The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There is no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a fully automated 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 the need to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to cup machine we've come across.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top choice for those who wish to make espresso at home without having to make big sacrifices in terms of quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It comes equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso simultaneously.

The machine is also beautiful and has a round panel on the side with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also comes with the black pressure gauge, which indicates when the boiler is ready to use.

The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than others. You will need be cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a sacrifice that results in a smaller footprint. This is not an issue that is specific to this model.

This machine is able to handle your coffee needs. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante for increased consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to increase tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is simple to make Latte arts. It's important to know that this machine isn't designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchange boiler can be a bit tricky to control and you'll need to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine is able to reach the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can make your first cup in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled, as the lid can be removed to create the large hole. It can be filled with tap water, should you wish.

This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. It's priced at less than PS100 at the full price - that's less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for an espresso maker, but who would like to experience the pleasure of authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very little counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine, then again to start dispensing your chosen brew. The button is illuminated to let you know the amount you've consumed. You can also manually stop the process if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

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 also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.

They're not cheap, but there is an array of blends 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 sleek capsule machine that comes with an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box of nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be kept on the floor or placed under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of most average consumers. But if you're willing to invest the time to learn how to use it, this is an excellent espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models available. It's the best value in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who don't have an espresso machine yet, which could cost them another $100 or more.

This model sits right below the top of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive, costing $2,199), but it's still an excellent choice for baristas at home on a budget. It has a lot of customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a one-boiler machine, which means that it can only do one thing at one time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let new baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.

The unit is not without its flaws. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of being on top. This isn't really significant however it can be frustrating if you're trying to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.

If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an ideal, all-purpose machine for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the price, which could be a deterrent for certain buyers. For those looking for a less expensive option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and provide a bit 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 maker with a simple user interface that makes great coffee machine uk. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish look to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee machines for home enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated up to the ideal temperature, and then evenly distributed over the coffee grounds using a shower head. The coffee that is brewed is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process and shows a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. The machine then begins the brewing process.

The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew cycle is about the same length as 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 produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but still within the range of time that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can use an old-fashioned coffee machines uk 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 and water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe, which could be a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek aesthetic and user-friendly interface make it an undisputed contender among the best drip coffee machines small makers.