We all know that person. Perhaps you’ve noticed the several weird and wonderful hot beverage contraptions littering their kitchen counter or their loud proclamations that they wouldn’t dare defile their delicately balanced palate with Starbuck’s latest concoction. To them, anything milkier than an espresso is frankly, well, distasteful (don’t you dare call it an eXpresso!) and as for instant coffee? Well, best not mention that.
I am of course talking about the coffee snob. If you are looking for the perfect present for the coffee snob in your life, you probably already know it is going to be tough given their discerning taste.
However, whilst these machines can’t provide quite the same experience of sipping an artisanal single origin, micro roast coffee in the Colombian rainforests, they might come pretty close…
Last update on 2024-12-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville BES878BSS Barista Pro Espresso Machine
This 70 Oz capacity machine boasts an all in one design taking you from bean to espresso in well under one minute thanks to its patented ThermoJet heating system which achieves the perfect extraction temperature in just 3 seconds.
What sets this machine apart, making it perfect for coffee snobs, is the way in which it lets you make your coffee exactly how you want it, from precise grinder settings to its manual milk texturing capability. The latter allows you to hand texture microfoam milk for the occasion when you take a white coffee (as all coffee snobs know, this is as a macchiato and I’m not talking about those syrup-laden monstrosities from chains).
What’s more is you can save these settings, ready to see on an intuitive LCD display as animations take you through the grinding to extraction process. This is the most expensive machine on the list but it’s easy to see why with the flexibility it gives to make the perfect cup, every single time, especially when time is short. Not that a true coffee snob would ever rush coffee….
Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee, Latte and Cappuccino Maker
Including a pod coffee machine on a list for coffee snobs is controversial, but before you stop reading in disgust, take a closer look at what this machine can offer to coffee purists and average folk alike. With its ability to take almost any K-Cup pod available, this is the most versatile machine on the list in terms of the number of different drinks it can make from iced coffees to cappuccinos and even tea.
Coffee snobs are also catered for with its SHOT function to brew concentrated coffee shots allowing you to customize the strength of coffee or even take a straight-up espresso shot. With its large 60 Oz capacity, this is the perfect machine for households containing snobs and non-snobs accommodating a range of drink sizes, even travel mugs for when you are on the go. Cleaning is a breeze with a smart alarm system to let you know when it’s time to descale the machine which comes in handy if you live in a hard water area.
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker With 50 OZ Glass Carafe
For those who prefer brewed coffee over espresso made under steam, this machine won’t disappoint, bringing your coffeehouse-style favorites home. Super-rich coffee concentrates can be enjoyed on their own or combined with milk froth made in the nifty fold-away frother to make macchiatos to lattes. This makes the machine particularly attractive to those green-minded coffee snobs who want a range of coffee styles without the use of pods that can contribute to plastic waste, not to mention a more customizable brew.
The Ninja Coffee Maker even extends to iced coffee but unlike the tasteless watered down offerings of store bought iced coffee, this machine provides a flavourful and rich fresh brew that can be made over ice. The coffee made by this machine is so good, it has been awarded the coveted Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) Golden Cup and Home Brewer Certification, certainly a plus for the discerning coffee drinker!
Technivorm Moccamaster 10-Cup Coffee Maker
Another brewed coffee maker, this machine features a clever hot plate to keep your fresh brew at a temperature of your choice, designed in such a way that the temperature is consistent throughout from first to last cup.
Brewing is quick and quiet, with a generous 40 Oz pot ready in just five minutes with a press of a button. Additionally, this machine does away with the mess that typically comes with these types of coffee makers as the flow of coffee is stopped as soon as the carafe is removed, meaning no more dripping over the kitchen counter. Like the Ninja coffee maker, this machine also comes with SCA Home Brewer Certification, guaranteeing an excellent cup every time.
The Technivorm coffee maker comes in a huge range of 25 different colors so you are sure to find a machine that looks as good in the kitchen as the coffee it makes.
No products found.Diguo Belgian Balance Siphon Coffee Maker
Here’s one for the serious coffee heads amongst you. This coffee maker has a very different design compared to the others on this list, instead building on a mid 18th century design where coffee grounds and water are placed in a vacuum flask over a spirit burner (spirits not included). Vapor pressure, vacuum and gravity extracts the coffee leaving a particularly clean and bold tasting brew, eliminating unpleasant bitterness.
Whilst it might take a little while to get to grips with this coffee maker, it is well worth the effort for the superior tasting cup it produces. This is a beautifully crafted device, mounted on a dark wooden base that is sure to be a conversation starter as it looks so elegant in its own right. This siphon coffee maker has a smaller capacity than some of the other machines on this list at 17 Oz, but it’s perfect for when your coffee snob wants to enjoy their own personal ‘me’ moment.
Summary
All discerning coffee lovers need the best tools that they can afford and for those coffee snobs among us, we also demand that little bit extra. The coffee machines under review here can most certainly satisfy the snob within us.
For me though, there are two machines which stand out above all others and they are the Breville Barista Pro and the Keurig K-Cup Coffee Machine . They just have that little bit extra in terms of coffee taste and style.