The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who want to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same time.

The machine also looks great and features a round insert on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic look of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. You will need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that is a result of having smaller footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.

This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. However, we would recommend investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.

As a professional coffee machines espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to make latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for novices and has some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply, which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to create a large opening. It can be filled using tap water, should you wish.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. At its full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button has a backlight to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.

There's no steam wand on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box containing nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing take the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.

The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas working on a budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder to make the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustability to allow aspiring baristas to improve their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a major deal, but can be a hassle if you need to disperse multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of WiFi coffee machines in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or go for a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a hassle for certain users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the best drip coffee makers.