The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and making you proficient in the art of making espresso. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and tiny footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and make espresso at the same time.

The machine looks fantastic as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. This means you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having smaller footprint, however this is not a problem that is unique to this model.

This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to improve the tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is simple to make latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't made for novices, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to work with, and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to a water source, allowing you to always be able to drink cold pure, filtered water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee machine industrial in just 35 minutes. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to make the large hole. You can fill it using tap water, should you wish.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, [Redirect-Frame] but it is a powerful machine. It's priced at less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. Pressing it again will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a light on the button, so you can easily see how much has been dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee machines latte in a small kitchen or work space.

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a range of blends that can be used by all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee machines for home and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power 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 small enough to fit under a cabinet or on flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. But if you're willing to invest the time to learn how to use it, this is an excellent do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas on a budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at the same time.

Breville, a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and offers enough adjustable control to let baristas who are aspiring improve their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.

It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a major deal, but can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside is the cost, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It has one dial to set how many cups you want it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee machine offers maker is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing time and quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend for making a quality cup.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before making coffee. You can opt for a manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a issue for certain 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.