The L’OR Barista is a compact yet elegant coffee/espresso maker that uses capsules. L’OR is a French brand (and 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 and also makes various types of 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 of the machine. Upon closer inspection, the machine is made almost entirely of plastic, which adds to the lightweight feeling of the machine. I’ve had it for well 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 which is 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 the best coffee makers? Keep reading to find out.
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 at the time of publication, it’s currently on sale for $139. 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’s not an integrated milk frother, but you can order the milk frother for $89 from lorcoffee.com separately.
Score: 4 out of 5
L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: First impressions
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 that was inside of it. The machine arrived packed securely to protect it from any breakage or scratches.
Full disclosure: I actually have two L’OR Baristas. I have the matte black model and when the company released the satin blanc colorway (which is black and white), I received that one as well. With the first one, L’OR really 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 box 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 Coffee, Chateau Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Provocateur Coffee, and Vanilla Coffee. They’re available in 30-capsule, 50-capsule, and 100-capsule boxes, and range in price 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. The parts are easy to clean, and there’s 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. It looks sleek and elegant on my countertop, like a higher-end coffee maker. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that most of the components are made of plastic.
The machine itself 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. On the back top section are the controls. 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 of quality. None of the plastic has melted or fallen off – the machine feels as sturdy as it did the first day that I unboxed it.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Key specs
L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Performance
After unpacking the coffee/espresso maker, I washed all of the 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 3 to 9 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.
For the second test, I used one of the L’OR Espresso Onyx capsules. 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 a Bonjour Blend Light Roast, Chateau Blend Medium Roast, and Vanilla Flavored Coffee. Those capsules were much more in line with my taste buds. I would not hesitate to purchase additional capsules because I found them delightful.
In fact, one thing I really 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 that’s pleasing to your palette.
I also like the simplicity of the appliance. There’s not a lot of fumbling around, trying to figure out what I need 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 really 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.
A descaling light comes on (both the small and large buttons flash simultaneously) when it’s time to descale the machine. L’OR recommends using Philips Liquid Descaler (on Amazon) along with tap water to descale.
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 direct from lorcoffee.com then you'll find that your decision to purchase is 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 it's noisy. And 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. They also like the appearance. And yet there are reported issues with the noise and leaking.
L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
L’OR Barista Coffee & Espresso System: Also consider...
If you’re willing to spend more on an espresso machine, the De’Longhi La Specialista Maesto has all of the bells and whistles, including an integrated burr grinder and bean hopper. It also has a tamping station, five temperature controls, and 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 and 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
