The Best coffee machines for home (sneak a peek at this site)

There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker. We've rounded up our top picks for the 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 be able to master the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a machine that makes professional coffee machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who wish to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and tiny footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee machines professional at the same simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic as well, and has a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh coffee maker update on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also includes a black boiler pressure gauge to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. It is important be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that comes with having a smaller footprint. It's not a problem specific to this model.

This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. However, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for novices and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to operate and you'll need to learn the basics 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 always be able to drink cold and filter-filtered water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which is more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine reaches the temperature of brewing quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. You can even fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at full price and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up very little counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the 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 quantities.

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

The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that are suitable for everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box containing nine Lavazza pods: six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under your cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. But if you're willing to take the time to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great price for the class and is especially useful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.

This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas working on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and has a built-in burr grinder, making the whole experience much less expensive. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at the same time.

Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a big issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to dispense several shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine the amount of water left in the tank, due to its rear placement.

If you're willing to invest some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a hindrance for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost option, 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 great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen look. It has one dial that lets you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it, after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that coffee experts recommend to make a great cup.

You should also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe as well as the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe this could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy-to use interface.