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.
Ranked by our review score, which is worked out from the specifications each maker publishes rather than from opinion, so you can open the arithmetic on any product page. Anything commercial is labelled and sits outside that order, and how we score explains what each criterion measures.
Ranked, and why
scored on what the maker publishes · open a row for the working1
Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/496.8- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 6.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 6.2
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.8
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 4.6
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 9.2
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 8.3
- Value for Money
- 6.2
Weakest link: Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published) — 4.6 of 10, carrying 12 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialSolid steel housing with brass, Stainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $4992
Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine6.5- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 6.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 5.6
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.2
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 3.1
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 7.5
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 10.0
- Value for Money
- 7.1
Weakest link: Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published) — 3.1 of 10, carrying 12 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialSolid steel housingRead review →PriceFrom $4493
Breville Bambino Plus BES5005.8- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 7.3
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 6.2
- Build Quality & Durability
- 4.4
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 6.2
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.0
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 6.7
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 4.4 of 10, carrying 16 of the 70.1 points scored here.
4
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK5.6- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 4.4
- Build Quality & Durability
- 6.4
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 3.1
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 4.2
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published) — 3.1 of 10, carrying 12 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderNoAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steel, PlasticRead review →PriceFrom $104.995
Flair Classic Manual Lever Espresso Maker5.0- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 3.1
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 0.8
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.0
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 6.7
- Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published) — 0.8 of 10, carrying 12 of the 70.1 points scored here.