The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and the need to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with a limited counter space in mind. It combines outstanding build quality with the smallest footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.

The machine is also beautiful and has a round design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means that you will need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a trade-off that comes with having less footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands of your customers. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to increase 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. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't made for novices and has a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to operate, and you will have 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, which allows you to always be in a position to drink cold pure, filtered water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The tank can be filled easily by removing the lid. be removed to make the large hole. You can fill it using tap water, if you like.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. At full price, it's priced at PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those without the budget or space for an espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a backlight on the button so that you are able to see clearly how much has been dispensed and you can also stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

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 also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee machine for latte in a small kitchen working space.

The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is out of the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing invest the time to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's a great price for the class and is especially useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's 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's also a single boiler that means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending more than is necessary.

There are some quirks however. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top. This isn't an issue however it can be annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to determine how much water remains in the tank because of its position at the rear.

If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any coffee lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. For those seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish design to your kitchen. It has a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. 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 stops the brewing process and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.

In our testing we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range coffee machines commercial experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.

You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as an hopper that can hold 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 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and easy to use interface.