1. Breville-Nespresso Creatista Uno Black Sesame
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
The Nespresso Creatista Uno Black Sesame has an automatic operation and patented extraction system. It is an extremely fast machine which can produce a cup of coffee or espresso with just one touch in less than half a minute. Because it is automatic it produces a consistently good cup of coffee. Speaking of automatic, it has an energy saving setting to turn off after 9 minutes of inactivity so even if you forget to turn it off the machine will know when to shut off.
Even though this machine has a small footprint we would not have minded otherwise because of its aesthetically pleasing design. The machine is made with cast aluminum and has in-mould glossy plastic. Its black color makes it very easy to fit in with any modern decor.
It offers two brew sizes: Espresso (1.35 oz) and Lungo (5 oz). That is not the only customization. You can choose between three different milk textures and set the required milk temperature. So you can have the perfect black coffee be it a Ristretto, Espresso or Lungo, or a cup of milk-based coffee like Cappuccino, Café Latte, Latte Macchiato and Flat White.
The Nespresso Creatista has a water tank capacity of 20.3 oz with its removable tank and a capsule container capacity of 6 used capsules. It comes with a complimentary set of capsules as well as a stainless steel barista milk jug with a spout that will make Latte Art possible.On top of everything it has an assisted clean and descaling system installed to make the job almost unnecessary for you. So if you are someone who likes the machine to do all the work for you, while being highly customizable, to produce a consistently good cup of coffee all while being extremely fast and easy to clean then this is the perfect machine for you.
2. Breville the Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
Breville’s The Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is worth the price for many reasons. It has many functions that offer customization according to preference but are also very user friendly. So while it will take some experimentation initially to get a hand of the machine that time and effort spent will be entirely worth it when you finally drink the perfect cup of coffee at home made by your own hands. And you don’t need to stick to one kind of coffee either.
The BES870XL comes with an in-built grinder and a dial to control the amount and size of the grind. Depending on your mood and taste, you can fine-tune your grind to your liking, and enjoy espresso, macchiato, latte, americano or cappuccino. For each cup, this means that your coffee will be incredibly fresh since the machine has dose control grinding. The conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter for your preferred taste with any roast of the bean. So you no longer have to worry if your preferred coffee flavor is compatible with your machine.
With the attached steam wand and the accessories that come with you can hand texture microfoam milk and create beautiful latte art. The accessories included are the razor dose trimming tool, a 54mm stainless steel portafilter, 1 cup & 2 cup single & dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, integrated tamper, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning disc and tablets, cleaning brush, tool and Allen Key etc.You also control the temperature at which water flows through your coffee for optimal espresso extraction. The brewing process starts with low pressure pre-infusion that soaks the grinds which allows the water to pass evenly through the coffee during the 9 bar, high pressure extraction that is done with the 15 bar Italian pump.
3. Breville BNV250BLK1BUC1 Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
The Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine is aesthetically pleasing and has a small footprint. In black, it will fit in any modern kitchen design. This machine is single serve and so will have minimal waste. You get a lot of different customisation options with not just the capsules available but also with the settings which allow you to make espresso, cappuccinos and lattes. And all these at a very fast rate with just one touch.
The machine offers five cup sizes: single espresso shot, double espresso shot, a Lungo (5 oz), 8 oz cup or a 14 oz cup. And it comes with a stainless milk jug and a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules. It can store used capsules and has a container capacity of up to 10 large capsules. People who love to try new coffee blends should consider this as a plus point as they are going to get multiple pods to satisfy their cravings. By using these pods you can brew your favorite beverage anytime you want. The machine allows you to brew your coffee in a convenient way by following the instructions that appear on the display screen.The Centrifusion extraction technology present in the machine makes it unique amongst the lot. You do not have to follow any special procedure for this. All you are required to do is to insert the pod and close the port. You don’t even have to shut it off as it has an automatic power off time of 9 minutes. Saves energy in case you forget to turn it off.
This machine also has an Aeroccino 3 milk frother which produces smooth and fine textured cold or hot milk froth within a few moments. The milk frother is smart enough to use an automatic system that prepares the milk faster so that you can try out various coffee recipes. The whole process takes place without creating any noise or vibration making it convenient to use whenever.
4. Breville BES810BSS Duo Temp Pro Espresso Machine
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
This machine is quite similar to The Barista Express BES870XL. They are both aesthetically pleasing if you are into the stainless steel, sturdy, minimalist look. One big difference, however, is that the BES810BSS Duo Temp does not have a built in grinder. But the brewing process is the same. It starts with low pressure pre-infusion that soaks the grinds which helps in saturating all areas of the ground and allows the water to pass evenly through the coffee during the 9 bar, high pressure extraction that is done with the 15 bar Italian pump. The BES810BSS Duo Temp is simpler and easier to operate so if you are not up for experimenting too much before getting your coffee right as you want it then this machine will be better.
