The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, 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 strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while needing you to be knowledgeable about the art of making espresso. This is our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who are looking to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with small counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It is equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.

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

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of machines. It is important be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that is a result of having smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.

This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee machines for home. However, we would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.

As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's simple to make the latte art. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be tricky to handle, and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.

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

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built in coffee machine to Lavazza's high standards. The machine is able to reach the brewing temperature quickly, which means you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. It can be filled with tap water if you like.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it is a powerful machine. At its full cost, it's less than PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. There's a light on the button to ensure that you can clearly see how much has been dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.

There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen working space.

Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular ground coffee and coffee machines makes beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes in a box with an 75cm power cable, plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box of nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be stored on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's an excellent value for its class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is a good choice for baristas who are on a budget. It's loaded with options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.

Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it offers just enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

The unit has its flaws. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really significant, but it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank because of its rear position.

But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a hindrance for certain buyers. For those seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or best coffee machines for home the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.

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 display provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It has a single dial to program the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you remove the carafe while brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, then resumes and finishes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew time is approximately the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides more control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee machine automatic that was served in a full-carafe in just 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 time range that coffee experts suggest to make a good 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 such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as an hopper that can hold whole beans.

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