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The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There’s no universally-fit-all coffee maker that is perfect for every. That’s why we’ve rounded up 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 achieves the perfect balance between automation and having to know the ropes of espresso-making. It’s the best bean-to-cup machine we’ve found.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those who wish to make espresso at home without making significant sacrifices in terms of quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was specifically designed for people who have little 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 your milk and brew coffee at same time.

The machine looks stunning as well, and has a round side panel insert with the engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a modernization of Rocket’s classic design that is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also has an black gauge for boiler pressure to indicate when the boiler is ready to use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than others. This means you’ll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, particularly when you use it often. This is a cost that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It’s not a problem specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it can easily keep up with your demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create excellent drinks and is easy to make Latte Arts. It is important to remember that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a little learning curve for those who upgrade from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you’ll have to learn how to do 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 able to drink cold, filter-filtered water. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank that could be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create the large hole. You can also fill it with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still packs a punch. When you buy it at full price, it costs under PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who don’t have the space or funds for a traditional espresso machine, but nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and requires little counter space. Pressing a Single Serve Coffee Makers button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispensing the pod you’ve selected. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you’ve consumed. You can also stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller quantities.

There’s no steam wand on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you’d like. It’s also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or work space.

The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that can be used by anyone 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 buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.

The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide and a tester pack comprising 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 cabinet or on a flat surface.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you’re willing to invest the time to learn how to use it this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It’s an excellent value for the money and is especially useful for those who aren’t experienced enough to own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

This model is a bit below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive at $2,199) however, it’s an excellent option for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even comes with a built-in burr grinder, making the entire experience less expensive. It’s also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only handle one thing at the same time.

Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and has enough control to let budding baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

There are some quirks however. The hopper is situated on the side, not at the top of the model. It’s not a huge 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 see how much liquid remains.

If you’re willing to invest time learning to use the Breville Barista Express then it’s an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is the price which could be a hindrance for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker that produces great coffee using a simple interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED screens gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It features a single dial to program the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing process is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in a double-walled carafe and can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe in brewing and fill your own cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins brewing.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict standards for technical quality. Its brew time is approximately the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing time, and quality.

In our tests, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee that was served in a full-carafe of coffee in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. It’s slightly longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.

It also requires that you grind your own beans before making coffee. You can select either a manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as it has a hopper that can be used for whole beans.

The only downside is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren’t dishwasher-safe, which could be a problem for certain users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup’s sleek style and user-friendly interface make it one of the top contenders among best drip coffee makers.