The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was specifically designed for people with limited counter space. It combines excellent build 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 milk while making espresso simultaneously.

The machine looks great too, and comes with an elongated side panel with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic look of Rocket and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also has the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One downside to this small machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than the majority of machines. This means that you will have to be vigilant about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a normal trade-off for a smaller footprint, though, and not an issue that is unique to this model.

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

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is simple to make Latte Arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners, and there is an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to work with and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply that means you will always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter has 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 might expect from a Lavazza machine this one was designed with quality in mind. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and simple to refill and the lid can be removed completely to create a large opening. You can fill it up with tap water if you like.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a puule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty sheet, and a test box that contains nine Lavazza pods that include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's beyond the budget of many average consumers. 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 some of the more expensive models available. It's a great value for its class and is particularly useful for beginners who don't yet have an espresso maker that costs up to $100.

This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still a good 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 one-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at a time.

Breville is relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let aspiring baristas improve their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.

The unit has its quirks. The hopper is situated on the side, not the top, of this model. It's not a big problem, but it could be a hassle if you need to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to see the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price, which may be a stumbling block for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech, smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It has a single dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique 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 and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee machine coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe in brewing and fill your cup to the brim. The machine stops the brewing process and displays a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew time is approximately as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.

You should also grind your beans before brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.

The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best home coffee maker drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.