The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no single-size-fits 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 most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a coffee machines uk-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who want to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with small counter space. It combines excellent build quality with a compact footprint. It comes with an 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 fantastic as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also comes with a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and reservoir for water are smaller than most other machines. It is important be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a cost that is a result of having smaller footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.

You can still brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it will easily meet the demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.

As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to create the latte art. It's important to note that this machine is not intended for novices. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to perform cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. The machine is able to reach the temperature of brewing quickly, which means you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create the large hole. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. At full cost, it's less than PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those who don't have the money or space for an espresso maker, but want to get their fix of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and requires little counter space. Pressing one button will activate the machine. When you press it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you have selected. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.

This model doesn't come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet also and can be utilized in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that are suitable for 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 has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, and a tester pack comprising nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. But if you're willing to invest the time to master its use, this is an excellent espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the most affordable in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet. This could easily set them back another $100 or more.

The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's a good choice for baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do one thing at a time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas burnish their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.

The unit has its flaws. The hopper is located on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a huge issue, but it can be a problem if you wish to give several shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine how much water is left in the tank, due to its rear placement.

But if you're prepared to learn 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 price, which could be a turnoff for certain buyers. For those seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee using a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a stylish design to your kitchen. It has a single dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make and includes a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause and pour function lets you take out the carafe while brewing to fill your own 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 the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee machine commercial maker comes SCAA certified, which means it complies with the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycle is about the same length as 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 drip coffee with a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range coffee experts recommend for a great cup of drip.

You must also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee machines makes grinder or go for a more automated 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 pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee makers.