The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker. This is why we've compiled our favorite picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with the black pressure gauge, which will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. You will need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a normal trade-off to have a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue that is unique to this model.

You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. We recommend buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to make Latte arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and there's some learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to manage, and you will have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, which means you'll always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine can reach the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is quick and simple to refill, with the lid detaching completely to create a large opening. 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, but it still has a lot of punch. At its full price, it's priced at 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 budget for traditional espresso machines however still want to experience a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly 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 start dispensing your chosen pod. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller quantities.

The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or workspace.

The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a range of blends that can be used by all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document along with 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 placed under a cupboard or on flat surfaces.

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 to master it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.

This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It has a lot of customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only perform one task at the same time.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustability to allow aspiring baristas to improve their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

The unit is not without its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't an issue however it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any espresso lover at home. The only coffee downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a stylish design to your kitchen. It has one dial to set the amount of cups you want to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range that coffee experts recommend for making a quality cup.

It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to making. You can select either a manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and a hopper for whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir 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 aesthetic and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.