15 Gifts For The Coffee Machine Lover In Your Life

How to Choose the Best Home Coffee Machine

The best home espresso machine can be a perfect fit for your kitchen and complement your preferences for brewing. The most important aspects are size, capacity and design.

This espresso maker for prosumers amazed us with its speed, precision and user-friendliness. The Sage Bambino heats quickly and efficiently. It steams milk powerfully and produces excellent extractions at 19 bars.

Pod (or capsule) machines

A pod machine is the ideal option if you wish to make coffee quickly and easily with pre-ground pods. These machines remove the mess that comes with brewing by eliminating the need for portafilters and complicated burr grinders that must be cleaned regularly to eliminate coffee oils. They require less maintenance. Regular cleaning and descaling of the reservoirs of water is a great idea.

However, these types of brewers have their limitations. They typically only work with specific types of coffee pod, usually in the K-Cup, Nespresso capsule or ESE (easy-serve espresso) formats. This isn't an issue if you stick to a particular brand of coffee but can be an issue if you are interested in trying various varieties.

Pod machines are also less durable and come with smaller water tanks. They can also be slower to brew, which might not be a problem for those who are in a hurry in the morning, but is a hassle when you're planning a long day at work.

We suggest that you think about the size of your coffee bar before purchasing a pod machine since some are more compact than others and will fit in between other appliances on your counter. Also think about how much you're willing to invest and the drinks you'd like to make. Our former ecommerce director Louise keeps her intake of caffeine affordable by using the Nespresso Vertuo Next. It allows her to make short or long espresso shots, and includes milk frother.

This sleekly designed pod-machine from Sage gives you the best coffee machine for latte of both worlds - high-end technology and low-maintenance. It's not expensive, but it's a stylish addition to your kitchen, and its slick stainless steel design is sure to make a statement on your kitchen counter. It can create five different drinks with the press of one button. Each capsule has an underside barcode that the machine uses to determine the drink to be dispensed. It's a great option for sustainability enthusiasts, as the capsules break down and decompose rapidly. The reusable mug also makes it a great choice.

Manual Espresso Machines

For those who enjoy the art of making espresso manual machines can offer an enjoyable hands-on experience. They can be more time-consuming than automated espresso machines, but if you've got the patience and skills to work with them, they can make premium drinks that are tailored to your tastes. They are also more durable and come with designs that can withstand the rigors of use than other kinds of.

Manual espresso machines aren't as user-friendly as automated ones, however, and they often lack precise temperature control. It can be difficult to produce consistently high-quality espresso shots. The most reliable manual espresso machine comes with a steep learning slope and can be costly to buy and maintain.

If you're a coffee lover keen to discover the world of manual espresso, you should try an older model that was designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Certain models come with a built-in milk steamer and grinder, making them simple to use for new coffee drinkers. Certain models come with an open reservoir that makes it easier to refill and clean. Some are programmed, letting you decide the time for the brew cycle prior to when you wake up.

Some manual espresso machines are large and would be an ideal choice for larger households or coffee carts. Some are smaller and require less counter space. Think about how many people you intend to serve at any one time when deciding on the size of your machine, as well. Consider a larger model in the event that you have more than one roommate or family member who loves making espresso.

A few of the cheapest manual espresso machines have a programmable milk frother, that can be set to automatically heat and the milk to your desired consistency. This kind of machine is great to make cappuccinos or lattes as well as for those with sensitive teeth. This kind of machine is not suitable for those who like a thicker cup of espresso. It makes less foam.

Automatic Espresso Machines

In this category, you'll find fully automatic espresso machines that handle the entire process of brewing, from grinding to extraction. They are simple to operate and require minimal maintenance, aside from cleaning and descaling. These are perfect for those who aren't keen on getting their hands dirty or have a limited counter space for a fully sized coffee and espresso machine.

The top models are highly programmable and come with settings for various drinks that can be saved to "user profiles." They're also more likely to be Wi-Fi enabled so you can control them using your smartphone. All that automation and programmability is expensive They are more expensive than semi-automatics or manuals.

One of our favorite automatic espresso makers is the stylish Eveversys Cameo. It is a sleek, visually pleasing machine that takes up little space on your counter. It also scores 5 out of 5 in our ratings for ease of use - second only to Miele. It's a high-output model which can accommodate three different grinders and hoppers, and you can select which one you'd like to use by using a touchscreen display. It's not only easy to use, it's also self-monitoring and calibrates itself automatically so you don't have to worry the hassle of turning a knob or pressing buttons.

Another option in this category is the Cuisinart Spinn. The small pill-shaped machine utilizes centrifugal force to brew espresso, which is distinct from the traditional method of pushing water down through the grounds. It can create several beverages, including cappuccino as well as Latte, with a bit of practice. This machine was tested at the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute, and scored a perfect 5 in our ratings for ease-of-use. It's also tiny according to espresso maker standards. It doesn't require any space on your counter.

It's worth experimenting with several different types of espresso machines until you find the one that best suits your personal style, available space, and budget. You should also think about aesthetics. You'll want one that matches your decor and even your coffee machine. Make sure you check the dimensions of your counter to ensure that the machine you choose will fit.

Pour-Over Machines

If you're looking to brew a cup of coffee with total control, a pour-over machine is a good choice. Manual pour-over machines, such as the Chemex Funnex or the Hario V60 can adjust a variety of variables (coffee grounds to water ratio filter type, time of brewing) for a personalized brew. They tend to produce more vivid aromas and flavors than drip machines.

The best small coffee machine pour-over brewers can be used to achieve top-quality results. They come with a thermometer that measures water temperature to the nearest degree, and a pressure gauge that informs you when the desired amount of brewed water is poured. They have a portafilter big enough to accommodate the standard coffee mug, and provide enough space between the portafilter and the drip tray to ensure you can pour your brew directly into your cup of coffee.

The coffee makers also have a charcoal filter that can be cleaned to remove impurities in the water. This is vital because the coffee maker with poor quality filters will create a bitter taste in your cup. The best bean to cup coffee machine pour-over coffee makers are constructed from materials that can be washed in the dishwasher and don't retain or leak coffee smells.

A good pour-over is easy to clean and should be fun to use. We found that the majority of the models we tested were easy to hold in one hand, and had the right dimensions and shape for a kitchen counter. Some of the most basic models, like the Zojirushi Zutto, even has a small footprint which makes it perfect for small spaces. Some, such as the Melitta Cafe filter, come with a hand that can be removed, which allows you to lift and replace the filters.

We also like the Philips 3200 Series, which includes a built-in burr grinder and an intuitive display. The Philips 3200 Series can brew black coffee, Americanos and espresso with the push of a single button. It also has an attached steam wand for lattes and cappuccinos. This model has a variety of settings that can be customized, including different beverage strengths and sizes. It can also start the brewing process up to 24 hours in advance.