The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them to semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be familiar with the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who wish to make espresso at home without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew cheapest coffee machines at the same time.

The machine looks great too, and comes with a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which shows when the boiler is ready to use.

One disadvantage of this tiny machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. You'll need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true when you are using it often. This is a cost that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not an issue that is specific to this model.

This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. That being said, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with a Rocket Portafilter to improve the tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes some great drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't designed for beginners and there's an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to operate, and you will have to master the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have fresh, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one was made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the brewing temperature quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to create a large hole. It can be filled with tap water, depending on what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the series, yet it is a powerful machine. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 which is less 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 real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and requires little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the pod you have selected. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can make use of 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 for offices in a small kitchen working space.

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a variety of blends that are suitable for all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. 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 plug and power cable, a warranty sheet, a quick guide, and a tester pack of 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 a flat surface or slipped under your cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing and able master it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and it's particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them another $100 or more.

This model sits right in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do one thing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let new baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is located on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a huge problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to give several shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to see how much liquid remains.

If you're willing to put in some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a hindrance for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee maker that produces great coffee machines home with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen provides your kitchen with a stylish appearance. It comes with one dial to set the amount of cups you want it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds with shower heads. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it complies with the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycle is about longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.

In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee, with the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.

You must also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of an old-fashioned coffee grinder or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe this could be a issue for certain users. 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 top drip coffee makers.