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The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso 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 refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a small machine. It also has a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine 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 natural trade-off for smaller footprint, however this is not a problem specific to this model.

This machine can easily handle 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 improve the tamping.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. It's important to note that this machine was not intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a little tricky to manage and you'll need to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to always be capable of drinking cold pure, filtered water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill and the lid can be removed completely to create a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if that's what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those who don't have the money or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and requires little counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine and again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.

This model doesn't come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is very quiet, too and can be utilized in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

The pods aren't cheap, but they come in a 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 ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty document, a quick guide, 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 flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to put in the work to learn how to use it, this is an excellent espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's an excellent value for the money and is especially useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

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 tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder, making the entire experience less expensive. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let aspiring baristas hone their abilities without spending more than necessary.

The unit is not without its quirks. The hopper is on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a big problem, but it could be frustrating if you want to disperse several shots at a time. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback is the price, which could be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability 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 with backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen design. It comes with a single dial to program how many cups you want it to make and includes two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee machine maker. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycles it uses are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.

In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe of coffee in just 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 of time that coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can opt for a manual grinder or a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

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