The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, 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 requiring you to be familiar with the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and tiny footprint. It comes with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same at the same time.

The machine looks stunning as well and features a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also has an black gauge for boiler pressure to show when the boiler is ready to use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem particular to this model.

You can still brew a lot of coffee with this machine, and it will easily meet the demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners, and there is an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to manage and you'll need to learn the ins and outs 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 be in a position to drink cold, purified water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can also fill it with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. 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 who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and takes up little counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. The button has a backlight to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.

They're not cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box of 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 fit under a cupboard or a flat surface.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able learn how to use it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for its class and is particularly helpful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas who are on a budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.

Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. 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 has its flaws. One example is that the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal, but it can be a little difficult to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to determine the amount of water left in the tank, because of its position at the rear.

If you're willing to invest 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 its cost, which may be a deterrent 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 less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display gives your kitchen a sophisticated appearance. It features only one dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The coffee machine grinder is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then resumes and finishes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in 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 time range that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

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

The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.