The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have limited counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making 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 modernization of Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler 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 those of other machines. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a trade-off that is a result of having less footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.

This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.

As a professional espresso machine, Best Coffee Machines For Home the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and is easy to create the latte art. It's important to know that this machine isn't intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate and you'll have to master the art of 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 in a position to drink cold and purified water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. 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 that's what 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. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very small counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine and again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.

There's no steam wand available 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 also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.

The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets alongside regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box that contains 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, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to master it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily set them back another $100 or more.

The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and has a built-in burr grinder that makes the entire experience cheaper. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only perform one task at one time.

Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.

The unit has its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really an issue, but it can be annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to see how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.

If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may be a stumbling block for certain buyers. For those seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish design. It has one dial to set how many cups you want to make. It comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The brewed coffee is then stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. Its pause and pour over coffee makers feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your individual cup. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, which means that it complies with the strict technical standards. Its brew time is approximately the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.

You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as an hopper that can hold whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a problem for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.