Thurman Prosser

The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all coffee maker. We've rounded up our top picks for your home, ranging 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 is the perfect blend between automation and needing to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind and is built to last with a high-end build quality and the smallest 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 same at the same time.

The machine looks fantastic as well, and has an elongated side panel with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's traditional design, which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. This means you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when using it frequently. 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 brew a lot of coffee using this machine, and it will easily meet your demands. We would suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also pair this machine with the Rocket portafilter to help improve the tamping process.

As a prosumer espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and it's easy to make Latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't made for novices and has an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger is 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 and filtered water. The latter, however, comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which is more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to create the large hole. It can be filled with tap water, depending on what you prefer.

This is the smallest machine of the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still has a lot of punch. It's priced at less than PS100 at full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they still want to experience a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very little counter space. It's as easy as pressing one button to start the machine and again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you are able to see clearly the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can choose to manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your drink 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 like. The machine is quiet, too and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing anyone else.

The pods are not inexpensive, but they come in a variety of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

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

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to learn how to use it this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's the Best Coffee Machine value in its class, and it's especially good for novices who don't have an espresso machine yet. This could easily set them back 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) However, it's a solid choice for home baristas who are on a tight budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder, making the whole experience much less expensive. It's also a single boiler that means it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.

Breville is an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas burnish their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

It's not without its quirks however. The hopper is on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a major issue, but it can be frustrating if you want to give multiple shots at once. It's also difficult to know how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a hindrance for certain buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or 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 coffee machine with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screens creates a chic kitchen design. It comes with a single dial that allows you to program 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 most coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then evenly poured over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The coffee machines office is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. Its pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your cup to the brim. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It after which it resumes brewing and is finished.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is an SCAA-certified cheap coffee machine maker which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has greater control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.

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

The only issue is that the carafe and the water reservoirs 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 style and easy-to-use interface make it a top contender among the best budget coffee machine drip coffee makers.