Brewing espresso can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Still, with a machine like the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+, making lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks at home is easy.
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. It can pull single and double shots of tasty espresso for a mid-morning boost, and 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. I was impressed with its performance, especially considering its lower price point. Here’s what I liked about it and who this coffee maker is best for.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product tester. Over the course of her career, she’s tested hundreds of small kitchen appliances, including more than a dozen coffee makers. She does all her testing from her homestead in Rhode Island, where she lives with her partner and their many animals.
Camryn starts daily with a cup of coffee, which she makes using her Wolf Gourmet drip coffee maker. In the afternoon, she generally reaches for a hot drink to go with her 3 p.m. snack—her favorite options include chai tea and hot lattes.
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. Most machines have a milk wand that you must use separately at this price point, 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+: Setup
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. Many of its components were also taped together, and several other pieces of tape on the machine didn’t seem to serve any purpose.
The machine has two portafilters—one for single shots and one for double shots. It also includes a plastic tool with an espresso scoop and a tamp on one end. 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 if 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 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 control panel's location.
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 a Breville espresso machine, for example, 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 must 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 the machine automatically starts brewing a few seconds later. 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 must prime the machine to flush out its inner pipes and fill them with water. The process is straightforward and involves running manual espresso and froth cycles. It took around five minutes; 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. An illuminated bar across the top of the control panel will light up in sections as the machine heats up water. It often takes two or more minutes before the single-serve coffee maker is ready to brew a drink, which can be inconvenient if you’re in a rush.
While waiting for the machine to heat up, I usually pack the portafilter and fill the milk tank. I found it easy to pack espresso into the filters using the included scoop and tamp, but if you’re in a rush, you can also use “easy serve espresso” or ESE pods. I found 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 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 around 68-70 decibels (equivalent to 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 heating 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 immediately without worrying about burning your tongue. I particularly enjoy drizzling some 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+?
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | Reasonable for an all-in-one espresso machine | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Sleek, but poor control panel design | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Easy to use, but heats up slowly | ★★★★ |
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How does the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ compare
I recently tested Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe, another of the brand’s semi-automatic espresso machines, and it has a design similar to 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 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 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 want more control over your 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 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 and 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.
- First reviewed: March 2024
