L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System review: espresso shot or cup of coffee? (2024)

The L’OR Barista is a compact yet elegant single-serve coffee maker that uses capsules. L’OR is a French brand (the word “L’OR” means gold in French). The global brand has been in the U.S. for two years, and Philips is a manufacturing partner for the L’OR Barista.

In addition to the L’OR Barista, L’OR also makes various coffee and espresso capsules. The espresso machine has a luxurious look—it’s matte black, and the company’s name is emblazoned in gold on the front. Upon closer inspection, the machine is almost entirely plastic, which adds to its lightweight feeling. I’ve had it for over a year, and it’s held up well, but I don’t know how the plastic components will perform long-term.

I love the two dispensing spouts designed for pouring one cup of coffee or espresso. The 19-bar pump is also impressive, and the capsules provide convenience.

But how does it compare to the best espresso machines and coffee makers? Keep reading to find out.

Terri Williams

Terri is a freelance writer living in Birmingham, AL. She has tested hundreds of products, including kitchen appliances, vacuums, bedding, furniture, luggage, and tech gear. Terri has bylines at Architectural Digest, Forbes, Popular Science, CNN Underscored, NBC News, The Daily Beast, USA Today, US News & World Report, Tech Radar, Homes & Gardens, and Tom's Guide. Follow her adventures @Territoryone.

Terri drinks (decaf) coffee daily and has tested the L’OR Barista on and off for over a year, evaluating design, user-friendliness, flavor, and consistency. She was allowed to keep it for ongoing use.

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Key specs

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Price & availability

The L’OR Barista is available on Amazon for $189. It’s the same price on the L’OR website, but it’s currently on sale for $139 at the time of publication. It’s not cheap, but it is a fair price for a pod coffee maker with a 19-bar pump that produces a rich crema layer.

There is no integrated milk frother, but you can order one separately from lorcoffee.com for $89.

Score: 4 out of 5

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Setup

I’ve had the L’OR Barista since it launched in November 2022, so I’ve used it off and on for over a year and a half. I no longer have the original, brown shipping box; however, I do have the L’OR box inside it. The machine arrived packed securely to protect it from any breakage or scratches.

Full disclosure: I have two L’OR Baristas. I have the matte black model, and when the company released the satin blanc colorway (black and white), I also received that one. With the first one, L’OR rolled out the red carpet. In that shipment, I also received an elegant black box that contained two glass coffee mugs, two glass espresso cups, and several boxes of coffee and espresso capsules.

In the second shipment, I received one box of coffee capsules and one of espresso capsules.

The L’OR Barista uses a variety of espresso and coffee capsules. Some of the espresso options include Ristretto Espresso, Colombia Espresso, Onyx Espresso, Profondu Lungo Espresso, Ristretto Decaffeinato Espresso, Estremo Lungo Espresso, and Bonjour Coffee Blend. The boxes contain 100 capsules and range in price from $58 to $79.

The coffee options include Le Tigre, Chateau, Decaf, Provocateur, and Vanilla Coffee. They’re available in 30-capsule, 50-capsule, and 100-capsule boxes and cost from $27 to $79.

L’OR also sells Peet’s Coffee Capsules, which are compatible with the machine. In addition, the Nespresso Original machine capsules can also be used in the L’OR Barista.

The machine has an easy-to-follow instruction manual, easy-to-clean parts, and a used capsule drawer. In addition, the descale alert notifies me when the machine needs to be descaled.

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Design

The machine is compact and lightweight, which makes it a good choice if you don’t have a lot of space to dedicate to a coffee/espresso machine. Like a higher-end coffee maker, it looks sleek and elegant on my countertop. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that most of the components are made of plastic.

The machine features a removable 40-ounce water tank, two-piece coffee dispensing spout, used capsule drawer, drip tray, and cup tray.

After raising the top front lever of the machine, the capsule compartment is revealed. It accepts both coffee and espresso capsules. The controls are on the back top section. There are four buttons: power, and then three icons for small, medium, and large beverages. The small button can make small espresso (1.4 ounces) and small coffee (5 ounces). The medium button makes medium espresso (2.7 ounces) and medium coffee (8 ounces), and the large button makes large espresso (3.7 ounces) and large coffee (12 ounces).

