-ounce capacity.
This feature uses 1600Watts of power to make the thickest foam possible. With this unit you not on get that but also it ensures the craving for micro-foam on lattes or espressos will be satiated. It takes between 25 to 30 seconds to completely steam about 4 ounces of milk. And after hitting this boiler temperature its menu allows you to adjust in no minutes. What is more, the steam wand is attractively designed with a lever or dial that allows perfect control over the steam. That means you can easily create perfect latte art.
- Perfectly prepares lattes.
- Flexible and versatile.
- Reasonably priced.
- More time to learn how to use it
- Slightly noisy
- The hot water system may fail
7. Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
The manufacturer, Rancilio, put the commercial grade designing into this machine to ensure it has stable heat levels and optimal extraction quality. Thanks to the brassing included that means there are a uniform heat and water distribution always. In addition, it features an ergonomic porta-filter of 58mm that provides the best brewing.
Because this is a single-boiler machine, it stands out with its large capacity. Packing a massive 12 ounces in the chrome-plated boiler, its steaming ability is beaten by an instant recovery time after every brewing shots. The three thermostats included monitors the steam to ensure the heat in the boiler and espresso are the same. The water reservoir indicator holds two-quarts volume making it not only enough for multiple sessions of espresso-making at home, but it is also refillable when it is operating. This gives the chance to remove it and clean or repair it when needed.
Add to its fully speaking steam wand with a high-grade knob, you will quickly understand the reason you need to make this Silvia model an occupant on the countertop. Even better, you have the option of steaming milk or boiling water. This feature accommodates all espresso-loving guests and the Americanos too. The top of this machine provides a warming surface for pre-heating the cups to attain the perfect dispense each time.
- Extremely durable
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- High-performance
- No PID temperature control included
- Loses pressure over time
- May arrive broken or dented.
Mr. Coffee One-Touch Coffeehouse
This price range of this machine does not sacrifice on the quality of its parts either because it is well-made. All you need is to handle and maintain it correctly, and then it will last longer like any other higher-end models.
Regarding its appearance, as always Mr. Coffee has a very modern style of aesthetics. This coffee machine has a compact size and so will certainly blend well with any contemporary kitchen. It is also upped by the convenience aspect by the provided fully removable and dishwasher-safe parts. Even better, getting it cleaned for fresh coffee flavors is quite simple and easy.
Of course, the convenience of its features is for nothing if this machine cannot prepare delicious drinks. In that manner, this One-Touch machine is a surefire in all the needed things. It features an extraordinary 19-bar pump with an Italian design. This provides the right pressure for extracting all the needed coffee flavors.
From the name, this coffee maker uses the user-friendly one-button interface. This provides all coffee drinkers and especially the newbies the easy approach to brewing. In no time you will get the preferred blend without going through the tiring process of volume capacity and measurements.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- Simple to control interface.
- Fast and convenient.
- Underwhelming portafilter quality.
- Sometimes it makes inconsistent amounts of coffee
- Milk jar may break over time
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
One thing that sets it apart is the slender outline. Yes, this device is known to be among the tiniest espresso machines. It packs enough punches to ensure you do not skimp your coffee routine. The size fits any kitchen even if you have limited space. The manufacturer is known to make revitalizing products. And this unit tells it all with its functional design. It has numerous neat whistles and bells to keep its aesthetics sparkling and efficiency. In addition, it features an attractively finished stainless steel build. Its buttons are thus kept to a minimum to highlight its minimalist structure.
The drip tray of this machine has a floater that rises when the tray is full. This provides an appealing visual sign that the time for emptying has come. Even better, the tray is entirely removable for stress-free clearance of its contents.
During your search, you will notice that most of the small-sized ones have nearly no allowance between the drip tray and the lowest end of its portafilter. This unluckily limits the units to only brew espresso to small cups and shot glasses. Thankfully, the manufacturer understands this limitation and designed the Bambino with a taller clearance. This allows you to fit an average coffee mug below the portafilter. This works excellently for lattes enthusiasts and espressos with a little more milk.
- Small enough footprint
- Beautiful design
- Removable drip tray
- Minimal whistles and bells
- Dispenses hot water
- Smaller drip tray
Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
This unit allows you to create delectable coffee comfortably at home. Thanks to its barista-style features it suits used by both newbies and the experienced brewers. It is user-friendly due to its one-touch controls to make you extract without any stress. Simply choose the type of drink you want between single and double shots.
