The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. That's why we've rounded up our favorite picks for your home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the most control over your espresso.

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

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It is built to last with a high-end build quality and a very small footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk and make espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks stunning as well and features an insert for the side of the machine with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on Rocket's classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with the black pressure gauge, which indicates 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 be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a trade-off that comes with having a smaller footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.

You can still brew plenty of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands of your customers. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes delicious drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners and there's a bit of a learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to operate and you'll need to master the ins and outs 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 filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine is able to reach the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to make a wide opening. You can fill it with tap water if you want.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the models, but it is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at the full price which is less than the Krups Nespresso Essenza Mini 1200W in Schwarz/WeißKrups Nespresso Essenza Mini: Intense 19-Bar Coffee Machine or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine, but still want to enjoy a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is extremely easy to use and takes up only a tiny amount of counter space. You just need to press one button to turn on the machine, then again to start dispensing the chosen pod. There's a backlight that's on the button so that you can clearly see the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can choose to stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.

There's no steam wand included on this model, however you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.

They aren't expensive, but there's a wide variety of blends to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasted (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. 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 a good price for the class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.

This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas who are on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact by offering top-quality equipment. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring improve their abilities without spending more than they need to.

It's not without its flaws however. One example is that the hopper in this model is located on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be annoying if you're trying disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.

But if you're prepared to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only drawback to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a simple user interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give an elegant appearance to your kitchen. It comes with a single dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced a pot of excellent drip coffee with a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It's slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range of time that coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before making. You can choose a manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren't dishwasher-safe, which could be a issue for some users. 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.