The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and the need to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a small footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and make espresso at the same time.

The machine also looks great and features a round panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic look of Rocket that is already impressive for a compact machine. It also includes an black gauge for boiler pressure to show when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. You'll need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural trade-off to have less footprint, however, and not an issue particular to this model.

This machine can easily handle your automatic coffee machines demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to improve the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. It is important to remember that this machine isn't designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to manage and you'll need to learn the ins and outs 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 pure, filter-filtered water. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The water tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. It's priced less than PS100 at retail - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who don't have the space or money for traditional espresso machines, but still want to enjoy the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and takes up little counter space. Pressing one button will start the machine. Pressing it again will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a backlight that's on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

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 want. The machine is quite quiet, too, and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a range of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (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 a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able learn to use it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially good for novices 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 line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at one time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control that it can be adjusted to allow aspiring baristas to improve their skills without spending more than they have to.

The unit is not without its flaws. One example is that the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't significant, but it can be a little annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the price, which could be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine professional maker with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The brewed coffee machine best is then stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine stops 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 an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to making. You can choose a manual grinder or a more automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

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