Thurman Prosser

The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all Coffee Machine Maker machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to a semiautomatic that gives you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automatizing the process and requiring you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with the smallest counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk while making espresso at the same time.

The machine is also beautiful and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design, which is already impressive for a small coffee machine appliance. It also comes with the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. This means that you'll need to be extra vigilant when emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you are using it regularly. This is a trade-off that comes with having less footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it will easily keep up with the demands. That being said, we would suggest investing in a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to create latte arts. It's important to note that the machine isn't made for beginners and there's an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler can be a little tricky to control, and you will have to master the ins and outs 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 filtering water available for your drinks. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that is more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank can be filled easily by removing the lid. be removed to create the large hole. It can be filled using tap water, should you wish.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still is a powerful machine. It's priced at less than PS100 at retail which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who don't have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink a real Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and requires small coffee machine counter space. You only need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can easily see how much has been dispensed, and you can manually stop the process should you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.

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

They're not inexpensive, but there's an array of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them 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 power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box of nine Lavazza pods which include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). 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 a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to take the time to learn how to use it this is a great espresso maker for your home that is more efficient than some of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who don't have an espresso machine yet--which can easily cost them another $100 or more.

The model is just below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a tight budget. It comes with a variety of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at one time.

Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different, and it offers just enough control that it can be adjusted to let aspiring baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.

It's not without its quirks, though. The hopper is located on the side, not at the top of the model. It's not a major deal, but can be a hassle if you need to give multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.

If you're willing to invest some time in learning how to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model can do.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It comes with a single dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe produces the best tasting cheap coffee machines. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored inside the double-walled thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing and then fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and displays a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict technical standards. Its brew time is approximately longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, however, it has more control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.

In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range that coffee machine office experts recommend for a great cup of drip.

It also requires you to grind your own beans before making coffee. You can opt for a manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and an hopper for beans that are whole.

The only drawback is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe and could cause hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.