The Best Coffee Machines For Home

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

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and the need to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a machine that makes coffee.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and tiny footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.

The machine also looks great and has a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes a black pressure gauge that will let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most others. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true if you use it frequently. This is a trade-off that is a result of having a smaller footprint. This is not a problem specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with the demands of your customers. However, we would recommend investing in a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.

As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and is easy to create Latte art. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners and has a bit of a learning curve for Best coffee machines for home those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate and you'll have 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 always be capable of drinking cold, purified water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one has been designed with quality in mind. The machine reaches the temperature of brewingsa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cabinet or on the floor.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's out of the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to learn how to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and is especially good for novices who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily cost them $100 or more.

This model is a bit in the middle of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and comes with a built-in burr grinder that makes the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means it can only perform one task at one time.

Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let budding baristas develop their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.

It's not without its flaws, though. For one, 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 annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.

If you're willing to put in time learning to make use of 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 its cost, which may be a deterrent for some buyers. For those seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that allows you to program the number of cups. There are two options: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing process is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee machine best grounds with a shower head. The coffee machines for home is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and displays a red light on its LED interface until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, 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 Best Coffee Machines For Home the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing times.

In our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup made excellent drip coffee machines coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that experts in the field suggest for a decent cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can make use of 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 downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could pose a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and easy-to-use interface make it an undisputed contender among the top drip coffee makers.