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7 Best Espresso Machines for Specialty Coffee at Home

WDC NEWS 6 STAFF
7 Best Espresso Machines for Specialty Coffee at Home

Making a decent cup of coffee is a rudimentary culinary skill, but the same can’t be said for espresso. Unless you’ve worked as a barista, most people need some practice with espresso machines, and that’s OK. Once you get the hang of them, you’ll feel like a pro and likely save time and money making your specialty coffee at home.

There are many different espresso machines to choose from, including models that require pods and machines with all the bells and whistles, from frothers to grinders. To help you find the right espresso machine for your needs, we consulted with Mark Patterson, the president and founder of the sustainable and direct trade Civilized Coffee brand, in addition to our extensive research and coffee maker testing. We also interviewed Christopher Nicely Abel Alameda, the owner-operator of Hooked Coffee and Wine in Venice, California. Alameda has 23 years of experience with stints at coffee giants, including Intelligentsia and Handsome Coffee Roasters.

Types of Espresso Machines

There are three main types of espresso machines available on the market — manual, semi-automatic, and automatic. Manuals are hand-operated and typically have no external power source. “They are more intimate experiences,” says Alameda. “You’re more romantically connected to making that cup.” Manuals are also suitable for more experienced users or those who value portability.

A semi-automatic machine requires the user to grind, tamp, and control the extraction time but automatically controls the water flow. They tend to rely more on the barista. You have to grind, tamp, and time things yourself. However, the machine does the hard stuff like monitoring the pressure, and there is some modicum of mechanized assistance. This helps you get consistent shots but still have some hands-on experience if you value the ritual. 

Automatic espresso machines do everything from grinding to brewing and are more of a consumer product than a professional product. “You’re gonna have a little bit more automation where maybe it has the ability to cut off the shot for you,” says Alameda. “It might run off of a timer or certain volumetrics inside the machine where it just runs a certain volume for a certain amount of time and then cuts itself off. Basically, it’ll start and stop a shot of espresso with the press of a button.”

Regardless of which type of machine is the best for you, we’ve tested and ranked the top models on the market for performance, design, ease of use, overall value, and more. These are the best espresso machines for any level of experience or budget.



PHOTO: Amazon
Pros

  • It has an integrated precision conical burr grinder, frother, tamper, and more to help you create a customized espresso beverage.

The Breville Barista Express is our top choice for an espresso machine because it offers automatic and manual operation and features customizable settings. It has an integrated frother, grinder, and tamper and comes with a stainless steel milk frothing jug and filter baskets, so it’ll just be a matter of learning how to perfect your skills. We love its classic, stainless steel design and were impressed during our testing by its quick setup and quality performance.

Patterson notes that barista-quality beverages begin with well-made espresso, telling us that what matters most is learning to perfect the espresso shot(s) first. He says, “Once you have learned to consistently ‘pull’ the perfect shot, then you can create great coffee shop drinks,” a machine like this Breville one has all the fine-tuning needed to get you there. 

The machine’s grinder is a conical burr with integrated precision. That means that the built-in grinder produces the right amount of fresh grounds of your desired consistency for each shot of espresso. In addition to letting you choose your grind setting, this machine alters its water pressure as you use it, which results in evenly extracted espresso that tastes smooth and balanced. Plus, the grinder can hold up to half a pound of espresso beans out of the box. 

“A Breville is a great place to start,” says Alameda, who is a fan of the brand. “The Barista Express tends to be a machine that I could see lasting somebody three to five years if they maintain it. $700 at the three-year mark, you’ve got your money’s worth if you’re using it daily for the equivalent of a $5 to $7 beverage that you’ll pay at any store.”

Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.6 x 13.1 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 67 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 9-15 bars




PHOTO: Amazon

If you’re looking for a budget option that gets the job done right, the De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine is the one for you. It only costs around $100, yet it has a built-in frother, filters for single and double shots, and a tamper. All you need to get is a coffee grinder (unless you plan on buying your beans pre-ground) and a frothing pitcher to use with the wand.

If you’re worried about the low cost, even professionals think inexpensive machines are good options. “Do not automatically think the more expensive, the better,” Patterson says. This machine allows you to make any drink that expensive models do and is likely more straightforward to get the hang of. The only tricky part is that when making an espresso shot, you must shut off the machine manually, or it will keep running.

