The best espresso machine, from beginner to barista

Investing in a quality espresso machine is essential if you’re dreaming of café-level coffee drinks in the comfort of your home. With its controlled pressure and high temperature, espresso delivers an intense flavor from finely ground beans that can’t be replicated any other way!

If you want a picture-perfect cup of espresso, it’s worth investing in the right equipment. With guidance from experts and baristas plus plenty of testing (plus taste tests!), we developed this helpful guide for coffee lovers who take their brew seriously! We compared semi-automatic machines and manual or fully automated pod devices designed for home use to find the perfect option to withstand constant use over time.

The Best espresso machine to buy in 2023

The Best overall espresso machine: Gaggia Classic Pro.
Enjoy a consistent espresso experience with the Gaggia Classic Pro. This trusty machine will quickly become your go-to for full-bodied shots every time! It may take some trial and error to get it just right – but when you do? Well, that’s an unbeatable taste sensation waiting in your cup. Get yours today on Amazon!

Best espresso machine with a built-in grinder: Breville Barista Pro.
You can have the flavor of a café-quality espresso right at home with the Breville Barista Pro. It has all you need to make barista drinks, including its innovative Smart Grinder Pro – add your favorite beans and let it do the rest! Get yours today on Amazon.

Best automatic espresso machine: GE Café.
Make every morning a little brighter with GE Café’s fully-automatic espresso machine! This wonder of modern technology fits into even the smallest spaces and creates delicious, barista-quality coffee that’ll help you jumpstart your day.

Best affordable espresso machine: Flair Espresso.
Are you looking to make barista-quality espresso without breaking the bank? Get ready for cafe-worthy drinks, all at an affordable price! The Flair Espresso maker is a great way to take your home coffee game up a notch – or even bring it on the road.

Best pod espresso machine: Breville-Nespresso Pixie.
For the coffee connoisseur looking for an espresso machine that won’t break their budget, the Breville-Nespresso Pixie is a perfect choice! It’s quick and easy to use – no need to worry about any fuss or stress when you want your caffeine fix.

Best espresso machine overall

The Gaggia Classic Pro is the perfect espresso machine for coffee-lovers looking to upgrade their home brewing game! This compact wonder packs enough punch to turn out professional quality shots, and has a super smooth learning curve. With just a few minutes of practice you’ll be pouring those tasty espressos like an expert barista!

The Gaggia Classic has produced a rich espresso experience for coffee connoisseurs for almost three decades. But now there’s something even better – the Gaggia Classic Pro! This updated version packs extra power and finesses to make every shot full of flavor, complexity, and depth – it is one-of-a-kind!

Best espresso machine with a built-in grinder

Get café-quality espresso right at home with Breville’s Barista Pro. Behind this little powerhouse is the Smart Grinder Pro and everything you need to craft that perfect cup of java—you must supply your favorite beans!

The Barista Pro is a great way to elevate your espresso-making game! The conical stainless steel grinder gives you 30 fine-grind settings plus dozens more if needed, so you can customize how every sip tastes – from beans to barista in one fantastic package! Not only does it come with all the bells and whistles of its predecessor, but this high-quality machine also includes an impressive Smart Grinder Pro that would retail for $200 on its own.

Best automatic espresso machine

Are you trying to find a small-yet-mighty espresso machine? Look no further! Our automatic version delivers double the flavor in half the space—perfect for your cozy kitchen.

Turning a home kitchen into an espresso bar has never been easier! Forget those long lines at the coffee shop – with General Electric’s Cafe. You can enjoy café-quality espresso in minutes. This top-of-the-line machine is cheaper and smaller than other automatic options, but you also control everything from grind size to extraction time for that perfect cup every single time.

Best affordable espresso machine

Enjoy a perfect cup of espresso anywhere you go without breaking the budget! The Flair Espresso maker makes it easy to make barista-level coffee at home.

Are you getting barista-level espresso without spending too much? The Flair Espresso Maker is your go-to! Costing significantly less than professional machines and offering adjustable temperature/pressure, you’ll be able to take control of the flavor. Remember that it requires a bit more time, though – if speed’s what you’re after, opt for pod machines or even the Breville Barista Pro instead.

Best pod espresso machine

Make your life easier and save money with the Breville-Nespresso Pixie. It’s a low investment that’ll have you saving time in no time!

This nifty machine allows you to prepare coffeehouse-quality drinks at lightning speed, proving that convenience doesn’t have to compromise taste. Pop iPod in, press a button, then topple back and relax as you savor its luxurious creations in just under a minute! With two settings – one for espresso and an extra-long lungo option – accompanied by 19 bars of pressure technology, this device is sure not to disappoint.

What else we tested

What else we recommend and why:

Under $499

Breville Bambino: Breville allows you to make cafe-style espresso without breaking your budget with their convenient, user-friendly Bambino machine. You can still get a great cup of joe even though they had to cut some corners, such as using an aluminum portafilter and pressurized basket–invest in additional accessories for optimal brewing pressure! With Breville’s newest addition, every coffee lover can experience deliciousness at home without spending too much moolah.

