The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've put together our top picks, starting with an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso and coffee combo machines at home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact 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 your coffee at the same at the same time.

The machine is also beautiful and has a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a sacrifice that results in smaller footprint. This isn't a problem specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee with this machine, Espresso and coffee combo machines and it is able to easily meet the demands of your customers. We would suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to make Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for novices and there's some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine reaches the temperature of brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it is a powerful machine. When you buy it at full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who do not have the space or budget for traditional espresso machines, but nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. The machine is quiet also, and can be used in a small area or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

Pods aren't cheap, but there is a variety of blends available that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy 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 an 75cm power cable, plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be stored on a flat surface or slipped under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able to master it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet, which could cost them $100 or more.

The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas who are on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features, and espresso and coffee combo machines even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly 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 skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

It's not without its flaws however. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a big deal, but can be a hassle if you need to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to determine the amount of water left in the tank, due to its rear placement.

If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the price, which could be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're looking for a budget option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It features a single dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful office coffee machines. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the 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 allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycle is about the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with the carafe filled in 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range of time that coffee experts recommend for a great cup of drip.

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

The only downside is that the carafe and 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 Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.