The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with the smallest footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with an black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you will be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off to have less footprint, however it is not a problem particular to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte Arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't designed for beginners and there's some learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to control, and you will have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to be able to drink cold pure, purified water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. It can be filled using tap water, should you wish.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it is a powerful machine. It costs less than PS100 at retail which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or budget for traditional espresso machines, but nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button, so you can clearly see the amount of dispensed, and you can manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.

This model does not come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.

They aren't cheap, but there is a variety of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets, along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester 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 fit under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing to master it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily set them back another $100 or more.

The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at one time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a huge deal, but can be frustrating if you want to dispense several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.

If you're willing some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish design to your kitchen. It has one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make and includes two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee machine small. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in a double-walled carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee with a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range of time that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.

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

The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the best drip coffee makers.