The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no single-size-fits all coffee machines best maker. We've rounded up our top picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've seen.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest 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 same at the same time.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also has an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of machines. This means you'll have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a trade-off that results in less footprint. It's not an issue that is specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with your demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is simple to make Latte arts. It's important to know that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to operate and you'll have to master the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have cold, fresh filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the models, but it is a powerful machine. At full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Espresso Machine Black Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type however still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.

There's no steam wand on this model, however you can add a 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 or work space.

The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular cheap coffee machine (via www.coffeee.uk) 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 comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet 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 small enough to be placed under a cupboard or the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing take the time to master its use this is a great espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily set them back another $100 or more.

This model is a bit below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199), but it's still an excellent option for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only handle one thing at the same time.

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception and has enough control that it can be adjusted to let aspiring baristas burnish their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

There are some quirks, though. One example is that the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of being on top. This isn't really an issue however it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.

If you're willing to put in time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which could be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read 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 a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It features a single dial to program how many cups you want it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew time is approximately as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.

In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee, with the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts suggest to make a great cup.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can select an manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and an hopper for beans that are whole.

The only downside is that the carafe and water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe and could cause hassle for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, though. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.