In the year and a half that I’ve tested it on and off, I haven’t noticed any degradation in quality. None of the plastic has melted or fallen off – the machine feels as sturdy as it did the first day I unboxed it.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Performance

After unpacking the coffee/espresso maker, I washed all of its parts, filled the generous 40-ounce water tank, and ran a brew cycle without capsules to rinse out any dust or debris.

The quick start guide consists of brief written instructions combined with images. (For example, there’s roughly one sentence and anywhere from three to nine images per page.)

Since I love coffee, my first test was to use one of the L’OR Coffee Provocateur Medium Roast Coffee Capsules. I inserted the capsule, closed the lever, and pressed the desired size button. The coffee maker heats up in 25 seconds, so it brews quickly. The finished product for this particular coffee had an aroma that included apricot, and the full-bodied flavor also had a twinge of apricot.

The 19-bar high pressure created a delicious layer of crema, which added to the rich and satisfying taste of the cup of coffee.

I used one of the L’OR Espresso Onyx capsules for the second test. Admittedly, Onyx is not my favorite because it has a smoky, dark taste and a roasted, dark aroma. However, it still tasted pretty good when I added milk.

Remember, I’d also tested L’OR previously (dating back to a year and a half earlier), and that shipment included Bonjour Blend Light Roast, Chateau Blend Medium Roast, and Vanilla Flavored Coffee capsules. Those capsules were much more in line with my taste buds. I would not hesitate to purchase additional capsules because I found them delightful.

One thing I like about L’OR is the ability to choose from so many different types of capsules. Whether you like light, dark, or medium roasts – or fruity, toasty, or chocolatey flavor notes and aromas, it’s easy to find something pleasing to your palette.

I also like the simplicity of the appliance. There’s not much fumbling around, trying to figure out what to do. Simply insert a capsule and choose a size. The L’OR is smart enough to recognize whether I’ve inserted a coffee or an espresso capsule and dispenses accordingly.

The noise level is around 56dB, so it’s not quite a quiet machine, but since the beverage brews so quickly, I don’t consider that a negative aspect.

Cleaning was a breeze. I opened and emptied the used capsule compartment. The water tank, cup tray, and drip tray can be rinsed in warm water. L’OR advises against placing these items in the dishwasher. However, the used capsule compartment, dispensing spout, and wastewater drawer are dishwasher safe. The machine’s exterior can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth.

When it's time to descale the machine, a descaling light comes on (both the small and large buttons flash simultaneously). L’OR recommends using a Philips Liquid Descaler (on Amazon) along with tap water.

Score: 5 out of 5

L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: User reviews

If you're looking to buy the L'OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System directly from lorcoffee.com, you'll find that your decision to purchase has been verified by 984 users. On the site, it has been awarded 4.6 out of 5 stars. Reviewers share that "The taste is outstanding" and "Absolutely delicious and no mess." Another adds, "...super easy to use, clean, and tastes great."

It is noted, though, that some reviewers found that the capsule doesn't drop fully and is noisy. Another reviewer found that the machine struggled to puncture the capsule.

These experiences are echoed across reseller sites such as Amazon. Customers like how easy it is to set up and use, and they also like the appearance. Yet, there are reported issues with noise and leaking.

Should you buy the L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How does the L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System compare?

If you’re willing to spend more on an espresso machine, the De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro has all of the bells and whistles, including an integrated burr grinder and bean hopper. It also has a tamper station and five temperature controls, and it can make cappuccino, latte, flat white, Americano, and other drinks. However, it costs $1,159.95.

If you just want coffee and can forgo pods, the OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker is SCA gold cup certified. It can brew both carafe and single cups (without pods). At $299.20, it’s more expensive, but the Wi-Fi capabilities allow you to control it remotely.

How I tested the L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System

I test the L’OR Barista off and on for well over a year, trying different sizes and various coffee and espresso capsules

I tested the L’OR Barista for well over a year, off and on. When testing, I evaluated build quality, ease of use, performance, ease of cleaning, and, of course, taste.

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: May 2024