The best coffee machines for home [continue reading this..]

There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. 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 semi-automatic machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing 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 makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with limited counter space. It has a great build quality and a small footprint. It comes with a 1.8 liter copper heat-exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew your coffee pot machine at the same time.

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

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than others. You'll need be cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a normal trade-off for less footprint, however it is not a problem particular to this model.

This machine can easily handle your coffee demands. We suggest buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to improve the tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create delicious drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine isn't designed for beginners. There is a small learning curve for those who upgrade from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to work with, and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.

Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to an water source, allowing you to be capable of drinking cold and filter-filtered water. The latter model has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be more difficult to refill.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

As you would expect from the Lavazza machine this one was designed with quality in mind. The machine can reach the temperature of brewing quickly, which means you can prepare your first cup in less than 35 second. The water tank is also quick and simple to refill by removing the lid completely to reveal a large opening. You can even fill it up with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still has a lot of punch. At its full price, it costs under 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 a traditional espresso machine, but nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and occupies just a little counter space. Pressing one button will activate the machine. Pressing it again will start dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can easily see how much has been dispensed and you can also manually stop the process should you prefer to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

This model does not come with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quiet also and can be utilized in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without disturbing others.

They aren't expensive, but there's a variety of blends that will satisfy everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.

The Jolie and Milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box containing nine Lavazza pods: 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 cabinet or on a flat surface.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be a costly espresso machine. If you're willing to put in the work to master its use this is a great espresso maker for home use that performs better than many of the more expensive models on the market. It's a good value for the money and is especially useful for beginners who don't yet own an espresso machine, which can cost up to $100.

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

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the market for espresso machines, Breville has quickly made an impact through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and offers enough adjustable control to let aspiring baristas burnish their skills without spending 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 big issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at a time. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid is left.

If you're willing to invest time learning to make use of the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a turnoff for some buyers. If you're looking for a low-cost alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the cost.

4. OXO Brew 9 Cup

A high-tech, intelligent coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display creates a chic kitchen appearance. It has one dial that allows you to set the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee aficionados believe produces the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The brewed coffee then collects in the double-walled, thermal carafe, which can last up to 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 the red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes the brewing process.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup is an SCAA-certified coffee maker which means it meets the rigorous standards of SCAA's technology. The brew cycle is longer than the Bodum BISTRO and the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it provides greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.

In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee, with the carafe filled in 7 minutes 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.

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

The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a problem for certain users. The stainless steel is still easy to clean by hand, but. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.