The machine has an automated frother that yields perfect and smooth velvety foam all the time. The knob is adjustable giving you all the control for getting an ideal consistency on your coffee. With just one touch of the button, the tube featured provides the right foam for your preferred drink. In addition, the settings make it operate smoothly reducing the frustrations of going through any complexities associated with brewing.
Convenience comes in its detachable milk reservoir. In case some milk is unused, the container can be easily removed and stored in the fridge until you get ready to make your next drink. What is more, cleaning the entire machine and its parts is quite easy. The milk tank is dishwasher safe adding to the ease of cleaning and maintenance. This Mr. Coffee unit has a gorgeous stainless-steel surface on the front. The finish allows a stress-free and quick wipe down once the brew is prepared.
- Easy operation
- Highly powered water pump
- Affordable and very functional.
- Needs priming before initial use.
- Frothing pipes must be cleaned after every use.
The Difference Between a Cappuccino, Latte, and Espresso
While you have a reason for buying a home latte machine it is important to understand some aspects. Lattes are sweetened drinks that are espresso-based and prepared using steamed milk plus the top micro-foam layer. It is vital to understand how it is different from any other espresso beverage.
There is no rocket science needed to make the perfect latte. However, without some basic knowledge on this subject, you will go through a sharp learning. And even worse you will have a lot of lost coffee.
Espresso drinks are prepared from finely ground coffee. It needs special brewing methods from a machine. Even without the experience, it is okay. Do not worry because all you need is just a little research before committing to your new machine. On the other hand, cappuccino, which is more foam based is made from milk and espresso. For an effective drink, frothing is necessary using the steam wand. From there you aerate and emulsify to have the creamy and velvety milk. When poured in a cup this creates fancy latte art or cappuccino top.
Types of Latte Machines
The market offers different types of coffee machines to allow you to choose what you prefer. Each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Semi-Automatic or Automatic
A semi-auto model may be chosen over the fully automatic one depending on the extraction of flavor you are looking for. Over-extraction can make the flavor taste too diluted. The ability to manually switch off the pump is vital for reaching the maximum tastes.
Super-Automatic
This type of coffee machine boasts an added convenience provided by auto and semi-auto models. Most feature a one-touch interface that means you press one button then wait for the coffee to get processed. However, if you are a coffee enthusiast the flavor it usually produces has fewer espresso shots, unlike the semi-auto units. That said, this option is still excellent for people not confident coffee brewing.
The machines are undoubtedly the peak of convenience today when looking to make espresso at home. Even though it lacks the flavor, the balance in its speed and convenience makes it a surefire win for those on a busy schedule.
Coffee Pod
The most recent type available in the market is the coffee pod units. The models use an exceptional way to make delicious cups of coffee. It needs coffee pods or capsules brewed together with pre-ground beans. The good thing is that the added requirement, coffee capsule, is very affordable. One advantage is that the machines have a stress-free functionality. Of course, the flavor production is not on the same level as the more sophisticated models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can espresso machines create lattes?
Answer: It is worth noting that lattes and espresso are two different things. The key difference, however, comes on the items used in making the drinks. And that means not every espresso machine will make the lattes you enjoy taking. Although the ones in this review will do it perfectly to your taste. Remember only the models having some type of steaming wand or milk frother can create lattes. So, if you especially need to create a latte at home pay attention to the features.
Q: How much does a home coffee machine cost?
Answer: Model prices vary according to features, size and quality and brand. It pays to shop around and keep an eye out for deals if you are looking for specific features and functionality.
Q: How will I know if my coffee brews in the right way?
Once you purchase your coffee machine, read the instructions carefully and spend some time getting to know how to use the coffee maker, it’s functionality and how to make the perfect cup. It may be a steep learning curve depending on the machine you choose, however it will be worth the time and effort.
Q: How should I clean my latte machine?
Answer: Every machine has a manufacturer’s manual that includes its maintenance. So, the approach you use will depend on the model purchased. Some of the units have options for self-cleaning, and others need manual cleaning methods. Be cautious while washing the parts including steam wands. Be sure to become familiar with the recommended cleaning routines.
Conclusion
Purchasing a high-quality coffee machine provides a variety of options for the coffee enthusiast, ensuring you enjoy your cup of heaven for many years to come. Undoubtedly the market has a plethora of options to suit all needs.
Hopefully, the information shared above helps you make the right choice to ensure you satisfy your everyday caffeine needs. Enjoy!
