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Finest espresso maker 2021: How one can get the perfect espresso at dwelling

Kit to hit your caffeine fix

Instant granules might be the definition of convenient coffee, but even the best stir-in stuff can’t match the results you’ll get from a proper machine.

Want to kick your caffeine routine up a gear? From espresso machines to drip filters, the best coffee makers make it easy to brew better batches at home.

In search of premium swill, we’ve picked nine of our favorites. So put on the kettle, get yourself a mug of the good stuff, and get ready for some top-shelf jitter juice.

buying tips

Think of the waste

Plastic coffee pods are no friend of the planet. Ditch single-use items, find a machine that doesn’t require refilling paper, and stock up on a vacuum mug — so you can take your brew with you on the go instead of buying wasteful takeaways.

Think of the space

None of these bean machines take up the same space as the industrial brewers at your local coffee shop. But be sure to check the fit before buying – some are slightly larger than others.

Think of the taste

Coffee snobbery knows no bounds. If you’re at the top of the obsession hierarchy, you’ll want extra control over water temperature and coffee strength – so opt for a machine with customizable settings.

Think of the pace

Consider your caffeine capacity. 10 cups a day might be enough for shakes, but if you plan on drinking a lot then get a machine with a generous jug of water to refill regularly without having to go to the tap frequently.

The Kitsch Caffeinator: Swan Retro Pump Espresso (£100)

Brits may not be known for making great coffee, but Swan’s old-school espresso maker shows they can still come up with decent steam machines. Like a steam train train, it features a vintage-style temperature controller so you can watch the hand spin as the die-cast boiler does its work. Unlike a train, it’s super easy to start: with just three buttons and a dial, there’s little room to go off the rails.

The Streamlined Steamer: Morphy Richards Espresso (£130)

The work surface is prime kitchen real estate. For full-bodied brews in a compact footprint, try this all-metal espresso maker from Morphy Richards. Despite its affordability, it can brew two shots of coffee at once—there’s also a steam wand for frothed milk. It uses ground coffee or ESE pods for hassle-free rocket fuel.

The Retro Barista: Smeg ECF01 (£320)

With sweeping curves and characteristic chrome lettering, the Smeg coffee machine is a 1950s revival through and through. More than just an eye-catcher, it has all the skills to satisfy serious baristas – including a cup warming surface and a lever-activated steam nozzle. Combine it with Smeg’s CGF01 coffee grinder for the full vintage experience.

The Chic Frother: De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro (£1000)

This brushed stainless steel behemoth will take up a significant portion of your worktop. It also requires quite a bit of input to master. While the user interface may seem foreign at first, the Maestro’s dials and digital display do a lot to help you brew perfectly frothy lattes. And while “real coffee” is clearly the preferred choice, it will also deign to work with ESE capsules.

The Hot Cold Hero: Jura Z10 (£2245)

People blowing hot and cold are mighty annoying, but for a coffee maker this can be an extremely useful feature. Jura’s Z10 can be extracted both hot and cold, with 32 options to suit every taste and temperature preference – from the usual lattes and cappus to a selection of icy brews for the summer months. Everything is controlled via a 4.3-inch touchscreen display on the front – or you can trigger it from your phone using Jura’s JOE app.

The Compact Crusher: Krups Evidence One (£549)

This classy Krups machine offers 12 bean-to-cup recipes and 17 drink options via its stylish OLED display. It’s also self-cleaning, looks good, and doesn’t take up too much countertop space. It can also eject two drinks at the same time, making it a real crowd puller. Simply fill the 260g container and get started.

The Decadent Descaler: Smeg BCC02 (£678)

For a do-it-all coffee maker, the Smeg BCC02 has a comparatively small footprint due to its compact design, and the smooth brushed aluminum finish and 50’s-style curves are easy on the eyes. In addition to providing hot water, you can sip ristrettos, espressos and Americanos at the touch of a button and set the coffee grinder to the optimal setting. A milk frother takes care of your crema needs and the 1.4L capacity makes about 6 cups of the goodies. The descaling alarm sounds to keep an eye on water quality and adjust settings based on water hardness.

The Elegant Drip Maker: KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker (£119)

Drippers have a bad reputation for burnt brews in the workplace. Done right, they can deliver delicious coffee. Take this machine from KitchenAid: A 29-hole spiral shower head saturates the soil for the ultimate in flavor extraction. So you can wake up, shower, and then shower your beans for Joe to get you going. You can adjust brew time, strength and amount on the LCD display – and like a real office pot, you can schedule brews that stay hot for up to 40 minutes.

The Family Solution: Sage Precision Brewer Thermal (£250)

Get caffeine all around the house with this generous 1.7 liter vacuum jug. And if your roommates have a specific flavor preference, simply swap out the filter basket: According to Sage, the paper shape brings out different notes in the coffee – so you can easily adjust the taste, from floral to fruity. You can also adjust the drip speed, water temperature, and “flowering time” to suit your chosen blend.

The Gassy Glugger: Hatfield’s Nitro Press (£148)

Nitrogen makes all culinary endeavors more exciting. Just ask Heston. And while coffee can be nitro fuel for your morning, the NitroPress uses nitrogen to create dairy-free foam. The extreme pressure forces thousands of tiny bubbles through your cold brew, resulting in a smooth, creamy texture. For great results, use Hatfields Cold Brew Beans – they were designed for the job.

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