Breville Bambino Plus: If you want the features of a Breville Barista but don’t need an integrated grinder, try out this Bambino Plus! It offers top-notch specialty coffee quality without breaking your budget.

AeroPress: AeroPress is your perfect companion if you’re looking for a delicious cup of coffee on the fly. This little plastic device packs some serious flavor – think French press quality and richness with an added foam layer! Plus, it’s easy to transport in any kitchen or outdoor setting. When that java craving strikes, turn to Aeropress for an unbeatable brew every time!

Gaggia Brera: Gaggia Brera is a great all-in-one automatic machine with an affordable price tag. While it won’t quite match the espresso shots of its pricier Gaggia Classic Pro cousin, you can still make incredible drinks using this reliable and fairly good machine – don’t expect to be able to tinker around too much due to its built-in grinder’s limited adjustments!

Under $999

Breville Barista Express: With top-notch espresso brewers like the Breville Barista Express, you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on quality coffee. It’s a fantastic machine that operates quickly and smoothly – not to mention it saves tons of money compared with its more expensive counterpart!

De’Longhi La Specialista: If you’re looking for a quality espresso machine, the De’Longhi La Specialista might be what you need. It has the same features as its competitor, Breville Barista Express – plus a bonus! A built-in tamper ensures that user error is never an issue. And while it’s priced almost identically to the other model, this one offers three times more peace of mind since it has a three-year warranty compared to only one year from Breville. With so much on offer, this should make your shortlist when shopping around!

Flair 58: If you’re looking for the pinnacle of espresso-making and have a bit more to spend, check out Flair’s 58! This robust model is perfect if you want an in-depth barista experience without breaking your budget. It packs top performance that we highly recommend – after trying it ourselves. This was our favorite manual machine on the market.

La Pavoni Europiccola: If you’re looking for a reliable espresso machine that won’t break the bank, look no further than La Pavoni Europiccola. This lever-style model has a built-in boiler and is designed to last through years of use – making it an excellent value! The catch? Learning to pull a delicious shot takes patience and practice, so if you’re up for an adventure, this might be the right fit!

Under $1999

Breville Dual Boiler: Impressive and fast, the Breville Dual Boiler has made its mark with esteemed coffee pros like Lance Hedrick of Onyx Coffee Lab and Dan Kehn of Home-Barista.com, deeming it a magnum opus! Get brewing today for an unforgettable cup every time! With lightning-fast heat-up times plus customizable temperature settings, this high-end machine is ready to take your barista game to new heights.

What we don’t recommend and why:

• Breville Bambino Plus: The Breville Bambino Plus could be the right fit. It’s designed specifically for those upgrading their coffee game and has an excellent price tag! But if repairs or maintenance come into play, we’d recommend checking out Gaggia Classic Pro instead – where service won’t break the bank. We’re excited to bring you more insights on your favorite machines soon; stay tuned as we test out the new (non-Plus) version of this beloved model next!
• Cuisinart EM-200: For the budget-conscious espresso enthusiast, you can’t beat Cuisinart EM-200. Sure it won’t deliver quite the same intense flavor as its pricier counterparts, but for a fraction of the cost – and with only slightly reduced quality, steamy drinks are still within reach! So if cappuccinos or lattes feature in your daily routine without breaking the bank, you know what to go for.
• De’Longhi Stilosa: The De’Longhi Stilosa can deliver a different creamy texture than its predecessor, with results akin to French press or AeroPress brews. However, if you’re looking for an affordable cappuccino or latte option, then it might do just fine! But before settling, consider that investing in either a pod machine or manual device will get much better quality espresso per cup than the Stilosa.
• Rancilio Silvia Pro PID: The Rancilio Silvia Pro PID is a powerful machine that can give you top-notch espresso shots with the right amount of practice. Though it’s ideal for pros, ambitious home brewers may want to work their way up to this professional level eventually – there will be ups and downs along the path. Still, if you stick with it, your coffee skills might rival those at an expert barista level!

Our espresso machine testing methodology

We ran intensive tests to measure a machine’s superiority and factored in pricing to identify the top performer for your money.

Noting TDS measurements

To get an authentic espresso, we needed it to pack quite the punch: between 7-12% total dissolved solids (TDS). With some baristas pushing 20%, our team decided to stay within range and ran tests with an Atago Pocket Barista device. The results? Some machines excelled at giving us that thick, rich flavor – without taking ‘rich’ too far!

Holding taste tests 

At our side-by-side blind taste tests, we didn’t cut corners – ensuring the freshest coffee goodness from Atlas Coffee Club, Stone Street Coffee Company, and Counter Culture. Our panel of five adventurers traversed four machines to find an espresso contender in a 30-second extraction journey!

Pulling shot after shot to check for consistency

After countless coffee-filled trials and errors, we finally achieved the ultimate barista goal: pulling four identical shots in a row. We tested every machine under the sun, but none could beat our champion – the Flair Espresso Maker! With its manual lever design giving us greater control over pressure flow than ever before, it was an expert’s choice for consistent espresso excellence.

