The old adage of ‘good enough being good enough’ was often the philosophy applied to home coffee until relatively recently. Stovetop moka pots and the ubiquitous French Press represented the limits of what one could achieve when looking for a personally-crafted brew without having to leave the house.
The foundation for all great coffee, the true espresso, is only possible through such a demanding combination of pressure, temperature and timing. That meant that it remained firmly in the domain of cafés and coffee houses for a very long time. However, over the last decade there has been a new boom in commercial-grade machines that are attending to the rising prosumer era of coffee, where individual tastes and crafts are being matched by excellent hardware for the home.
Our guide to a collection of the very best coffee machines for the home will help with any initial research to get the most from your morning cup.
La Marzocco
GS3
The Florentine manufacturer La Marzocco has long been responsible for commercial coffee machines of the highest quality that grace cafes all over the world. They realised that in the 21st century, there is an emerging cohort of coffee enthusiasts who want the finest espresso capability in their own four walls and the GS3 is the result. The whole machine is reverse-engineered from commercial models with essential amendments to accommodate domestic use.
It houses true dual boilers with PID-controlled capability that ensure temperature stability in a consistent and stable way for every brew. A commercial rotary pump has been dampened and tuned for quieter output at home and the steam boiler capacity is the very pinnacle of home coffee machine consistency. The GS3’s Manual Paddle operation on the highest end modern also allows for full pressure control during extraction to physically control and feel pressure profiling in barista style. This is quite simply the most serious setup for home espresso creation and more than rivals most small café products at work. Despite all of this, it remains surprisingly user-friendly with rapid warm-up times and predictability throughout use. One can expect to pay around £7500 for the latest and finest configuration.
Linea Mini
The Linea Mini is a scaled-down version of the La Marzocco commercial coffee platforms that has a little more accessibility than the GS3 for those who are not as far along on their prosumer journey. Its performance as one of the benchmark products for home espresso cannot be questioned. The Linea Mini has similar levels of dual boiler technology and PID temperature control to the bigger GS3. A 2.5v litre water tank represents more than enough capacity for home use, even in large families with repeated use, and there is always the option to install the plumb-in kit directly to your water supply.
The semi-automatic brew paddle takes its inspiration from the classic espresso machine design with a shot timer for precision monitoring. Adjustable steam & hot water knobs combine with the integrated La Marzocco Home app for a combination of mechanical and digital applications that enhance usability in several ways. Importantly, it reminds and guides owners for maintenance scheduling and any adjustments that are required during regular use. Although the specifications are somewhat large for a domestic machine, it has been engineered to fit all standard kitchen counters and runs on regular power sources in the home. For the keen enthusiast, the Linea Mini may well be where vital experience for that elusive perfect home espresso is gained and developed. Prices for the Linea Mini are around £5000, depending on configuration and accessories.
Decent
DE1-XL Espresso Machine
The Decent DE1-XL is unlike many of the high-end prosumer category models that are an attempt at copying commercial hardware. Instead, this is an entirely radical re-imagining of what is possible in the home with design innovation and digital technology. As a tech-focused company, Decent built this machine around the use of data-driven methods to produce coffee from various recipes and methods. This means that the whole process is designed to be controlled via a mobile app on a phone or tablet. It allows the user to view real-time analytics on pressure, flow and temperature to record for future comparison and preference settings to take any future guesswork away.
With such visibility for every step that the machine takes, the Decent DE1-XL becomes a learning resource for experimentation and skill development in the art of coffee craft. The fresh and remarkable design gives it a much smaller footprint than other machines of a similar calibre, with a much lighter weight too. It looks and feels like serious equipment that may very well signal the shape of things to come for home coffee creation. Specialist retailers start with a list price of around £4500 for this incredible and future-facing product.
Lelit
Bianca V3 Espresso Machine
The Lelit Bianca V3 Espresso Machine is a wonderfully tactile machine for those who want control while they learn how to make the best home cup possible. It eschews screens and software for old-school engineering with a delightful aesthetic that is destined to make a feature on any kitchen countertop. Real wood accents on the paddle, control knobs and portafilter are perhaps the best example of this confident and eye-catching styling.
The Italian manufacturer Lelit has worked hard to deliver advanced coffee control to domestic users without obfuscating the process in mystery or inaccessible language and methods. However, that categorically does not mean there is compromise evident in the build quality or features of the Bianca. Its core architecture uses two independent stainless steel boilers, with one for espresso extraction and one steam boiler for milk and hot water. Like many of the higher-end consumer options, this can also be plumbed directly into the water source to remove the need for an external reservoir. Everything about this machine is geared towards everyday use in the most reliable way, with user-led maintenance and upkeep made into a simple process of easy to learn steps. The price of around £2500, depending on choice of finish, also makes it a good investment that can be replicated across multiple homes and offices for familiarity and consistency.
Much like any foray into the advanced consumer market, the best coffee machines require a certain level of time investment and dedication. Augmenting this with excellent hardware, such as the products outlined in this guide, is the best way to make the whole process a valuable and enjoyable way to learn. In no time at all, one can be bringing quality coffee craft to their own countertop every day of the year.
