- Jul 12, 2022

Rocket Appartamento : The Best Home Heat Exchanger Machine?

It's one of the most popular, if not the most popular home prosumer espresso machine since it was unveiled back in 2016. Today, the Rocket Appartamento can be seen on the counter top of homes and even low-volume cafes all around the globe.

Once you get to know this prosumer espresso machine, you will probably understand why it is highly regarded by home baristas and professionals alike. Which begs the question, is the Rocket Appartamento the best home heat exchanger machine?

As the name suggests, the Appartamento was designed to fit on your apartment kitchen counter top. It may not be the smallest espresso machine, but bear in mind it has a lot of commercial features. So, it makes sense to call it a relatively small foot print espresso machine for home use.

The Appartamento is equipped with a single boiler heat exchanger, meaning it is possible to pull shots and steam your milk at the same time. You can serve espresso shots to multiple guests at home, but bear in mind it is still a heat exchanger, so you can only pull so many back-to-back shots.

We have seen cases where the Appartamento is pushed to its limit (serving large volume), causing it to take a 'break' before it is able to pull shots again. So, if you're not planning to use it for large volume, the Appartamento should do just the job.

It does not come with a PID, but the E61 group head is more than enough to ensure thermal stability throughout the brewing process. The steam wand boasts commercial-grade steaming power (thanks to the 1.8 l steam boiler), so you know your milk will end up beautifully textured and velvety smooth for that cappuccino or latte. Rocket has also patented a cool touch technology on the Appartamento to avoid burning on contact and also to steer clear of dried milk on the steam wand.

On the right side of the group head is where the hot water spout can be found, dispensing about 93 degrees Celsius of hot water.

There are no buttons to start or stop your shot automatically, no timer, and it is not programmable. Only a lever to pull and stop your shot manually, and a power switch are featured on the front. While it may fall under the category of a semi-auto machine, it can also be considered a manual amongst most semi-autos.

One glimpse at the Appartamento, you will notice the stainless steel panels all around, elegantly polished for a mirror finish look, and designed to house all the important features in a meagre 27 cm (W) x 40 cm (D) x 35 cm (H) dimension.

Should You Get The Appartamento For Your Home?

By now, you should already know if the Appartamento is perfect for your kitchen counter top, or not. It is a semi-auto/manual machine that requires little training since it is pretty straightforward to use.

It can pull up to 10 back to back shots before you have to give it a breather, which is more than enough for home use and also small parties. With the E61 group head, you can enjoy cafe quality espresso at home, while the small footprint allows it to fit in your tiny kitchen, or any small spaces.

Since the Appartamento does not have a lot of unnecessary features for home use, it is fairly easy to maintain and also clean on the daily. You won't burn your hand on the steam wand with the cool touch technology, and access to the steam and hot water is available by twisting the fancy valve knobs.

Last but not least, it looks really good for a home machine. It's hard to ignore the beautiful, compact design of the Appartamento. The mirror finish panels makes it a statement piece not just for your kitchen, but also your home. You have to give it to Rocket for creating such a premium-looking machine that is considered to be under the entry-level category.

Evidently, the Appartamento is the best heat exchanger machine for your home if you're looking for something small, easy to use and maintain, reliable, and of course, looks good on your counter top. It's no surprise why this machine is our bestseller.

Get The Appartamento Now

*Disclaimer : The Rocket Appartamento does not come with the wood accents (portafilter handle, lever, cup railing, and valves) as shown above. If you wish to get the Appartamento with the wood accents, you may check out Wiedemann Manufaktur for more accessories and customization.

We have also highlighted key elements of the Rocket Appartamento into bullet points for an easier read :

Specifications

Manufacturer: Rocket Espresso

Model : Appartamento

Country of Origin : Italy

Machine Type : Manual / Semi-auto

Boiler Design : Single Boiler with Heat Exchanger

Boiler Capacity : 1.8 liter

Reservoir Size : 2.25 liter

Pump Type : Vibratory Pump

Dimensions : Width (27 cm) x Depth (40 cm) x Height (35 cm)

Weight : 20 KG