The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso 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 most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home, without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have little counter space. It combines excellent build quality and a small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic as well and features a round side panel insert with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready to use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a sacrifice that results in smaller footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.

As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. It's important to note that this machine was not intended for novices. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to operate and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, that means you will always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can fill it with tap water if you want.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it packs a punch. When you buy it at full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button so that you can easily see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.

There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quite quiet also and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing anyone else.

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a range of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document, a quick guide, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to invest the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great price for the class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.

This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas who are on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder that makes the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at one time.

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let aspiring baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

The unit is not without its quirks. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't a huge deal however it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.

If you're willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It has one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee machine is then stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and displays a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker that means it is in compliance with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew time is approximately the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.

You should also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of a manual coffee machines cheap grinder or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.

The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.