Best Black Espresso Machines
The best black espresso machines, ranked by our review scores. Black is the finish that hides coffee itself best - splashes, staining round a drip area, scorch on a hotplate - and hides dust and fingerprints worst. The decision inside it is matte or gloss, and makers rarely say which: matte forgives handling, gloss shows every touch and every water spot. The one thing to check is the material under the colour. Black anodised aluminium and powder-coated steel hold their finish for years; black ABS plastic goes chalky under UV, and a machine that lives on a sunlit counter will show it.
How this list is ordered
Ranked by arithmetic, not opinion. Every score is worked out from the specifications each maker publishes, so you can open the working on any product page. Anything commercial is labelled and sits outside that order, and how we score explains what each criterion measures.
Black Espresso Machines, ranked by score
scored on what the maker publishesOpen a row for the score working1
BrevilleOracle Jet BES985From $1999.957.6How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction10.0non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing6.5Build Quality & Durability8.8Ease of Use & Learning Curve8.0shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning10.0plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Moneyweakest link2.9carries 10 of the 80.5 points scoredPrice from$1999.95Score7.6Machine TypeAutomatic espresso machine with a built-in grinderBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkYesBody MaterialStainless steelRead the Breville Oracle Jet BES985 review →2
GaggiaClassic Evo Pro RI9380/49From $4996.9How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction6.5non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing6.0Build Quality & Durability7.8Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link4.0shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scoredMaintenance & Cleaning9.2plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.2Value for Money9.2Price from$499Score6.9Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialSolid steel housing with brass, Stainless steelRead the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/49 review →3
LelitMara X V2 PL62XFrom $1699.956.6How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction8.1non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing6.5Build Quality & Durability8.7Ease of Use & Learning Curve3.3shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning8.3plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Moneyweakest link2.9carries 10 of the 80.5 points scoredPrice from$1699.95Score6.6Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steelRead the Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X review →4
GaggiaE24 RI9380/46 Espresso MachineFrom $4496.5How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction6.5non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing5.5Build Quality & Durability7.2Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.7shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scoredMaintenance & Cleaning7.5plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Money9.5Price from$449Score6.5Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialSolid steel housingRead the Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine review →5
La MarzoccoLinea MicraFrom $45006.3How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction8.5non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing8.5Build Quality & Durability6.4Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.7shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning7.5plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Moneyweakest link1.1carries 10 of the 80.5 points scoredPrice from$4500Score6.3Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoRead the La Marzocco Linea Micra review →6
Rocket EspressoAppartamento TCAFrom $23006.0How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction8.1non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing6.0Build Quality & Durability7.8Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.7shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning8.3plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics5.6Value for Moneyweakest link2.0carries 10 of the 80.5 points scoredPrice from$2300Score6.0Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoRead the Rocket Espresso Appartamento TCA review →7
De'LonghiStilosa EC260BKFrom $104.995.7How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction5.0non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing5.0Build Quality & Durability6.4Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.7shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scoredMaintenance & Cleaning5.8plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics5.0Value for Money10.0Price from$104.99Score5.7Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steel, PlasticRead the De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK review →8
BrevilleBambino Plus BES5005.6How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction7.3non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing6.0Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link4.4carries 16 of the 80.5 points scoredEase of Use & Learning Curve5.3shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning5.0plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics5.6Value for Money5.0no price publishedPricePricing N/AScore5.6Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkYesRead the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 review →9
Flair58 Plus 2From $6995.5How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction6.5non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturingweakest link2.0carries 16 of the 80.5 points scoredBuild Quality & Durability8.9Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.0shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedMaintenance & Cleaning6.7plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Money5.5Price from$699Score5.5Machine TypeManual leverBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steelRead the Flair 58 Plus 2 review →10
FlairClassic Manual Lever Espresso MakerFrom $1595.2How it scored
Shot Quality & Extraction5.0non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not publishedSteam Power & Milk Texturing3.5Build Quality & Durability5.0Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.0shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scoredMaintenance & Cleaning5.0plumbable and bottomless not publishedWorkflow & Ergonomics6.9Value for Money10.0Price from$159Score5.2Machine TypeManual leverBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoRead the Flair Classic Manual Lever Espresso Maker review →











