The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic coffee machines that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the most control over your espresso.

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

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with limited counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.

The machine also looks great and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has a black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a normal trade-off for having smaller footprint, however, and not an issue specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee making machine using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making delicious drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to control and you'll have to master the ins and outs of 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 filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled by removing the lid. be removed to make an enormous hole. You can fill it up using tap water, should you wish.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the series, yet it is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but who are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. By pressing a single button, you can start the machine. Pressing it again will start dispense the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.

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

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a wide range of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug along with a quick-guide as well as a 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 compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing put in the work to master its use this is a great espresso maker for your home that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's among the best compact coffee machine priced in its class, and it's especially good for novices who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.

This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still a good choice for baristas on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at one time.

Despite being 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 exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to develop their abilities without spending more than they should.

It's not without its flaws however. For one, the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't significant, but it can be frustrating if you're trying to dispense multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.

If you're willing to learn how much is a good coffee machine to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which could be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display creates a chic kitchen appearance. It has only one dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee machine industrial enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an 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 it meets the organization’s strict standards for technical quality. 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 brewed excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe of coffee in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that experts in the field recommend to make a good cup.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can select an manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as a hopper for whole beans.

The only issue with this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern 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 one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.