While it may not have the most high-end construction, during our tests, we found that this machine is capable of making excellent espresso. We had to navigate a few performance inconsistencies before we succeeded at dialing in the machine. But overall, we learned that it does best when you use a smaller quantity of grounds at a finer grind size. You really can’t beat its performance at such a fair price, although we do wish it had a higher-quality steam wand.

Dimensions: 8.07 x 13.5 x 11.22 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 33.8 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 15 bars




PHOTO: Amazon

Look no further than the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine if you want all the bells and whistles. It features a touchscreen that offers automatic milk texturing and customizable settings to craft lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and more just the way you like. There’s no heat-up time, so your drink will be ready in a flash, and it has a conical burr grinder and bean hopper inside, just like our best overall pick from Breville.

When you select the beverage you want from the touchscreen menu, the machine grinds the precise amount of espresso you need. The touchscreen even has tutorials that walk you through every step and provide images for visual learners. Its stainless steel portafilter can pull a single or double shot of espresso, and the milk frother customizes the milk texture for the drink you’ve selected. That means the days of scalding and burning milk as you attempt to froth it perfectly won’t ever be part of your learning curve for making espresso drinks.

This machine is more expensive than our favorite Breville model because it does much of the work for you. That’s perfect for anyone who wants coffee shop drinks at home without investing many hours in the trial and error of learning a new skill. During testing, we found its touch display especially helpful as it automatically helped us troubleshoot any issues so we could get a better espresso shot with each pull. We also found its automatic milk frother to be incredibly effective since its built-in sensor automatically shut it off once our diary hit the correct temperature.

Dimensions: 12.5 x 12 x 16 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 68 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 9 bars




PHOTO: Breville

The Bambino is for you if you’re the type that just wants to pull a nice shot of espresso or make yourself an iced Americano,” says Alameda. This user-friendly machine features an intuitive control panel with just five buttons. Its compact design seamlessly blends into your kitchen, while its lightweight construction allows for easy storage. Craft barista-style milk foam with the Bambino Plus’s intuitive light gauges and steam wand, ensuring optimal results every time. Whether a novice or a seasoned espresso enthusiast, this is the perfect companion for brewing exceptional espresso at home. You can tailor your espresso experience with the machine’s wide range of grind size variables, allowing for personalized preferences. The machine’s self-learning capabilities also help it adapt to usage patterns, which optimizes performance over time. (You may have been considering this model and others; check out what we have to say about the Breville vs. the De’Longhi Dedica Maestro).

In addition to its easy setup, we love the Bambino for its minimal footprint and the power that it packs in such a small package. We did have to experiment a bit to find the best grind texture and ratio for pulling a perfect espresso shot with this machine. But once we figured it out, it only got better from there. The machine managed to keep a consistent time and flow of extraction despite the variations in the grounds, too. Plus, the sturdy lever-controlled tamper effectively flattens the puck, ensuring optimal espresso extraction. Overall, we think the Bambino can deliver exceptional coffee experiences for everyday home and office use or for hosting gatherings.

Dimensions: 7.6 x 12.5 x 12.2 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 64 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 9 bars




PHOTO: Amazon

The Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine is a versatile and user-friendly machine crafted for discerning coffee enthusiasts that will elevate your espresso game. The built-in grinder adjusts to your desired grind size, ensuring optimal espresso extraction and flavor. The machine has intelligent learning capabilities as well, which enable you to deliver exceptional espresso shots. We think the steam wand could benefit from faster activation and steaming, but the machine’s fail-safe features and auto grind and tamping lever enhance its reliability and ease of use.

The intuitive touchscreen interface simplifies operation, guiding users through the setup process and providing comprehensive instructions, while minimizing the risk of user error. During testing, we loved the amount of fail-safes on this machine. For instance, if we didn’t add the correct amount of grinds before tamping, the machine would automatically detect it and let us know. Everything about this machine speaks to its quality, and its consistent performance was another selling point for us.

Whether brewing for a family of coffee lovers or seeking to elevate your office coffee experience, the Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine delivers exceptional performance and effortless operation. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a high-end coffee maker.

