[1] Best for the Espresso Lover: Illy Francis Francis X7 This machine makes only two things: espresso and a statement. Every woman who participated in our test swooned over its design—even a few guys got choked up. Sadly, there’s no internal grinder; instead, it uses lower-quality, one-use espresso pods that you have to buy separately ($16 for 21 capsules). The two-button control panel allows you to regulate the length of the pour—a nice extra. The price is right, too. If you serve more coffee than you drink, add this machine to your shopping list. $600, illyusa.com
[2] Best for the Latte Lover: Nespresso Lattissima This caffeine cube is smaller than a typical toaster but still pours piping hot, flavorful shots. Instead of grinding fresh beans, Nespresso relies on sealed aluminum capsules ($6 for 10) that contain preground blends. We generally hate preground coffee, but—kudos to Nespresso—this tasted fresh to us. Our favorite feature is the removable milk container, which you can fill and store in the fridge. Convenience comes with a catch: There are only 12 capsule flavors—nine espressos and three coffees. So if you love to try new blends, this isn’t the machine for you. $800, nespresso.com
[3] Best for the Micromanager: Saeco Talea Ring Plus This machine allows you to customize practically everything—from bean coarseness to aroma strength. And it all works as advertised. A central knob regulates flavor intensity, while the iPod-inspired click wheel adjusts internal and cup-specific settings. Lost has fewer layers, which is a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. $1,800, saeco-usa.com
[4] Best for the Guy Who Works from Home: Krups Compact Fully Automatic Is a near-perfect cup of espresso or coffee worth waiting for? If you said yes, this machine is for you. In our tests, it started the slowest—more than 3½ minutes to the first cup. And though the menus offer a lot of flexibility, we occasionally found them confusing. On the upside, thanks to its slim design, it’ll hide on the counter of even the smallest kitchens. $1,500, krups.com
[5] Best for the Home Barista: Jura-Capresso Impressa C9 One Touch You could close every coffee shop in town with the crema-rich espresso and full-bodied coffee that this superautomatic creates. It starts up quickly—we went from cold start to first cup in less than 2 minutes—and grinds and steams smoothly. Only downside: The grinder’s roar is sure to wake everyone else in the house. Even so, this machine scored the best overall in our tests. $1,800, capresso.com
Comments
19 Jan 2009, 08:04
I have to say you should try the espresso that this machine produces. Unfortunately Illy does not produce anything that is lower quality. The Iper capsule that you are referring to as a pod produces wonderful espresso with an excellent crema. I have been drinking espresso shots for years and the Iper capsules will easily hold their own against any freshly ground beans.
Dave
26 Jan 2009, 10:21