The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded up our top picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was created for those who have little counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee at the same simultaneously.

The machine is also beautiful and features a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also has an black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most others. You will need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case if you use it frequently. This is a normal trade-off for smaller footprint, however, and not an issue specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to improve tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for beginners and has an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is 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 a water source, allowing you to be able to drink cold and purified water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine can reach the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can also fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or budget for a traditional espresso machine however, they still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up very little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.

This model does not come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.

Pods aren't expensive, but there's a variety of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets, along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase 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 includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document and a quick reference, 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 fit under a cupboard or a flat surface.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of many average consumers. 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 the most affordable in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet. This could easily set them back another $100 or more.

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

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different and offers enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring improve their abilities without spending more than they should.

It's not without its quirks, though. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a big issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to give several shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.

If you're willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback is the cost, 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 capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add an elegant design to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which more info most coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee that is brewed is stored in a double-walled carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to take the carafe out while brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops brewing 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 is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, that means it is in compliance with the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the time range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.