The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker. We've put together our top picks, starting with a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you proficient in the art of automatic espresso machines-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with limited counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.

The machine also looks great and has a round panel on the side with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. It is important be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a cost that results in smaller footprint. This isn't an issue that is specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for greater consistency and best coffee machines for home flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. It's important to note that the machine was not designed for beginners and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to be able to drink cold and filter-filtered water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from a 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 just 35 seconds. The water tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can even fill it with tap water if you prefer.

This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it is a powerful machine. It costs less than PS100 at retail and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian automatic espresso machines.

The Jolie is simple to use and requires little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the pod you have selected. The button has a backlight to let you know 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 on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is very quiet as well, and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing anyone else.

Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box of nine Lavazza pods: six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn to use it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

The model is just in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it's an excellent choice for home baristas on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring burnish their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.

It's not without its flaws however. One example is that the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't significant however it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to determine how much water is left in the tank because of its rear position.

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 espresso lover at home. The only issue is the price, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a little 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, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It features only one dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing times.

In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range that coffee experts suggest to make a great cup.

You should also grind your own beans prior to making. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy to use interface.