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, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the best coffee machines for home control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build 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 at the same time.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes an black gauge for boiler pressure to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a trade-off that results in a smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee demands. We recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is easy to make Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine was not designed for beginners, and there is some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with 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, allowing you to always be in a position to drink cold pure, filtered water. The latter 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 highest standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. 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 do not have the space or budget for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button, so you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking your drink in smaller portions.

This model does not come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.

Pods aren't expensive, but there's a variety of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able to master it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's a good value for its class and is particularly helpful for beginners who don't yet have an espresso maker, which can cost up to $100.

The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas who are on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder, making the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.

Breville is a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.

The unit does not come without its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal however it can be a little difficult to dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine how much water remains in the tank, because of its position at the rear.

But if you're prepared to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue is the price, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee machine price with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee machines industrial maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycle is about as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time and quality.

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

It also requires you to grind your own beans before making. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder, or choose a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.

The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, but. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.