Best Rocket Espresso Machine (All 7 Machines Reviewed)

Rocket is well known for making premium coffee machines. The issue is that they have a big range of products.  So how do you know what's the best Rocket espresso machine for you?

In this guide I'll be using my 10 years of barista knowledge and personal experience with Rocket espresso machines to compare their range and give my opinion on what's the best Rocket coffee machine for particular people.

We'll start off by recommending my top three picks, before comparing the whole range and having a more detailed look at each machine.  I've made suggestions on who each machine is suited for, and what machine is worth spending a little bit more money for.

This is the machine I use at home myself and is the perfect machine if you are low on kitchen space. The Appartamento is ideal for the person looking to upgrade from consumer grade espresso machines and enter the world of prosumer coffee makers. It's a heat-exchange coffee machine that steams milk fast, is well built, and looks great. 

The R58 is a dual boiler espresso machine that has everything that the vast majority of coffee geeks need to keep them satisfied. With one boiler for steam and one for extraction, you can set the exact temperature of the extraction boiler with a PID control to get the most out of light and dark roast coffee beans.

This is the key difference between the Appartamento above that only has one boiler while the R58 has two. On top of this it comes with a rotary pump that keeps it quite and allows you to plumb it in directly into your water main so there is no need to refill the water tank.

The Rocket R Nine is the luxury option. It has everything the R58 has and more. The key difference is that it uses a saturated group head rather than the old E61 design for better temperature stability, and it also comes with manual and programmable flow control with pre and post infusion settings. Flow control is possible thanks to its variable speed magnetic gear pump that allows you to control your extraction speed for better pressure profiling. With this machine you can program flow and extraction settings to replicate your results for the best tasting coffee for certain coffee blends. This is the machine for the coffee geek that wants it all.

Best Rocket Espresso Machines

• Entry level / compact: Rocket Appartamento
• Best overall: Rocket R58
• Upgrade pick:  Rocket R Nine One

Rocket Espresso Comparison Table

The table below compares the main key differences for each machine in Rocket's domestic range. The table is sorted from cheapest to most expensive. Later in the guide we have outlined what each of the features in the table mean.

Rocket Espresso Machine Reviews

We now are going to take a closer look at each of the Rocket coffee machines in the table above to help you decide what machine is the best for you.

The Appartamento is the coffee machine I use personally at home and it is perfect for the person that has limited space in their kitchen.  The stainless steel body and unique side panel cutouts create a sophisticated, compact design, that I always give fond glances to. It's the perfect first upgrade from consumer machines. 

I've written a very detailed review of the Appartamento here, but in summary I recommend this machine for any person looking for their first upgrade.

There are some limitations to the machine, such as no brew pressure gauge, shot clock, or PID controls, but if you enjoy the manual nature of making coffee, then this machine could be for you. But if these are deal breakers, then you should consider some of Rockets other options below.

The Rocket Espresso Giotto Type V is a true gem for coffee lovers Its polished stainless-steel body is not only eye-catching, but it also houses impressive features. With the PID temperature controller and built-in shot timer, this machine guarantees precision and consistency in every espresso shot. And unlike the Aparatamento above, it also has a brew pressure gauge.

For milk-based beverage lovers, the heat-exchange boiler system and no-burn steam wand create silky-smooth piccolo lattes and cappuccinos with ease. The E-61 commercial grouphead adds to the experience, offering thermal stability.

In summary, the Rocket Espresso Giotto Type V is a fantastic option for the person who is looking for a good looking espresso machine, and is willing to spend a little bit more to get the features that the Appartamento above lacks. 

The Rocket Espresso Giotto Timer Evoluzione R is pretty much the exact same machine as the Type V above with a couple notable differences. 

The main difference is the inclusion of a rotary pump, which allows for quieter operation, easy plumbing, and pre-infusion. Additionally, this model has adjustable feet, making it more adaptable to your kitchen setup. 

The rest of the features are the same. It has the same copper heat-exchange boiler system and no-burn steam wand, delivering velvety lattes and cappuccinos. It also comes with the same stainless-steel body that houses the same PID temperature controller and built-in shot timer, ensuring precision and consistency in every espresso shot.

