Ten Best Coffee Machines That Really Improve Your Life

The Best Coffee Machines For Home

There's no one-size-fits-all espresso machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into semi-automatic coffeee machines that give you the best control over your espresso.

The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be familiar with the art of making espresso. This is our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.

1. Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento is a top option for those looking to make espresso at home without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind and offers top-quality build and the smallest footprint. It comes with a 1.8 milliliter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Head so you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same simultaneously.

The machine looks fantastic and has a round insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also includes a black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready for use.

The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than others. This means you'll be more cautious about emptying and refilling the machine, especially when you use it often. This is a normal trade-off for smaller footprint, however, and not an issue specific to this model.

You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it is able to easily meet the demands. That being said, we would suggest investing in a quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance tamping.

Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make some great drinks and it is easy to make latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine isn't made for beginners, and there is an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchange boiler may be a bit tricky to manage, and you will have to master the ins and outs 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 always be in a position to drink cold, purified water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to fill than its competitors.

2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie

This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee drip machine in less than 35 minutes. The water tank is able to be filled, as the lid can be removed to create the large hole. You can fill it with tap water if you want.

This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. At full cost, it's less than PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who do not have the space or money for a traditional espresso machine however nevertheless want to drink the authentic Italian espresso.

The Jolie is easy to use and takes up little counter space. Pressing one button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the specific pod you've chosen. The button has a backlight so you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, if you want to drink the pod in smaller amounts.

There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or workspace.

They aren't expensive, but there's a variety of blends to satisfy everyone from mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee machine amazon. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.

The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with an 75cm power cable, plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test 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 kept on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.

3. Breville BES870XL

The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn how to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet--which can easily set them back another $100 or more.

This model is a bit in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199), but it's still an excellent option for baristas at home who are on a tight budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even includes an integrated burr grinder to make the entire experience more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means that it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.

Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves by offering top-quality equipment. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds more than is necessary.

The unit is not without its quirks. One example is that the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be frustrating if you're trying to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.

But if you're prepared to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only downside to the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a hindrance for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both coffeee machines are comparable in their capabilities and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup

A high-tech smart coffee maker that makes excellent coffee with a simple user interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant appearance to your kitchen. It has one dial to set the number of cups you would like it to make. It also comes with two cup settings and a 5-9 cup setting. The brewing method is similar to pour over the grounds, which many professional coffee machine lovers believe produces the best tasting coffee. The water is heated to the perfect temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The coffee is stored in a double-walled carafe that can be kept for up to 60 min. The pause and pour function lets you remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. It then it resumes and completes brewing.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is certified by SCAA, which means it complies with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.

In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee that filled an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit more than the 6 minutes that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the range that coffee experts suggest to make a great cup.

You must also grind your beans before brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or choose a more automated model like 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 pose a problem for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.