Latte machines are becoming a must-have appliance in modern kitchens due to their ability to deliver delicious beverages. Latte lovers who want to enjoy barista-quality drinks at home find these machines very useful. They are functional and allow you to prepare custom drinks fast, any time of the day eliminating the need to visit the coffeehouse.
However, you should be keen to ensure you get the best latte machine since there are multiple brands. They also come with various features which aim at meeting the needs of coffee enthusiasts. You will want to choose a machine that bears all your desired features. Check the reviews and buying guide below to help you determine a machine that will suit your individual needs.
Why Choose a Latte Machine?
If you are a coffee fan who wants to enjoy a variety of drinks from the comfort of your house, you may want to choose a latte machine. A latte machine will enable you to be your own barista. You will save time and money since you will not have to visit the coffeehouse. This machine offers you the chance to personalize your beverages so you can take them the way you like.
Things to Consider Before Pick A Latte Machine
Capacity
The capacity of a latte machine is a vital consideration since it determines the amount of drink you can brew at a time. Some machines allow you to serve only 250 ml at a time while others hold up to 1 liter. You should choose a latte machine that holds your desired capacity.
Heating Technology and Extraction Pressure
Thermoblock heating technology is common among latte machines. However, some machines may feature other heating technologies. The heating technology is crucial since it determines the heat-up time. The extraction pressure may be 19 bars or 15 bars. It’s the pressure that controls flavor extraction from the coffee.
Type of coffee that is compatible with the Machine:
Some latte machines use capsules such as illy capsules, and others use K-cups. The type of coffee that a particular machine uses will determine the number (variety) of drinks that you can make. If you want to enjoy a variety of beverages, you should consider a unit that doesn’t use one specific type of coffee.
Energy Saving Options:
Energy-saving options may include auto-off or an energy-saving button. It’s good to consider a machine that has power-conserving options.
Other factors to consider
- Ease of cleaning
- Ability to brew into travel mugs
- Custom brewing options
- Heat-up time and size
- Your budget
Top 5 Home Latte Machine Review
We took a couple of months to examine and review different latte machines. During this time we filtered the best machines that suit the needs of latte lovers. Now we present the top 5 best home latte machines.
1. Mr. Coffee BVMC-EL1 Cafe Latte
Do you want to bring the coffeehouse experience to your home? You may want to try out the Mr. Coffee Café Latte. This unit makes tastier lattes at the touch of a button. If you are a latte fan, this machine will offer you a quick, easy, and cheap solution. It features an automated process that prepares espresso or coffee as well as heat and froth milk for a delicious latte.
This latte machine is simple to use since it has an automated latte cycle. It also features easy-to-use controls. You can create a favorite latte in only 3 simple steps. It has a capacity of 24 ounces which allows you to serve several drinks at a time. You will appreciate the versatility of this latte machine. It allows you to make hot chocolate for family or friends. Simply add chocolate ingredients and milk to the latte jar and turn on the selector level which initiates heating and frothing.
Although the carafe isn’t dishwasher safe, cleaning the components of this machine is simple. You can start by emptying the latte pitcher. The lid is also removable for ease of cleaning. Use a damp cloth or sponge to clean the exterior. A great aspect is that the coffee brew basket is dishwasher safe. This latte machine comes with a recipe book with 20 different varieties to help you get started. With these easy and funny recipes, you will be your own barista. You can make a basic latte or a decadent gingerbread latte. You will save money and time since you don’t have to visit the coffee shop.
Pros
- Simple to use and serve
- Can prepare hot chocolate
- Comes will recipe book – 20 different recipes
- Large capacity
- Auto power off makes it energy-efficient
Cons
- The carafe isn’t dishwasher safe
- It has a relatively large footprint
Conclusion:
This latte machine is specifically intended for home use, but it might be a bit large for urban kitchens. Housewives and other latte lovers will enjoy using this unit at home.
2. Verismo 600-System by Starbucks in Piano Black
With Verismo 600, you can make your favorite Starbucks drink in the comfort of your home. The machine is designed to allow you to make lattes without much hassle. The 5-button operation, high extraction pressure, energy saving, and fast latte preparation are the selling points of this machine.
It features a variable temperature system that ensures optimum coffee extraction. The temperature also ensures the milk steaming is effective. It has a capacity of 33.8 ounces (1L) so you can serve more than one cup at a time. This latte machine features a 5-button interface for ease of use. The buttons include brewed coffee, Milk, Espresso, Hot Water and Rinse. The hot water button allows you to brew Americanos. These buttons allow you to brew your desired Starbucks beverage without guessing.
The Swiss high-pressure brewing technology allows you to brew drinks in 30 seconds. The brewing technology works with 19-bar pump pressure to ensure quick and optimum extraction. You will realize that this unit runs more quietly than comparable single-serve brewing systems. The different features of this unit make it convenient and simple to use. Height-adjustable drip tray allows you to brew into cups of different sizes. The built-in receptacle holds about 10 used pods so you won’t have to empty frequently. The washing tank is removable for simple cleaning.
Pros
- Large capacity
- Energy efficient
- Optimum extraction
- Fast milk heating
- Accommodates cups of different sizes
- The water tank is BPA-free.
