The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

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

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those who have limited counter space. It combines excellent build quality and a small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee machine brands at same at the same time.

The machine looks great as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also has a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready for use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when using it frequently. This is a natural trade-off for a smaller footprint, though this is not a problem particular to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gante, to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to improve the tamping process.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's easy to make the latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners and has some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a bit difficult to operate, and you will have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply, which allows you to always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it with tap water depending on what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. At its full cost, it's less than PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who don't have the space or money for traditional espresso machines, but still want to experience the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to operate and takes up very little counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing your chosen pod. The button has a backlight to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is quiet as well and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a wide range of blends that are suitable for anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee 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, a quick guide, and a tester pack of 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 cabinet or on flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing take the time to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's among the best priced in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.

This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still a good choice for baristas who are on a budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only perform one task at the same time.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines coffee. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending more than is necessary.

The unit is not without its quirks. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't significant however it can be a little annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to determine how much water remains in the tank due to its rear placement.

If you're willing some time to learn how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent appliance for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their 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 with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant look to your kitchen. It has a single dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee brewed coffee machine is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee machine automatic maker, which means it complies with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder, or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.

The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.