So this machine is all about whether a rotary pump is worth it or not for you.

The Rocket Espresso Mozzafiato Type V is another fantastic option for home baristas. It shares all the features with the Giotto Type V, such as the PID temperature controller, built-in shot timer, and E-61 commercial grouphead, ensuring precise and consistent espresso shots every time.

The key difference between the Giotto range is that the Mozzafiato stands out with its straight-edged, stainless-steel body, giving it a more modern, streamlined look compared to the curved design of the Giotto machines. Functionality remains top-notch, with a heat-exchange boiler system and no-burn steam wand for many different types of coffee beverages.

While both Giotto and Mozzafiato machines excel in performance and quality, your choice ultimately comes down to design preference. If you're drawn to a sleek, contemporary aesthetic, the Mozzafiato Timer Type V is an excellent addition to your espresso-making arsenal. 

The Rocket Espresso Mozzafiato Type R Espresso Machine takes the features of the Type V and adds a significant improvement – a rotary pump. This not only allows for quieter operation but also makes the machine plumbable and allows for pre-infusion, adding convenience to your home espresso setup.

Similar to the Type V, the Mozzafiato Type R boasts a sleek, straight-edged stainless-steel body, PID temperature controller, built-in shot timer, and the reliable E-61 commercial grouphead for precision and consistency. The heat-exchange boiler system and no-burn steam wand are also present.

In short, if you are happy to spend a little bit more for a rotary pump get this machine. If you are not fussed about this, save some cash and get the type V. 

The Rocket Espresso R58 Cinquantotto is our top pick for the ultimate espresso experience in Rocket's range. This dual-boiler beauty offers precise temperature control and stability, thanks to its separate boilers for brewing and steaming. The removable PID controller with a touchscreen display allows you to fine-tune your settings with ease.

A standout feature is the rotary pump, which provides quiet operation and plumbing compatibility. The R58 also boasts the reliable E-61 commercial grouphead, a no-burn steam wand, and a sleek, polished stainless-steel body. With adjustable feet, you can customize the machine's height to fit your kitchen perfectly.

The Rocket Espresso R58 Cinquantotto is the end game for most coffee enthusiasts, offering all the features a coffee geek desires. It's a premium investment that delivers exceptional espresso shots and milk-based beverages, making it the best overall choice in Rocket's range. 

The only thing that this machine lacks is flow control, however since it is a E-61 machine, you can buy an upgrade kit for this feature, which allows you to save money by not needing to upgrade to the Rocket R Nine One below.

The Rocket Espresso R Nine One Espresso Machine is the pinnacle of Rocket's line up, offering unparalleled control over every aspect of the coffee-making process. This machine boasts dual boilers for superior temperature control, stability, and simultaneous brewing and steaming.

A key feature is the manual flow control, allowing you to customize the flow rate of water through the coffee puck. It also allows you to program your flow if you don't want to this manually. This is possible thanks to its variable speed magnetic gear pump.  The R Nine One's programmable extractions empower you to create truly personalized coffee profiles. The saturated grouphead and no-burn steam wand deliver consistently excellent espresso and milk-based beverages.

This is the only machine in Rocket's range that offers a saturated group head, that offers quicker start up times and better temperature stability compared to the e-61 design. It is also the only machine with a variable speed magnetic gear pump that allows you to program flow contract. Although you can install a flow mod on E-61 machines, it's difficult to replicate results as you can't program the flow like the R Nine One.

Rocket's most feature-rich and expensive machine, the R Nine One is ideal for those seeking the ultimate control over their espresso craft. If you desire the ability to fine-tune every aspect of the brewing process, this is the perfect machine for you. 

Rocket coffee machine feature differences

All Rocket coffee machines share a few core features, such as great stainless steel build quality, cool touch steam wand (so you don't burn yourself), and great design. What affects their price is the additional features.

Below I  outline the key features that vary among Rocket espresso machines. The more features a machine has, the more cost is added on. This will help you decide if the extra features of a particular machine is worth the extra price.