Considering prices

The best bang for your buck in espresso machines is $400-$500. However, if you’re serious about great coffee taste and consistency, make sure not to skimp on buying a quality burr grinder – budgeting at least as much or even double what you spend on an entry-level machine would be worth considering! On the flip side, too high of a price won’t necessarily mean better flavor either by diminishing returns set in. Bottom line: Choose wisely where these investments are concerned!

Who we consulted

I reached out to some of the top coffee professionals to get the scoop on what makes a great espresso machine. With their expert advice and my list narrowed down, I’m now armed with all that’s needed to find an exceptional brew!

• Lance Hedrick is the head of sales at Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas and a professional coffee trainer.
• Dan Kehn is the founder of Home-Barista.com and a former SCAA Barista judge.
• •Peter Giuliano is co-owner of Counter Culture Coffee and director of the SCAA.
• Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh are from Coffee Project NY.
• Jordan Rosenacker is from Atlas Coffee Club.

Espresso machine FAQs

Do I need an espresso machine?

If you’re a budding barista, nothing says ‘I’m in the club’ quite like crafting your silky espresso shot! Don’t have time to perfect that craft? Look into Nespresso and grab an express cup of joe on-the-go.

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What do I need to make espresso?

Fresh coffee beans: Suppose you’re craving a rich espresso that packs an aromatic punch. In that case, freshness matters – to maximize the delicious coffee oils and desirable foam associated with quality espresso, make sure your beans are freshly roasted!

A burr grinder: A burr grinder is a must-have to achieve delicious results. Investing in the suitable model will make all the difference.

If you want the perfect espresso cup, your coffee grinder is more important than any other equipment. Our guide to heroes gives us an awesome one – the Baratza Sette 270! It’ll help you make genuinely delicious espressos every time.

Mineral water: If you’re looking for a delicious espresso, look no further than distilled water with the added mineral solution. For an extra flavor boost, Third Wave Water has just what it takes – or any charcoal filter water if that floats your boat!

An espresso machine: If you’re looking for that perfect espresso, consider investing in a suitable machine! Our top recommendation is the Gaggia Classic Pro – it’s easy to use and creates a delicious cup of coffee every time. With just 6-9 bars of pressure needed, this pared-down version will cover your home barista duties – no training required!

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What are the different types of espresso?

• A normale espresso is the most traditional form of the drink, defined by a 1:1.5 or 1:2 ratio of coffee to output.
• A ristretto is a more concentrated espresso with a 1:1 or 1:1.5 ratio.
• A lungo is a slightly diluted espresso between three and four ounces.
• An Americano is an espresso shot diluted with hot water to fill a cup.

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Will customizing my machine help me make better espresso?

Yes, Customizing your machine with after-market shower screens, portafilter baskets, and a bottomless portafilter are surefire ways to improve your cup of coffee. Even minor changes can give you accurate results – so get shopping! Get ready to make barista-quality shots at home in no time! IMS is the go-to for finishing touches like shower screens and basket replacements.

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Why are espresso machines so expensive?

If you’ve ever wondered why espresso machines carry such a hefty price tag, they’re made with high-end components that can withstand the heat and pressure needed to make delicious espressos. Every part of an espresso machine needs precision engineering so that hot water can be handled safely at its highest level of quality. Otherwise, your tasty cup won’t come out right!

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Glossary

• Aeropress: cylindrical single-dose coffee maker with two separate parts that form a kind of syringe or plunger.
• Americano: an Americano coffee has the same amount of water as a lungo, but this is added once the espresso is served.
• Arabica: variety of coffee originating in Ethiopia that is characterized by its elongated beans and for being more aromatic and smooth on the palate than the robust variety. Discover their differences here.
• Chemex: filter coffee maker in the shape of an hourglass that allows you to prepare coffee in an artisanal way.
• Cold Brew: it is a method of cold coffee extraction.
• Cream: milk emulsion, also called, although erroneously, foam. Find out more here.
• Emulsify: technique that allows mixing the milk with the steam to provide volume and creaminess.
• Espresso: system that consists of preparing a cup of coffee using water under pressure and at the right temperature. Find out more here.
• Latteart: Create designs on the surface of an espresso with emulsified milk. Find out more here.
• Lungo: This is the antithesis of ristretto, an espresso made with more water.
• Macchiato: espresso coffee on an emulsified milk base. Its name comes from the fact that it is the coffee that stains the milk.
• Grinding: Grinding is the ground coffee bean. Depending on its thickness, it will be more suitable for different types of preparation.
• Ristretto: it is prepared with the same amount of coffee as an espresso but with a smaller amount of water, so its flavor is more concentrated.
• Tamper: piece of polished aluminum that is used to manually press the coffee grounds.

Best deals on espresso machines

Investing in an espresso machine can be a significant money-saver down the road, but their high price tag might be too big of an obstacle. Luckily when deals come around on these holidays, such as November’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they tend to be pretty substantial — last year saw $100 discounts for the Breville Barista Pro! If you spot something that fits your budget, don’t hesitate; it may take quite some time before another deal comes along…

Here are the best deals we found.