The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact 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 at same simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready to use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. It is important to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a natural trade-off for having a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue particular to this model.

This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is easy to create latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine was not intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate 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, cappuccino Makers allowing you to be capable of drinking cold pure, filter-filtered water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to make a wide opening. You can even fill it up with tap water if you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at full price and is much less expensive 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 authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up just a little counter space. Pressing one button will activate the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. It's also quiet and Cappuccino Makers can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.

They're not cheap, but there is a variety of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It includes a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet 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 kept on the floor or placed under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn to use it, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most 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 grinder yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model sits right below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199) However, it's an excellent choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and has a built-in burr grinder that makes the entire experience less expensive. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means it can only perform one task at a time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and offers enough control that it can be adjusted to let baristas who are aspiring improve their abilities without spending more than they should.

There are some quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a major problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to disperse several shots at once. It's also difficult to see how much water is left in the tank, because of its position at the rear.

If you're willing to invest some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any coffee lover at home. The only issue is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for certain buyers. If you're looking for an affordable option, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It has one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then evenly poured over the energy-efficient coffee machines grounds using a shower head. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew cycle is about the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts recommend for making a quality cup.

You should also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe this could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.