The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There’s no universally-fit-all coffee maker. We’ve rounded up our favorite picks for your home, ranging from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans to semi-automatic machines that give you the most control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch achieves the perfect balance between automation and needing to know the ropes of espresso-making. It’s the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we’ve found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at the same simultaneously.

The machine looks stunning as well, and has an elongated side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a new take on Rocket’s classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a compact machine. It also comes with a black boiler pressure gauge to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.

One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and the water reservoir are smaller than most other machines. 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 cost that results in a smaller footprint. It’s not an issue that is specific to this model.

This machine is capable of handling your coffee needs. We recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with a Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make excellent drinks and is easy to make latte arts. It’s important to note that this machine is not intended for novices. There is a small learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit difficult to manage and you’ll need to learn the basics of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water source, which means you’ll always have clean, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter has smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza’s high standards. The machine reaches the brewing temperature quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in just 35 seconds. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill, with the lid detaching completely to create a large opening. It can be filled using tap water, depending on what you prefer.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest of the range, but it packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at retail – that’s less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those without the budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and requires little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can activate the machine. When you press it again, it will start dispensing the pod you have selected. There’s a backlight on the button, so you are able to see clearly the amount of liquid that has been dispersed and you can also stop the process at any time in case you prefer drinking your drink in smaller portions.

This model doesn’t come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quiet as well and can be utilized in a small area or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing anyone else.

The pods are not cheap, but they come in a range of blends that can be used by anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty document and a quick reference, and a tester 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 placed under a cupboard or flat surfaces.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you’re willing and able learn how to use it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It’s more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It’s an excellent value for its class and is particularly useful for those who are new to the field and don’t own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.

This model is a bit below the top of the line for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) However, it’s an excellent option for home baristas on a budget. It’s loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It’s also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at one time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and has enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than necessary.

The unit is not without its flaws. The hopper is on the side, not at the top of the model. It’s not a major problem, but it could be a problem if you wish to dispense several shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to know the amount of liquid left.

If you’re willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it’s an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee machine pro lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its price which could be a hindrance for some buyers. If you’re seeking a cheaper alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they’ll cost you less than the Breville model does.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee machine machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen give a stylish appearance to your kitchen. It has one dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the perfect temperature and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The brewed coffee machine for office then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and pour feature lets you to remove the carafe during making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. It then resumes and finishes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it complies with the organization’s rigorous technical standards. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing duration, and quality.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup made a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but it falls within the range experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee maker machine grinder or opt for a more automatic model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.

The only downside is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren’t dishwasher safe and could cause issue for some users. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.