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 your home, from a fully automated 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 having to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.

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 espresso machine for prosumers is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with 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 coffee at the same time.

The machine also looks great and has a round panel on the side 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 the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. It is important be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural tradeoff for less footprint, however, and not an issue particular to this model.

You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it can easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased 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 create some great drinks and it is easy to create latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine isn't designed for novices. There is a slight learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit difficult to control and you'll need to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, that means you will always have cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter comes with 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 highest standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. It costs less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or budget for a traditional espresso machine however still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up just a little counter space. You just need to press one button to start the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.

This model doesn't come with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet as well and can be utilized in a small area or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

Pods aren't cheap coffee machines, but there is a variety of blends to choose from that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of most average consumers. But if you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it, this is an excellent do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's a great price for the class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.

This model is priced less than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's a good choice for baristas working on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even comes with a built-in burr grinder that makes the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no exception, and it offers just enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.

The unit does not come without its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a major issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which coffee machine is best could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish look to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial to program the amount of cups you want to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly poured over the coffee machines professional grounds with shower heads. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays a red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means that it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the 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 making machine with a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.

You should also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can opt for either a manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and a hopper for whole beans.

The only issue is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe this could be a issue 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 best drip coffee machine professional makers.