The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to understand the basics of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee Machine pro-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those looking to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with a limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks great too, and comes with a round side panel insert with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic design of Rocket and is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes a black boiler pressure gauge to show when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when using it frequently. This is a trade-off that results in less footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.

This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. We would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to improve the grinding process.

As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's easy to create the latte art. It's important to note that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's a bit of a learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to manage and you'll need to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply that means you will always have fresh coffee maker, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. You can fill it up using tap water, depending on what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still 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 ideal choice for those without the budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. The button has a backlight to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

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

Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's a variety of blends available to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee machines on amazon. 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 comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine itself is small enough to be kept on a flat surface or slipped under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing and able learn to use it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's a great price for the class and is particularly useful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and has a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at one time.

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has quickly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let budding baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

The unit does not come without its flaws. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't significant however it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.

But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price, which may be a hindrance for certain buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost 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 a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The coffee is then brewed in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you remove the carafe while making your ground coffee machines and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, then resumes and finishes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which coffee machine is the best means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with a carafe full in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that professional coffee machine experts suggest to make a good cup.

You should also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can opt for an manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe and water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe and could cause issue for certain users. 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.