The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've rounded up our top picks for the home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be knowledgeable about 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 sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and brew 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 and is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to show when the boiler is ready to use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than most other machines. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having less footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.

This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. However, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to improve the tamping.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's easy to create Latte art. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit difficult to control and you'll have to master 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, allowing you to always be able to drink cold and filter-filtered water. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is difficult to refill.

1. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature of brewing quickly, so you can make your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank can be easily refilled by removing the lid. be removed to make an enormous hole. You can also fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. 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 option for those who don't have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but still want to experience a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to operate and takes up very little counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a light on the button to ensure that you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed, and you can manually stop the process in case you prefer drinking your pod in smaller doses.

This model doesn't come with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet, too, and can be used in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that includes a milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a test 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 stored on an even surface or placed under your cupboard.

1. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. But if you're willing to invest the time to learn how to use it this is a great do-it-all home espresso maker that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's an excellent price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent option for baristas working on a budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark with their high-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception and has enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending more than they should.

The unit is not without its flaws. For instance, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't a huge deal however it can be difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside is the cost, which can 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 have similar capabilities and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.

1. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to take the carafe out while making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it complies with the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew cycle is about as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and a hopper that holds whole 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 design and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.