The Best Coffee Machine For Coffee Beans
Bean-to-cup coffee machines, once the exclusive domain of coffee shops, now offer convenience and customization. They grind and brew beans according to your preferences, and some are also able to steam milk to make one-press lattes.
The best ones feature saved (and adjustable) coffee settings and a spot for ground-coffee as a back-up option. They're also an excellent choice for busy workplaces.
Grind & Brew Plus
This model is equipped with a burr mill that automatically grinds the whole beans prior to making coffee. This ensures the beans are freshly ground and are of a consistent size. This results in a pot of coffee with more flavor. It also has an enduring gold-tone filter which eliminates the use of paper filters, and also removes impurities that could alter the flavor of coffee. Additionally, it comes with a 12-cup thermally insulated carafe designed to keep your coffee hot and ready for any time you require it. Its programmable timer allows you to get up to freshly brewed coffee at just the push of an a button, and the brew strength control gives you the option to select between medium, strong, or mild coffee. It also has a convenient pause and pour function to allow you to enjoy a cup before the brewing cycle is completed.
The model is also simple to use. The large buttons, well-labeled, make it intuitive to understand and use, and the removable hopper and filter make cleaning effortless. The machine can be placed in the dishwasher, which will save you the trouble of cleaning out the grinds from hard-to-reach areas.
This model can grind and make whole bean coffee as well as K-cups and single-serve pods. This is a great choice for those who like to switch the style of their coffee often or require one serving to carry with them in an insulated travel cup. It comes with a 12-cup carafe, which can be used to make an enormous pot of coffee. You can also set it up to brew smaller cups, like 8- 10-, 12-, or 10-ounces.
While this model is a bit more expensive than other models we have tested but it has some additional features that make it worth the extra expense. It has a convenient 24 hour timer with an auto shutoff (0-4 hrs), a brew-strength control and a ready alarm. It also has a pause and pour function, which is ideal for those who are constantly in a hurry and cannot wait to wait for the entire brewing process to finish. Additionally, the commercial-grade coffee maker is constructed from stainless steel to protect against stains and scratches. The included charcoal water filters aid in improving the quality of the water you drink and help prevent lime scale buildup. Coffeee of this model is that it can be loud when it's in use and the programmable display is not clear enough to read in dim light. In other words, it's a reliable and efficient coffee maker with a top-quality grinder.
Breville Smart Grinder
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the ideal coffee grinder for coffee lovers who are looking for an experience that is top-quality. This model comes with a variety of grind sizes and precise dosing using Dosing IQ. This grinder is more expensive than entry-level models, but it offers superior performance and advanced features.
The stainless steel burrs on the grinder help to minimize grinding heat, and also protect beans' essential oils. This produces an improved flavor and smooth coffee. It also has a convenient portafilter that allows you to pour your coffee even when the grinder is on pause. This feature is particularly beneficial for espresso brewing.
The grinder comes with a one bean hopper weighing 1 pound that features the ability to lock it and has the lid is lock-and-go to ensure that your beans are fresh and ready to brew. The hopper can also be taken off and used as a container to store your grounds. This is an excellent feature if you are planning to use the grinder to pour-over, French press or AeroPress brewing.
A large LCD screen allows you to easily choose and program your desired grind settings. It also displays the timer when the beans are ground and makes it easy to find the proper amount of grounds for any method of brewing. The Smart Grinder Pro includes 60 precise grind settings, ranging from fine espresso to coarse French press and gives you the ability to alter the brewing process.
The Smart Grinder Pro is a stylish grinder with an intuitive interface that will fit in with any kitchen decor. The high-end materials and durable construction will ensure that this grinder can stand up to frequent use and a variety of styles of brewing. It's easy to clean and the included brush makes it simple to keep the grinder running smoothly. The manual is extensive and includes troubleshooting and tips for common problems. It also provides the list of recommended parts and accessories, so you can make sure your new grinder is performing its best.
Breville Barista Touch Impress
If you want to be dirty but don't have the budget to purchase a professional espresso machine, the Breville Barista Touch impress might be the right choice for you. It's the machine that the industry has been slowly working towards in the past few years, and it does take much of the learning curve out of manual espresso making while being aesthetically beautiful to boot.
The machine is equipped with an extremely high-quality, ultra-precise Baratza grinder that is essential for espresso machines at home to ensure the best extraction and flavour. The machine then combines it with their smart auto-dosing system and user-friendly assisted tamping to create the most user-friendly cafe-style coffee maker on the market. They even provide an online series of video tutorials that help you master the skills required to make the most of the machine and create amazing latte art.
In addition, the machine has smart milk-heating and frothing capabilities too, which makes it a fantastic choice for those who appreciate hot chocolate and flat whites as well. It's got what they call Auto MilQ which is a fancy name for calibrated settings for milk texturing. It can be used with dairy, almond or soy milk to make the micro-foam required for great latte arts. It's definitely the most advanced automatic milk heating and frothing mechanism on any coffee machine out currently.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though the machine makes excellent espresso, it tends to produce a slightly bitter, slightly burnt flavor. This is because it uses a low temperature to heat the water, and as a result the resultant extract is slightly bitterness. However, it's simple to fix this by using a slightly more powerful kettle and adjusting your grind coarseness and tamping to offset this.
The Barista Touch Impress looks stunning and feels like it was made to be the centerpiece of any kitchen. It has a sleek, modern design that appears like an item of furniture and is available in three primary colours that should fit with any style. There are some limited edition colours in case you're looking for something more lively. It's a bit of splurge but, if you're determined to make the plunge into manual espresso making, it might be worth the cost. And even if you only save $2 per cup, you'll break even in one year, and possibly earlier.