The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've rounded-up our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you proficient in the art of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home without making big sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and tiny footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.

The machine is also beautiful and has a circular design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's original design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has the black pressure gauge, which indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than other models. This means you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you are using it regularly. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not something that is unique to this model.

This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. We would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to make latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for novices and has an enlightening 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 perform cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to be able to drink cold pure, filter-filtered water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The water tank can be easily refilled by removing the lid. be removed to make a large hole. You can even fill it with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. It's priced less than PS100 at full price - that's less 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 for a traditional espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up very little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can begin the process. Pressing it again will start dispensing the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller portions.

There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee machines industrial in a small kitchen or working space.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available 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 most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods which include 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 your cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing invest the time to master its use this is a great espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a good price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that costs 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 baristas at home on a tight budget. It has a lot of customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at the same time.

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

It's not without its flaws, though. The hopper is located on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a huge problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing some time to learn how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may be a deterrent 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 are equally powerful and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee using a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated design. It features one dial to set how many cups you want to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means that it meets the strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

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

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 the hopper can hold entire beans.

The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem 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 one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.