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The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to a semiautomatic that gives you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've seen.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without having to compromise on quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same at the same time.

The machine is also beautiful and has a circular design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. This means that you will be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a sacrifice that results in a smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet your demands. That being said, we would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to improve the tamping process.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes delicious drinks and it is easy to create Latte arts. It's important to know that this machine isn't designed for novices. There is a little learning curve for those upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll have to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, which allows you to always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the brewing temperature quickly, so you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. You can fill it with tap water, if you like.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at retail which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a light on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.

The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is very quiet as well and can be utilized in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing anyone else.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be stored on an even surface or placed under your cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing and able master it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's a good value for the money and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas who are on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at one time.

Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception and offers enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring develop their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.

The unit does not come without its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't significant however it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to dispense multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to see how much water is left in the tank, due to its rear placement.

If you're willing some time to learn how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it, after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before making. You can choose an manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause problem for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.