The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you knowledgeable about the art of making espresso. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have small 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 head so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.

The machine is also beautiful and features a round panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic look 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 for use.

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

You can still brew a lot of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands of your customers. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and taste. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create Latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's some learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to operate and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have fresh, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature for retro coffee machines brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to create a large opening. You can also fill it with tap water if you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those without the budget or space for an espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies just a little counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand on this model, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is quiet, too and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing anyone else.

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

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and a frother. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to learn how to use it, then this is a great home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's a good price for the class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.

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

Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring develop their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.

The unit does not come without its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a major issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to dispense several shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know the amount of liquid left.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a stumbling block for certain buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, Retro Coffee machines 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 you only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent portable coffee makers. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated appearance. It features one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed built-in coffee machines is then stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies 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 lets you control the temperature and brewing time.

In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range that retro coffee machines; to Geniled, experts recommend to make a great cup.

It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, though. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.