The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and requiring you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those who have small counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.

The machine also looks great and has a circular insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic look of Rocket that is already impressive for a small machine. It also has a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most others. This means that you will need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a natural tradeoff for having smaller footprint, however it is not a problem specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. That being said, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to make Latte Arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners, and there is some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to always be in a position to drink cold, filtered water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. You can also fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the series, yet it is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or money for traditional espresso machines however nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. Pressing it again will start dispense the pod you have selected. The button has a backlight so that you can see how much you have 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 foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.

Pods aren't cheap, but there is a wide variety of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside 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 that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (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 machine that is beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing and able master it, then this is a more info fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet. This could easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas working on a budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at a time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and has enough control to let budding baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.

The unit has its quirks. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't an issue, but it can be a little difficult to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to know how much water is left in the tank due to its rear placement.

If you're willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which can be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen look. It comes with one dial that allows 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 many coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee is then brewed in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe in brewing and fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.

It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can choose either a manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as an hopper for beans that are whole.

The only issue is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause hassle 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 due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.