Cons
- Expensive
- Only meant for Starbucks beverages
Conclusion:
This latte machine has a large capacity of 1 liter which makes it ideal for large brewing needs. Although it’s specifically meant for housewives and other lightweight users.
3. The Keurig Rivo Cappuccino and Latte System
The Keurig Rivo features a simple but sophisticated technology that allows you to froth any milk and brew espresso at the touch of a button. With the simple, quick, and easy operation, you can make perfect lattes, cappuccinos, and more. However, the machine has a relatively large footprint. But the large size allows for brewing espresso and froth milk on different sides. This cappuccino and latte system features 15 bars of pressure. You can brew your perfect beverage in under 1 minute. The pressure allows for effective extraction so you can get a perfect cup of cappuccino every time.
An automatic On/Off function makes this unit energy efficient. It also has an energy-saving mode, so you brew without worrying.
Three frothing modes allow you to achieve your favorite drink. These include cappuccino, cold froth, and latte. You have the option to choose the mode that will deliver your desired beverage.
This unit comes with two espresso size options for the convenience of brewing. You can choose either the Lungo (2.8 ounces) or Short (1.4 ounces).
Pros
- Energy-saving mode
- Brews under 1 minute
- Brews espresso as well as frothing milk
- 3 frothing modes for the convenience of use
Cons
- Pricey
- Small capacity
Conclusion: This Latte and Cappuccino system is meant for lightweight uses such as brewing at home
4. DeLonghi Silver Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule System
The DeLonghi Capsule System allows you to prepare hot milk with the touch of a simple button. The machine is simple to clean, offers you the option to select your favorite drink, and has an energy-saving mode making it suitable for novice and experienced brewers. However, this unit is pricey, but you will appreciate its durability.
The Convenient illuminated control buttons increase the ease of use. You can select your favorite beverage with ease. It offers you the option of 2 coffee and 3 milk selections. You can program this machine to save your favorite drinks so you can always get the same great results. With the patented coffee capsule system, you will find this unit simple and convenient to use. It has an adjustable auto-off timer that helps to conserve energy. You can set the machine to turn off after 9 minutes of inactivity. The setting can also be adjusted to 30 minutes or 8 hours.
This machine features a Thermo-block heating system and has a self-priming operation that helps reduce heat-up time to 40 seconds. Its unique sliding drip tray accommodates latte cups. Hence, you can brew your favorite beverage and sip on the go. It comes in 4 colors, black stainless steel, red, and white which offer you a chance to choose the one that matches your décor. However, the four colors come at different prices which may bar you from purchasing your favorite.
Pros
- Fully automated
- Ability to make custom beverages
- Relatively small footprint
- Fast heat-up time of 40 seconds
- Clean button for ease of maintenance
Cons
- Small capacity
- Pretty expensive
- Uses only pods
Conclusion:
You can use this latte machine in the home kitchen for quality drinks. Since it delivers a maximum of 200ml per drink, it’s only ideal for lightweight uses.
5. Cuisinart Buona Tazza EM-600 Espresso Caffe Latte Machine
If you want to brew traditional coffee drinks and quality espresso, you may want to try the Cuisinart Super Automatic Single Serve. This latte machine allows you to brew these drinks and more directly into your cup. It will serve if you are looking for a solution for barista-quality latte and cappuccino. However, this unit is for use with Illy espresso capsules only. But you will appreciate that has froth and flavor strength controls.
It features a dual heating system that eliminates the wait between espresso and milk. Hence, you will enjoy making drinks fast. This machine accommodates all cup sizes to suit your individual needs.
The 8 blue LED controls allow for double or single espresso, manual flavor strength, and hotter temperature settings. The steam dial helps to adjust the ratio of air to milk. You will appreciate the 19 bars of pressure that ensures full extraction of flavor. The full extraction results in a better-tasting drink. The machine features a power button with an energy saver plus auto shutoff modes for energy efficiency.
Maintaining this machine is simple. It features a stay-clean brew head. The removable drip tray also makes the unit simple to clean while allowing for brewing into travel mugs. The frothing wand features a “Burst of Steam” to auto-clean the wand after each brewing. This unit comes with a 34-ounce water reservoir tank for about 20 short espressos. The 22-ounce milk container allows for about 6 cappuccinos.
Pros
- Accommodates travel mugs
- Simple cleaning
- Cup warming plate to serve hot beverages
- Energy saver button for power efficiency
Cons
- Uses illy capsules only
- Large footprint
Conclusion: This latte machine is intended for housewives.
Final Verdict
With the best latte machine, you can enjoy refreshing beverages in the comfort of your home. Since most of these machines also allow you to brew espresso and cappuccino, you may consider investing in one. The latte machines come in different sizes, capacities, and features meant to suit the needs of latte lovers. It’s good to choose a machine that has your desired features and one that suits your budget.
When choosing a latte machine, consider its capacity, heating technology, whether it uses capsules K-cup or other coffee types, and energy-saving options. You will also want to consider the ease of cleaning, ability to brew into travel mugs, custom brewing, heat-up time, and size.
