The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them 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 needing you to be familiar with the art of making espresso. This is our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those who have limited counter space. It combines excellent build quality and a small footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial coffee machines E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and make espresso at the same time.

The machine looks fantastic and has a round insert on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready for use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than the majority of machines. You'll need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though this is not a problem particular to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with your demands. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and is easy to make the latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to operate and you'll have to master the basics of 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 cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, so you can make your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can even fill it with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however still want to experience an authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine and again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. There's a light on the button to ensure that you can clearly see the amount of dispensed and you can choose to manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.

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

They're not inexpensive, but there's a wide variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and best coffee machines two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be stored on the floor or placed under your cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing to learn to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's a great price for the class and is particularly helpful for beginners who don't yet have an espresso maker, which can cost up to $100.

This model sits right below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's an excellent option for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at the same time.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and has enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending more than they need to.

The unit is not without its quirks. For one, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really a huge deal, but it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing to invest some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only issue is the cost, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or 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 coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish design to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial to program the amount of cups you want to make. It comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee machine nespresso aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your individual cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, that means it is in compliance with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made excellent drip coffee machine filter that was served in 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 experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder, or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easily cleaned by hand, though. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best coffee machines drip coffee makers.