The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to a semiautomatic that gives 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 most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest footprint. It comes with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same at the same time.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a trade-off that comes with having a smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and is easy to make Latte art. It is important to remember that this machine is not intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be capable of drinking cold and purified water. The latter comes with smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The tank can be filled easily, as the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can even fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a punch. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who don't have the space or budget for traditional espresso machines, but nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very small counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button has a backlight so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.

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'd like. The machine is quite quiet also and can be utilized in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

Pods aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a test 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 placed under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's out of the budget prices of coffee machines a majority of consumers. If you're willing invest the time to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great value for its class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.

The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent option for baristas working on a budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at the same time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough control to let budding baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.

It's not without its quirks, though. The hopper is located on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a big issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to disperse several shots at a time. It's also difficult to see how much water remains in the tank because of its position at the rear.

But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a hindrance for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It has a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most Coffee machines best lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee with a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.

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

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