The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having 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 fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small 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 coffee at the same time.

The machine looks fantastic as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has an black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than others. This means that you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a sacrifice that results in a smaller footprint. It's not an issue that is specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee demands. We would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's simple to create latte art. It's important to note that this machine is not intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to control, and you will have to master 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 able to drink cold, filtered water. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it up using tap water, depending on what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at retail - 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 budget for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. Pressing one button will activate the machine. Pressing it again will start dispense the pod you have selected. There's a light on the button, so you are able to see clearly the amount of dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.

This model doesn't come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.

They're not expensive, but there's an array of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with a quick guide and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing put in the work to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.

This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for baristas at home on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much less expensive. It's also a single boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at the same time.

Breville is a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has swiftly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and offers enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending more than they need to.

There are some quirks, though. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only issue is the cost, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant appearance to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many portable coffee machine lovers believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee machine For business with a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can select a manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as a hopper for whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a issue for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.