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Ah, to taste that first sip of coffee shop flat white on our lips again. Starbucks, we took you for granted. We loved our morning routine pre-quarantine. It started with a spin class and a shower and always ended with a trip to Starbucks/Pret/*insert name of fancy coffee shop here* before we made it to our desk.
Fast forward to today and we’re stuck inside for the foreseeable future (excluding that one precious run, obvs), but for the sake of our mental health, we have tried to maintain our morning routine as much as possible.
The gym has been replaced with an at-home workout, the shower has been jazzed up with all manner of spa-like shower gels (cos, yanno - self care), and our kitchen table is becoming quite the productive work space. The only part we haven’t been able to nail? The coffee. Instant coffee just doesn’t cut it, in terms of flavour, consistency and quality.
In a bid to supercharge our mornings again and get that fancy latte fix, the search for an excellent at-home coffee machine began. The result? An edit of the best coffee machines on the market, whatever your go-to brew. You’ll love them long after lockdown.
At the top of the spectrum is Jura’s S8 Bean-to-Cup offering - a coffee machine which is well worth the investment. It has a colour touchscreen display which offers 15 different types of coffee at the press of a button. The AromaG3 grinder works *super* fast to blend your coffee, all while preserving the flavour of the beans while the fine foam technology finishes your lattes with the very best froth.
If aesthetics are your priority, Smeg’s green ECF01 machine will add a welcome pop of colour to your kitchen. It works with both coffee pods and ground coffee to make deliciously smooth espresso, cappuccino, latte or latte macchiato. Nespresso’s Lattissima is equally as stylish in white and fits Nespresso’s famously deliciously coffee pods, while the accessibly priced Bosch Tassimo has a compact design and makes more than 35 drink varieties on offer.
Nespresso Lattissima One Coffee Machine White
This is the most compact machine within the Lattissima range. It's stylish, elegant and sleek with its combination of gloss and matte finishes. This machine is equipped with a new, intelligent fresh milk system so that you can prepare delicious, frothy hot drinks at the touch of a button. All you need to do is fill the jug up with the amount of milk you'd prepare.
Smeg ECF01 Coffee Machine in Green
Add a pop of colour to your kitchen with Smeg's green ECF01 coffee machine. This clever machine can transform ground coffee or paper coffee pods into delicious latte, cappuccino, espresso or latte macchiato. You can even top your coffee with a layer of thick, velvety foam thanks to the adjustable milk-frothing wand.
Gaggia RI8425/22 Gran Deluxe Coffee Machine
Say hello to the Gaggia Gran Deluxe coffee machine which oozes classic Italian style. It has a classic milk frother for making tasty cappuccinos and a cup warmer for your hot Espresso. The machine comes with a coffee filter for one or two cups of ground coffee, plus a special filter for pre-portioned coffee pods.
Bosch Tassimo Vivy Hot Drinks and Coffee Machine
One of the most accessibly-priced coffee machines out there is Bosch's Tassimo Vivy. The best part about this machine (besides its price) is that it makes 35 varieties of hot drinks including hot chocolate and tea. The quality of the coffee is great, you don't have to refill the water tank too often and it has a built-in cleaning system for easy maintenance. We have no complaints.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee Machine
You'll struggle to find a coffee machine much sleeker than the Nespresso Vertuo Plus which, considering its expensive-looking appearance, is incredibly affordable. A bestseller for good reason, this machine is compatible with all Nespresso coffee pods and makes four different sizes of coffee. All you'll need to do is insert your capsule of choice, close the lever and watch as spins up to 7,000 times per minute to create the ultimate blend. Your mornings have never tasted better.
Sage Oracle Touch Fully Automatic Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine
The Sage Oracle Touch coffee machine is so worth the investment - the best thing in coffee tech, some might say. It boasts a colour touchscreen and once programmed, you swipe once to select your long black, flat white, espresso, latte or cappuccino. The machine cleans itself, and the taste? It might even be better than your favourite coffee shop creates.
Jura S8 Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine
If simplicity is what you're after, you can't get much better than the Jura S8. Jura has been making bestselling coffee machines for decades, and you can certainly tell. Every drink you'd be able to get in a coffee shop is available - all you need to do is pour in your coffee beans and make a selection. The machine will do the rest in seconds.
Breville One Touch VCF108 Coffee Machine
We were sold at the sight of white and rose gold, and that was before we tasted how delicious the coffee was. Breville's One Touch is simple, clean and easy to maintain. It's compatible with both ground coffee and coffee pods and it can make three different types of coffee. There's even a toaster and kettle in the same range, so all of your kitchen appliances can match.
Lavazza Idola
With its sophisticated design, maximum simplicity and serious innovation, the Lavazza Idola is the ideal machine for coffee connoisseurs. You can choose from four different coffee recipes - Espresso, Short Espresso, Long Coffee and Free Dose Coffee – and the Boost temperature button produces a piping hot espresso with an unmistakable Lavazza aroma, for guaranteed quality every time.
This article originally appeared on GLAMOUR UK
