The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process while needing you to be 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 Best Coffee Machines those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small 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 at the same time.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engravings of 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 pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. It is important be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not something that is unique to this model.

This machine is capable of handling your coffee demands. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's simple to create latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to control, and you will have to learn the ins and outs of cooling flushes.

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

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine is able to reach the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to create a large hole. You can fill it with tap water if you want.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the series, yet it packs a punch. At full cost, it's less than 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 money for a traditional espresso machine however, they nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and takes up little counter space. Pressing a single button will start the machine. After pressing it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight so that you can see 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 included on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is quite quiet, too and can be utilized in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

They're not cheap, but there is an array of blends to choose from that will satisfy 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 buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty card, as well as a test box of nine Lavazza pods: six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's not within the budget of many average consumers. But if you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's among the best priced in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso and coffee combo machines grinder yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.

The model is just in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for baristas at home 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 that it can only do brewing or steaming at one time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.

The unit does not come without its quirks. For one, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't an issue however it can be a little annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price, which may be a stumbling block for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.

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 display add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycle is about as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing duration and quality.

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

You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire 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 is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip user-friendly coffee machines maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.