Dimensions: 12.9 x 13 x 16.4 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 67 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 15 bars




PHOTO: Williams Sonoma

The Smeg Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine is a sleek and user-friendly machine designed for effortless espresso perfection. We loved the convenience of a fully automated brewing process, where the machine takes care of everything from grinding to tamping to steaming. We found this machine consistently delivers well-rounded shots with each pull. While the milk wand could benefit from an extended length, its overall ease of use and moderate performance make it an excellent choice for those seeking hassle-free espresso brewing.

Maintain your machine easily by cleaning its removable parts with warm, soapy water and allowing them to air dry thoroughly. Experience the creamy, textured milk froth that elevates your coffee creations, ensuring a delightful cappuccino or latte every time. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned espresso enthusiast, this Smeg machine simplifies espresso making and delivers exceptional results.

Dimensions: 8.07 x 13.5 x 11.22 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 47 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 19 bars




PHOTO: Amazon

The Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is a high-performance machine for discerning coffee connoisseurs. You can navigate the intuitive control panel easily, adjusting temperatures, shots, and times to create your perfect espresso. During testing, we liked the precision and simplicity of the six-grind setting grinder. It ensures consistent grinds for optimal extraction. Embrace the hands-off approach with the automatic tamping feature, effortlessly tamping grinds for maximum flavor.

We found that it was necessary to follow the comprehensive instruction manual to master the machine’s intricate setup and purge processes, ensuring optimal performance. Then you can enjoy the consistently balanced and hazelnut-colored espresso streams, producing a rich and flavorful double shot every time. We love that cleaning is a breeze with its easily removable parts, dishwasher-safe drip tray, and simple steam wand cleaning. This machine is ideal for serious coffee enthusiasts who demand complete control over every aspect of their espresso experience. 

Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 16 inches | Water Tank Capacity: 84 ounces | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 15 bars

Our Favorite Espresso Machine

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine is our top pick because it offers even extraction, precision grinding, and comes with various accessories. If you want to brew espresso drinks as close as possible to those made in a coffee shop, mastering this machine will serve you well. It’s from a brand we love and recommend often. 

Factors to Consider

Machine-type and Ease of Use

These machines vary significantly in terms of how much skill and time are required to use them. If you want an authentic coffee shop experience, plan on buying a machine that takes more time to learn, as those will be closer to the ones found in professional coffee shops. But if you want to focus on ease of use instead, go for a machine that requires just the push of a button to pull consistently decent espresso shots, like any of the automatic or super automatic models.

Size

Espresso machines range in size from highly portable one-cup options (yes, some single-serve coffee makers can serve up an espresso) to large machines that take up much of your counter, and that would be right at home along with the rest of your coffee station equipment. The right size for you is the one that works in your home without infringing on your other kitchen needs. Patterson says, “Take your kitchen counter space into consideration — how much room do you have, or do you have a cabinet big enough to store it?” If you’re looking at a large model but don’t have the counter space, consider placing it in a cabinet instead.

Extra Features

From customizable foam to one-touch brewing, espresso machines offer a wide variety of features. Focus on the ones you know you will use rather than just those that sound cool to have. That way, you can make the drinks you otherwise enjoy out in the world. Also, note that many extra features aren’t necessarily “authentic” in coffee culture, but if they make your drink more enjoyable, that shouldn’t matter.

Cost

Espresso machines usually cost anywhere between $100 and $1,500. Choose a price point that feels comfortable for you, and then focus on the features you can get for that price. You may need to choose between extras, so focus on what’s most important to you when you get a coffee drink at a shop. You should also consider what accessories you’ll buy, like espresso mugs.

Pressure

Pressure refers to the strength and speed with which the machine extracts the coffee from the grounds. It is measured in bars, which are a metric unit. One bar is approximately equal to atmospheric pressure at sea level. Experts recommend looking for a machine with 15 bars of pressure to ensure a good espresso pull.

How We Tested Espresso Machines

Food & Wine / Nick Simpson


Design and price are always big considerations with anything we test and recommend, so espresso machines are no exception. Each machine was subjected to three tests to evaluate the espresso machine’s setup process, its performance in pulling espresso shots, and how well it steamed and frothed milk. And we even timed how long it took to complete the process because your time is valuable. 

