The Affetto is expensive and, as an automated machine, it can be finicky. Just make sure it’s filled with water and beans and that you clean the used grounds container regularly, and it works like a dream.
Most convenient and simple cleaning
We love this machine. This is the best Keurig we have used (8/10, WIRED recommends) and has the best frother of all the machines tested for this guide. Despite the fact that K-Café doesn’t technically brew espresso shots (the K-cup system doesn’t put its grind under any pressure), it still produces a delicious 2-ounce “espresso-style” shot that can taste almost the same. strong, but without the creaminess you might want.
The real magic is the frother. It has three settings: cold, latte and cappuccino and froths milk to perfection with the press of a button. When it’s done, simply pour your milk with the spout on the side. The jug is made of stainless steel and the plastic spinner comes off immediately, making cleaning as easy as a quick run under the faucet. It was so easy to use and clean that I sometimes frothed milk with it, even when I was using other machines to make my espresso. I liked it so much that I didn’t even mind that the frother’s spout was designed for right-handed people. This lefty just adapted.
While Keurig’s single-use coffee pods were once difficult for recycling systems, they are now 100 percent recyclable. Unfortunately, the global recycling infrastructure is in a little crisis so for guilt-free sipping, you’re better off sticking to Keurig’s reusable coffee filters; We suggest sticking to the branded ones, as we’ve found the cheaper dupes to be unreliable.
Best Handheld Milk Frother
Sometimes making an entire latte or cappuccino using an automated machine can take a long time. Not to mention, sometimes everything you really want is frothed milk. That’s where milk frothers come in. These machines incorporate air into milk or milk alternatives to get that beautiful, creamy froth.
Most frothers produce a foamy, stiff foam that sits on top of the milk, which is not ideal for lattes or cappuccinos. Properly textured milk is creamy, light, airy and never stiff or separated. That’s why our current favorite is Subminimal’s Nanofoamer.
A favorite on Kickstarter, the Nanofoamer is now a real product. It looks like a tiny hand blender, which is more or less what it is. It has two separate screens that fit over the blade: one for fine-textured milk and another for ultra-fine-textured milk. The difference is subtle, but the fine filter creates milk that is a little more bubbling than the ultrafine filter. The filters allow the Nanofoamer to do what baristas do with a steam wand: it textures your milk for that perfect, creamy top.
Questions and answers
Photography: Jeffrey Van Camp
How we tested each machine
The key here is automation. We wanted to test machines that make you a cup of coffee with just a touch, or as close to it as possible. The products on this list are therefore mostly automatic and semi-automatic. You fill them in and they do all the work – or most of it anyway.
Installation and cleaning were particularly important, as was durability. The whole point of a device like this is to save time and energy and/or produce a better quality drink than could be made without it. So we didn’t recommend any products that didn’t produce great-tasting espresso. And save time.
Which beans should you buy?
Even if you don’t make espresso, the first and best thing you can do to dramatically improve your morning coffee is to purchase locally roasted beans. Plug your city or region and “locally roasted coffee beans” into Google and you’ll be glad you did. The reason your locally roasted coffee will taste better than anything you’d buy from a big roaster (like Starbucks, Illy, or Gevalia) is simple: coffee only grows in a few regions of the world, and it’s starting to lose ground. . flavor as soon as it is roasted.
Try to avoid brands that advertise their European origins. Coffee doesn’t grow in Italy, France, or any other part of Europe, so you’ll always buy beans that are roasted thousands of miles away and have spent an indeterminate amount of time in transit before reaching you. Even if you ordered a bag of killer coffee beans from (and roasted in) a coffee-producing region of the world, it won’t arrive until those flavors start to transform. Trust me, buy from a local roaster. You won’t regret it. For some of our favorite mail order brands, check out our roundup of the best coffee subscription services.
What else do you need?
Ground coffee: If you’ve never made espresso before and don’t have access to a coffee grinder, we still recommend purchasing locally roasted beans. Just ask your barista for a fine grind (espresso). We’ve tried many pre-ground espresso blends from popular companies like Lavazza, GevaliaAnd Cafe Bustelo. They were all very dark and very bitter, partly because they are all imported or roasted in large batches and shipped all over the world. Grinding coffee is another thing that causes it to go bad. Use your freshly ground and locally roasted beans within two weeks or you will be drinking dark, bitter, acidic and pretty funky coffee. Our overview of The best coffee grinders can also provide some advice here.
Dispenser and buffer: Many machines come with a plastic pad, but few come with a proper dispenser and pad. You will need to check the size of your portafilter (this will be stated in your machine’s instruction manual), but this combined dispenser and dispenser is a good choice for most machines.
