If you’ve never brewed your own espresso before, it can seem a bit intimidating, but with a machine like the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+, it’s actually quite easy to make lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks at home.
Many of the best espresso machines have lots of bells and whistles that can be overwhelming for beginners, but this new espresso machine from the budget-friendly brand is easy and accessible to use. Not only can it pull single and double shots of tasty espresso for a mid-morning boost, but its automatic milk frother takes all the hassle out of making lattes and other coffee shop-style drinks.
To see if this espresso maker is as beginner-friendly as it seems, I tested it for several weeks, whipping up all sorts of espresso drinks for myself and my family. At the end of the day, I was truly impressed with its performance, especially considering its lower price point. Here’s what I liked about it and who I think this coffee maker is best for.
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: Price and availability
The Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ retails for $349.99, which is on the low end of the price range for a semi-automatic espresso machine. At this price point, most machines have a milk wand that you have to use separately, so the unit’s automatic frothing is a great selling point.
The unit is available from major retailers like Amazon and Target, and it’s easy to purchase from your preferred store.
Score: 5 out of 5
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: First impressions
The One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ was packaged with a few pieces of thick styrofoam and wrapped in a layer of thin styrofoam-like material to prevent scratching during shipping. A lot of its components were also taped together, and there were several other pieces of tape on the machine that didn’t seem to serve any purpose.
The machine comes with two portafilters—one for single shots and one for double shots. It also includes a plastic tool with an espresso scoop on one end and a tamp on the other. There’s a toggle-style power button on the right hand side of the machine, and the drip tray under the spout can be removed and emptied in case you spill any liquid. The height of the mug tray can also be raised, helping to prevent splashing when you’re brewing an individual shot of espresso.
Overall, the One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ is very similar in its design to the Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe, which I also recently tested. At first glance, the only main difference between the two models is the location of the control panel.
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: Design
This espresso machine has a dark gray plastic exterior with silver accents. It’s definitely not as high-end as, for example, a Breville espresso machine, but I thought it looked nice on my counter.
On the right side of the machine, there are two reservoirs—one for water and one for milk. The water tank has a recessed handle on the back, making it easy to lift off, but the milk tank locks into place. You have to pull up a small lever above the tank to remove it. On the front of the milk reservoir, there’s a dial that you can turn to increase or decrease the amount of froth in your drink—a useful feature if, like me, you like extra-frothy lattes. There’s also a silver lever that adjusts the angle of the milk wand, making it easy to point it into your cup.
The unit’s control panel is right over the portafilter, and it has a total of six buttons, including options for regular shots, lattes, and cappuccinos. It can make a single or double serving of each, and there are also buttons if you want to manually pull an espresso shot or froth milk.
The one thing that I didn’t like about the control panel is there’s no “start” button. You select the drink you want, and a few seconds later, the machine automatically starts brewing. I often put my hand on top of the machine when inserting the portafilter into place, and on multiple occasions, I accidentally touched one of the buttons below. There’s no way to “cancel” a drink, either, so I generally panicked and turned the machine off entirely. This meant I had to turn it back on and wait for it to heat up again, which was inconvenient.
Score: 4 out of 5
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: Performance
Before using the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ for the first time, you need to prime the machine to flush out its inner pipes and fill them up with water. The process is straightforward and involves running manual espresso and froth cycles. It took around five minutes in total, then the machine was ready to go.
The first thing I noticed about this espresso machine is that it takes a long time to warm up. There’s an illuminated bar across the top of the control panel, and it will light up in sections as the machine heats up water. It often takes two or more minutes before the coffee maker is actually ready to brew a drink, which can be inconvenient if you’re in a rush.
While I wait for the machine to heat up, I usually pack the portafilter and fill up the milk tank. I found it easy to pack espresso into the filters using the include scoop and tamp, but if you’re in a rush, you can also use “easy serve espresso” or ESE pods. I was able to find some at my local grocery store, and it’s super convenient to just pop one into the filter and skip the measuring and tamping steps. The portafilters also lock into place on the handle, making it easy to bang out the espresso puck after brewing.
The good news is that once the machine heats up, it can quickly churn out drinks. It only takes around a minute for it to make a latte—it froths milk first then pours espresso on top. It’s fairly quiet during operation, too. The loudest part is the hissing of steam while the milk froths, which measures in around 68-70 decibels (equivalent to the sound of a normal conversation), so it won’t disturb your household if someone is sleeping. Plus, the machine can make several drinks in a row without having to heat back up, which is handy if you’re making multiple servings.
After making a drink, the CoffeeHouse+ has a self-cleaning cycle that flushes out the milk frothing wand. You have to put an empty cup under the spout, and it uses steam and hot water to clean the inner tubes. Both reservoirs can also be put in the dishwasher as needed.
Score: 4 out of 5
Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: Taste test
Even though it’s not the most high-tech espresso machine out there, the One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ makes a delicious drink. The espresso shots are rich and flavorful with a nice layer of crema on top—even my brother, who is somewhat of an espresso connoisseur, was impressed by the flavor of the shots.
The machine’s lattes and cappuccinos are equally delicious. The milk froth is thick, and the drinks are always just the right temperature—they’re hot, but you can sip them right away without worrying about burning your tongue. I particularly enjoy drizzling a little bit of caramel into my cup before brewing. The resulting drink tastes just like my favorite caramel latte from a local coffee shop.
Should you buy the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+?
Buy it if...
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Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+: also consider...
I recently tested the Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe, another one of the brand’s semi-automatic espresso machines, and it has a similar design to the One-Touch CoffeeHouse+. However, there are a few key differences between the two. The Prima Latte Luxe has a better-designed control panel that’s out of the way of your hands and features a designated start button, preventing you from accidentally starting a brew cycle. It also includes a lid for its milk reservoir so you can put it right in the fridge if you have leftover milk. It is slightly more expensive, retailing for around $400, but it’s just as beginner-friendly as the CoffeeHouse+ and makes equally delicious drinks.
If you’re someone who wants more control over their espresso brewing, you may want to look at a model like the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ Espresso Machine. While it’s significantly more expensive, retailing for $1,700, this machine allows you to adjust a wide range of settings, including the temperature, pressure, and brew time. It’s quite a bit more complicated to operate, but it’s a worthwhile splurge if you want to customize your drinks to your exact preferences.
How I tested the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+
- Made daily espresso drinks using the machine
- Tried both loose espresso grounds and ESE pods
- Tested both single and double-sized beverages
I used the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ as part of my daily routine for around two weeks. I generally made myself a latte or cappuccino each afternoon, and I occasionally tried out fancier drinks, adding espresso to my favorite chai tea and hot chocolate. I tested out both regular ground espresso, as well as ESE pods, and I made sure to use each of the different drink options and serving sizes at least once.
Read more about how we test