The first test assessed the difficulty, time consumption, and beginner-friendliness of setting up the machine. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions, familiarized ourselves with the machine’s settings, and completed the cleaning/flushing cycle. It is important to us when recommending machines how difficult, time-consuming, and/or beginner-friendly the espresso machine is to set up for use since this is for the home. 

The second test evaluated the machine’s consistency and ease of use when pulling espresso shots. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions and any best practices for optimizing water temperature/preheating. Then, we made a double shot and programmed the settings accordingly, if applicable. We evaluated the crema, body, and taste of espresso. We subtracted for points if the espresso was under-extracted (watery body; thin, pale crema; too sour) or over-extracted (syrupy body; overly dark crema; too bitter). Well-balanced results earned top marks and positions at the top of our rankings. Each machine was used for a total of six shots to adjust for user error and tweaks, which most machines will need.  

The third and final test evaluated how well the machines steamed and frothed milk if the machines have that capability. We looked at temperature, the time it took to reach our desired result, and the frothing/steaming consistency. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you use an espresso machine?

    For regular espresso machines that aren’t fully automatic like a Nespresso, you first turn on the machine to heat the water. Next, grind and measure your beans and place them in the portafilter. Clean any excess grinds from the portafilter and press down straight on the grounds using a tamper. Lastly, place the portafilter into the machine to pull your shot, which should take about 20 to 30 seconds to reach 2 ounces of espresso.

  • How do you clean an espresso machine?

    You’ll want to take apart all the removable parts from the machine. Rinse the portafilter and basket with hot water and pat dry. Use a nylon brush to scrub any buildup on the group gasket. Then, wipe everything else down with a damp cloth.

  • What coffee beans do you use for an espresso machine?

    Any beans can be used, but some are better than others. “Traditionally throughout Italy (the home of espresso), Robusta has been the bean of choice,” Patterson says. “They are typically lower quality, but they produce better crema. In the US, Arabica beans are commonly used to create great espresso and are my go-to.” He stresses the importance of using beans that have been freshly roasted, as that will heavily impact the flavor.

Other Espresso Machines We Tested

Strong Contenders

De’Longhi Magnifica EVO with Milk Frother

This machine is an excellent choice for experienced espresso enthusiasts or for light commercial use. However, we would not recommend it for beginners or as a first home espresso machine. Those considering this product should have a strong understanding of espresso machine mechanics and considerable experience using them.

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

The Rancillo is designed for espresso enthusiasts who value convenience over extensive manual tweaking. The automatic milk steamer and dispenser eliminate the need to fine-tune the steam settings, allowing you to focus on creating your desired beverage. While this aspect simplifies the brewing process, it does limit precise steam control for those who prefer more hands-on control.

KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine

The KitchenAid’s programmable settings allow for customization and simplify operation, making it accessible to users with varying levels of espresso-making expertise. However, having someone knowledgeable preset the settings might be more convenient for beginners, and the steam wand needs a complete redesign.

Miele CM 5310 Silence Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

This high-quality espresso machine is perfect for hotel or office lobbies with moderate coffee demand. It requires dedicated maintenance and frequent emptying of water and coffee grinds, making it less suitable for extremely high-volume use or for homes with budget constraints. However, this machine is an excellent choice for households with multiple coffee drinkers who value diverse coffee preferences and convenience. 

What Didn’t Make The List

Not every espresso machine made the list, and with reason. When we tested them, specific attributes like shaky parts that wobbled with use, watery pours, and lukewarm steamed milk made us reconsider whether some models were worth the investment. Some machines performed better than others but needed too much maintenance and more expertise. We wanted machines for enthusiasts and beginners alike, so too much fiddling was a deal breaker. Plus, price mattered. Some models were too expensive for the performance they provided.

Our Expertise

  • Food & Wine Senior Writer Jennifer Zyman updated this article to incorporate new testing data and expert advice from Christopher Nicely Abel Alameda, the owner-operator of Hooked Coffee and Wine in Venice, California.
  • Ariane Resnick, a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author, also contributed to this article. She used research and expertise and consulted with Mark Patterson, the president and founder of Civilized Coffee, to determine the best espresso machines on the market. 

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