The BES810BSS Duo Temp also comes with a huge water reservoir that allows you to store up to 61 ounce of water. The water tank is removable and has an integrated water filtration. Its huge water storage capacity will save you from refilling it again and again. The espresso machine also has an auto purge feature. It automatically purges the heat system after steaming so that your next espresso is extracted at the right temperature. It also has maintenance indicators so that the machine can let you know when it requires cleaning. The Drip Tray and Cleaning alerts make maintenance really easy.
With the attached 360 degree swivel steam wand that is extremely user-friendly and the accessories that come with you can hand texture microfoam milk and create beautiful latte art. The accessories included are the razor dose trimming tool, 1 cup & 2 cup single & dual wall filter baskets, stainless steel milk jug, water filter etc.
5. Breville BES840BSXL The Infuser Espresso Machine
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
What sets BES840BSXL apart from the other machines in this price range is its pre-infusion technology, the thermocoil heating system and PID temperature control technology. It has both automatic features, like temperature settings, and programmable features. You can select the volume by choosing between 1 shot or 2 shots or by manually controlling how much espresso ends up in your cup and then program it to always provide that much volume.
The pre-infusion function is part of the brewing process. At the start of the extraction the coffee grinds are soaked in water at a low pressure to gently expand them. This helps fill in any cracks, gaps, or irregularities in the coffee puck before full pressure is applied, so even pressure is applied to all parts of the coffee puck and optimal flavor is extracted. Once the espresso has been extracted the machine automatically removes excess water from the filter basket and the used grounds form a dry puck for easier and quicker cleaning.The digital PID temperature control is adjustable in 4⁰ F increments and the machine has a pressure gauge that guides you to the right extraction. That along with a thermocoil heating system with integrated stainless steel water coil accurately controls water temperature. The auto purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for the machine to return to the optimal espresso extraction temperature.
With the attached 360 degree swivel steam wand that is extremely user-friendly and the accessories that come with you can hand texture microfoam milk and create beautiful latte art. The accessories included are the single & dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, stainless steel jug, cleaning disc & tablets, cleaning tool, water filter holder & filter. After frothing or brewing the unit performs an internal clean cycle that takes around 40-45 seconds after the brew or steamed water/frothing choice.
Other touches include an ‘Empty Me!’ indicator that lets you know when the removable drip tray is full and a ‘Clean Me’ cleaning alert. All parts that come in contact with water and coffee are BPA free.
The machine also includes a cup warmer on the top and has an extra-tall cup clearance for brewing directly into travel mugs. The machine also goes into 'Sleep Mode' after 1 hour and automatically shuts off after 3 hours in case you forget to turn it off.
6. Breville-Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine
Outstanding features
Why you should buy
The Breville Nespresso Inissia Espresso is a light and stylish machine that is compact in size and will fit in anywhere in your kitchen, dorm or your office. It is available in various colors including ruby red, white, fuschia velvet, vanilla cream, etc. But due to its size you can only store 24 ounce of water in its water reservoir so you may have to refill it frequently. It is slow on energy consumption and only uses power when running the pump and heating water. It only takes 25 seconds to heat up the water after which you can make up to 9 coffees. After 9 minutes it switches off automatically to save power.
This coffee maker is also pretty user friendly. The machine has only 2 buttons; one button brews a long shot and the other brews a normal shot. It also consists of a port for the espresso capsule. All you have to do is select which flavor capsule you want, put it in and choose between the Espresso or the Lungo shot. The machine comes with a complimentary set of Nespresso capsules. The cool thing about Nespresso capsules is that they follow highly rigorous standards in selecting coffee and create hermetically sealed and recyclable aluminium capsules to keep the coffee freshn and provide exceptional taste. And they also offer a wide variety of coffees to satisfy every taste at any moment of the day. If you want to try out different flavors these capsules will be the cheapest and least wasteful way to go about it.
The Breville Nespresso Inissia also has a folding drip tray which allows you to use larger cups as well and once you remove the cup it automatically drops down to catch drips. Oh and did we mention it comes equipped with an ergonomic handle? Yep, it's very light and adorable.
If your heart is set on a Breville coffee maker (and why wouldn’t it?) one of these six machines is probably the one you’d want in your kitchen. By the way, if you are worried that the nespresso capsules are bad for the environment, rest assured that since 2009 they have reduced the carbon footprint of each cup of Nespresso by over 20% and Nespresso also plants trees to compensate for their operations. Plus, they are partners with the Rainforest Alliance and have established the AAA Sustainable Quality Program.