The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for the home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.

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

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who want to make espresso at their home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine for the prosumer is designed with limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head, so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same time.

The machine is also beautiful and features a round design on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this model than others. 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 trade-off that comes with having smaller footprint. This isn't something that is unique 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, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for novices and there's an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. 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 a water source, allowing you to be in a position to drink cold, filter-filtered water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's top standards. 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 is quick and simple to refill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if you prefer.

This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still has a lot of punch. It's priced at less than PS100 at the full price and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or budget for traditional espresso machines however, they still want to enjoy the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies only a tiny amount of counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine and again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. 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 portions.

There's no steam wand on this model, however you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is very quiet, too and can be used in a small space or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.

The pods aren't expensive, but they are available in a variety of blends that are suitable for everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug, a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods: six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be stored on an even surface or placed under the cabinet.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to master it this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's far superior to most of the more expensive models. It's among the best priced in its class, and is especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso grinder yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.

This model is a bit below the top 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 budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much less expensive. It is also a single-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at a time.

Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no different and offers enough adjustability to let aspiring baristas burnish their skills without spending more than they should.

The unit is not without its flaws. For instance, the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be a little difficult to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank because of its position at the rear.

If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the price, which could be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen appearance. It comes with one dial that lets you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee machines prices maker, which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles are the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it lets you control the temperature and brewing times.

In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee with a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.

It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder, or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.