The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top choices, ranging from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and needing to be able to master the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial coffee machines E61 group head, so you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.

The machine looks stunning as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. 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 reservoir for water are smaller than most other machines. This means you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a sacrifice that comes with having less footprint. This isn't an issue that is specific to this model.

This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We recommend investing in a 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.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte Arts. It's important to know that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to control and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank is able to be filled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create the large hole. You can fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type however nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. Pressing one button will start the machine. Pressing it again will start dispense the pod you have selected. There's a light on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.

There's no steam wand included 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 quiet as well, and can be used in a small space or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets alongside regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under your cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic do-it-all home espresso maker that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model sits right in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it's an excellent choice for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, meaning it can only handle one thing at a time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending more than they need to.

The unit does not come without its flaws. For one, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't significant, but it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to give multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside is the price, which could be a nagging issue for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or 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 machine with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated design to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two options: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and displays a red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, 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 the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 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 coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before making. You can opt for an manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a problem for Best Coffee Machines For Home certain users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, though. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee machine reviews makers.