The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people who have small counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It comes with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same time.

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

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. You will need to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that comes with having smaller footprint. This isn't a problem specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an 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 create the latte art. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't designed for novices and has an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate and you'll have to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to make a large hole. It can be filled using tap water, depending on what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it is a powerful machine. At full price, it costs under PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who do not have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.

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

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

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It includes 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 compact enough to fit under a cupboard or on a flat surface.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's a great value for its class and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it's a solid choice for baristas at home 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's also a single boiler that means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Breville is a relative newcomer on the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough control that it can be adjusted to let aspiring baristas burnish their skills without spending more than they should.

It's not without its quirks, though. The hopper is on the side, not at the top, prices of coffee machines this model. It's not a huge deal, but can be frustrating if you want to disperse several shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.

If you're willing time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only downside is the cost, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee machines office machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give an elegant design to your kitchen. It features 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. The brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee makers machines. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing 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, which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with the carafe filled in 7 minutes 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making. You can use a manual coffee machine industrial grinder, or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.

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