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, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms 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 comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic and has a circular insert on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. You will need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a cost that comes with having a smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee demands. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and is easy to create Latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for novices and there's an enlightening curve for those 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 as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be capable of drinking cold, filter-filtered water. The latter, however, has 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 might expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank can be filled easily by removing the lid. be removed to make an enormous hole. You can fill it with tap water if you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but 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 choice for those who do not have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely simple to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button so that you can easily see how much has been dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

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

The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under your cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able to master it, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model sits right in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for home baristas on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means it can only handle one thing at a time.

Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let new baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.

The unit is not 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 an issue, but it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.

If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee maker that produces great coffee machines best with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The household coffee machines is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew time is approximately as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.

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

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

The only issue is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause hassle for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.