The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semiautomatics that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and needing to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks stunning too, and comes with an elongated side panel with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to show when the boiler is ready for use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. You will need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a natural trade-off for a smaller footprint, though it is not a problem that is unique to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it can easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the grinding process.

As a professional espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and is easy to create latte art. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle, 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, allowing you to always be able to drink cold and filter-filtered water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie a great option for those who don't have the money or space for a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and requires small counter space. By pressing a single button, you can start the machine. When you press it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you have selected. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.

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 also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.

They're not inexpensive, but there's a wide variety of blends to choose from that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box containing nine Lavazza pods that include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to fit under a cupboard or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able master it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for its class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.

This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's an excellent option for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience less expensive. It's also a single boiler that means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending more than they should.

The unit is not without its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a huge deal, but can be a problem if you wish to disperse several shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid is left.

But if you're prepared 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 to the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a deterrent 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 comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee brewed is then stored in the thermal, double-walled carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe in brewing coffee machines best and fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.

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

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee, with the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before making coffee. You can use a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and a hopper that holds whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe and the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe this could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it a top contender among the best drip coffee makers.