The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine industrial machine. We've compiled our top picks, from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've seen.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with tiny footprint. It comes with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same time.

The machine looks great as well, and has a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a small machine. It also includes the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to show 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 have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a cost 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 keep up with the demands of your customers. We recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is simple to make latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners, and there is some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with, and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, that means you will always have cold, fresh filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be harder to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature prices of Coffee machines (lozd.com) brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to make a wide opening. It can be filled using tap water, if you like.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at retail and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or money for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they still want to experience a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to operate and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine and again to start dispensing your chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button so that you can clearly see how much has been dispensed, and you can stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

This model does not come with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is quiet also, and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

The pods aren't cheap, but they come in a wide range of blends that can be used by everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart coffee machine-looking capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box that contains nine Lavazza pods: six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be able to be stowed on a flat surface or slipped under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the best value in its class, and is especially good for novices who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model is priced below the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas who are on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder, making the whole experience much more affordable. It's also a single boiler that means it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different and offers enough control that it can be adjusted to allow aspiring baristas to improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they should.

There are some quirks, though. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a big problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to disperse several shots at a time. It's also difficult to see how much water is left in the tank, due to its rear placement.

If you're willing some time to learn how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for some buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It has one dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee machine best aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. 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 take out the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it, then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, which means it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range of time that experts in the field recommend to make a great cup.

You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and an hopper that can hold 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 style and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.