The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatics that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was designed for those with small 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 while making espresso at the same time.

The machine also looks great and has a circular insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on the classic design of Rocket that is already impressive for a compact machine. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a sacrifice that comes with having a smaller footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.

This machine is capable of handling your coffee needs. However, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with an Rocket portafilter to improve the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. It's important to note that this machine is not designed for beginners. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to control and you'll need to master the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which is more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed 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 minutes. The water tank is quick and simple to refill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. You can fill it with tap water if you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the series, yet it is a powerful machine. At its full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up just a little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to turn on the machine, then again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time should you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.

This model does not come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quiet, too and can be utilized in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing others.

The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm power cord and plug, a quick-guide and warranty sheet and a tester box that contains nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be able to be stowed on the floor or placed under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to learn to use it and make it work, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than many of the more expensive models. It's a good value for its class and is particularly useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model is priced less than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent choice for baristas working on a tight budget. It has a lot of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It is also a single-boiler machine, meaning it can only do one thing at one time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than necessary.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top, of this model. It's not a huge problem, but it could be frustrating if you want to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.

But if you're prepared to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a hindrance for certain buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost less than the Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart household coffee machines maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe is the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee is then brewed inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays the red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing time.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee and a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range that professional coffee machine experts recommend to make a great cup.

You should also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can opt for either a 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 is that the carafe and water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe and could cause problem for some users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and easy-to-use interface make it a top contender among the best drip coffee makers.