There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. That's why 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 best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while making you knowledgeable about the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home without having to make huge sacrifices in terms quality. This prosumer espresso machine is designed with a limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and a very small footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and has a circular design on the side panel with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic that is already impressive for a small machine. It also has an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. You'll need to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a sacrifice that results in less footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair this machine with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the process of tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to create latte arts. It's important to note that this machine isn't intended for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from espresso machines that are appliance-grade. The heat exchanger can be difficult to operate and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, which allows you to be capable of drinking cold pure, filtered water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which could be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is fast and easy to refill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. You can even fill it with tap water if that's what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it is a powerful machine. At full cost, it's less than PS100 - which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or budget for traditional espresso machines, but still want to experience an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up little counter space. By pressing a single button, you can start the machine. When you press it again, it will start dispense the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand included on this model, but you can make use of an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth, if you'd like. The machine is quite quiet as well, and can be used in a small area or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to choose from to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available 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 stylish capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty sheet and a quick reference, 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 stored on a flat surface or slipped under your cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to take the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for your home that performs better than some of the more expensive models available. It's a great value for its class and is particularly useful for those who aren't experienced enough to own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.
This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) However, it's an excellent option for home baristas on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder that makes the entire experience cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine that means that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has quickly established a reputation for high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas develop their skills without spending hundreds more than they need to.
The unit has its flaws. The hopper is located on the side, not at the top, of this model. It's not a major issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense multiple shots at once. The rear-facing position of the tank makes it difficult to determine how much liquid remains.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are equally powerful and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you a fraction of what this Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant look to your kitchen. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the number of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is stored in the double-walled thermal carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe while brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then it resumes and completes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict standards in terms of technology. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend for a good cup of drip.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to making. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or choose a more automated model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has multiple grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.