Boiler

The biggest difference in cost between machines is the amount of boilers a machine has: a single heat exchange boiler vs a dual boiler. The reason for this is simple. Double the boilers, double the cost. But what does a dual boiler give you over a single heat exchange boiler?

Well, the main benefit is that you can control the water temperature of the brew boiler independently from the steam boiler. This allows you to set the temperature to match the type of bean you are extracting.

Light roasted beans benefit from lower extraction temperatures compared to darker roasted beans. So if you are the type of person who wants to extract coffee at exact temperature’s and like lighter roasted coffees, then you may consider spending a little bit more money here. Other than this difference, a heat-exchanger can steam milk and extract espresso at the same time like a dual boiler machine.

Pump

There are three types of pumps to choose from: vibration, rotary, and variable magnetic gear pump. Pumps are responsible for bringing the water from the water tank into the boilers and then push the water to the extraction chamber.

Vibration pumps are the cheaper option and vibrate to move the water. The down side of them is that they are loud and make a vibration sound.

Rotary pumps are more expensive. However, have the benefit of being silent. Also, with a rotary pump you can plumb in your machine, and it also allows you to do a proper pre-infusion as there is pressure behind the water. However, the pre-infusion is typically fixed to pump pressure unless you have a flow control mod installed. 

The final option for Rocket machines is the variable speed magnetic gear pump. This pump allows you to control the flow control of the extraction with the pump by programming what flow you want, allow for extact pressure profiling. This is high tech and one of the reasons it's the most expensive option.

If you are looking to plumb your coffee machine in or want pre-infusion, you may consider spending a bit more money to get a better pump.

PID

PID is a system that allows you to electronically control the temperature of the water in the boiler. The main benefit of PIDs is that they offer more stable temperature within the boiler, which may affect the taste of the coffee.

The alternative of PID is a "pressurestat" that uses boiler pressure to match with temperature. Pressure stats are cheaper and have more temperature swings, but still get the job done. The downside to pressure stats is that you may need to "temperature surf" at times if the machine is left idle by doing a cooling flush. All Rocket espresso machines on this list have PID control except for the Appartamento.

Shot clock

A shot clock is simply a clock that counts from when you start your extraction so you can measure how long your shot takes to make sure you are getting consistent results. 

Plumbable

The machines on this list that have a rotary pump are plumbable. This means that you do not need to keep refilling the water tank. However they can still use the water tank if you can't plumb your coffee machine at your home. Plumbable machines are more expensive, so you should consider if you need this feature or not.

Pre-Infusion

Pre-infusion is the ability to soak your coffee puck before fully turning on the pump pressure to extract the espresso. The benefit of this is that the pre-infusion wets the whole puck, so it results in more flavour being extract and reduces the chances of your puck channelling. Rocket machines that have a rotary pump that are plumbable give you this ability as there is a consistent pressure from the water pressure to wet your puck.

Programmable

Programmability allows you to create pre-sets for your extraction, pre-infusion, and temperature extraction. It also allows you to get auto turn on and shut down times for your latte machine. Rocket's more expensive machines have these features, and the rest of the range have more manual controls.

Conclusion

There we have it. We hope this guide has helped you pick the best Rocket espresso machine for you needs and budget. At the end of the day, every one of these machines are well built and beautiful. It is up to you to decide if the extra features are worth the cost. But in summary, our top pick is the Rocket R58 below.

FAQS

Can you leave a Rocket espresso machine on all day?

Yes you can leave Rocket machines off all day, however longer exposure to the heat wears down the gear faster. So I recommend turning it off when not in use like when you're sleeping. A smart plug can help with this.

Where are Rocket espresso machines made?

Rocket espresso machines are made in Milan, Italy. 

How long will Rocket espresso machines last?

Rocket espresso machines can last for decades. Unlike consumer cappuccino machines, prosumer machines like the Rocket are easy to maintain and should a part break they are easily replaceable. So even though they are bit more expensive, they are a worthy investment.