The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and having to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It’s our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a great option for those who are looking to make espresso at home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a 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 classic design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. This means that you’ll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a cost that is a result of having less footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with your demands. However, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to improve tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to make Latte arts. However, it’s worth noting that the machine isn’t designed for novices and there’s some learning curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate and you’ll have to master the art of cooling flushes.

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

1. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature of brewing quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is also fast and easy to refill by removing the lid completely to create a large opening. You can even fill it with tap water if you want.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it is a powerful machine. It’s priced less than PS100 at retail and is much less expensive than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an excellent choice for those with a limited budget or space to buy a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to start dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you’ve consumed. You can also stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller portions.

This model doesn’t come with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. The machine is quiet, too and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

The pods aren’t inexpensive, but they come in a wide range of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase 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 document, a quick guide, 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 kept on an even surface or placed under your cupboard.

1. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. But if you’re willing to invest the time to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It’s the most affordable in its class, and it’s particularly suitable for beginners who don’t have an espresso machine yet--which can easily set them back another $100 or more.

This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it’s an excellent choice for baristas who are 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 single boiler machine, meaning it can only perform one task at one time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine isn’t an exception and offers enough adjustability to let baristas who are aspiring develop their abilities without spending hundreds of dollars more than they have to.

It’s not without its quirks however. For one, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn’t significant, but it can be a little difficult to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.

But if you’re prepared to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it’s a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which could be a nagging issue for certain buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines have similar capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.

1. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen add a sophisticated design to your kitchen. It has one dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two settings: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which most coffee aficionados believe produces the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, that means it is in compliance with the rigorous standards of SCAA’s technology. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing times.

In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that experts in the field recommend to make a great cup.

It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can select an manual grinder or a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has multiple grind settings, and an hopper for beans that are whole.

The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoir aren’t dishwasher-safe and could cause problem 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 a top contender among the top drip coffee makers.