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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 working
  1. 1BrevilleOracle Jet BES985From $1999.957.6

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction10.0
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.5
    Build Quality & Durability8.8
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve8.0
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning10.0
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Moneyweakest link2.9
    carries 10 of the 80.5 points scored
    Price from$1999.95
    Score7.6
    Machine TypeAutomatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder
    Built-in GrinderYes
    Automatic MilkYes
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the Breville Oracle Jet BES985 review →
  2. 2GaggiaClassic Evo Pro RI9380/49From $4996.9

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction6.5
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durability7.8
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link4.0
    shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning9.2
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.2
    Value for Money9.2
    Price from$499
    Score6.9
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialSolid steel housing with brass, Stainless steel
    Read the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/49 review →
  3. 3LelitMara X V2 PL62XFrom $1699.956.6

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction8.1
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.5
    Build Quality & Durability8.7
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve3.3
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning8.3
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Moneyweakest link2.9
    carries 10 of the 80.5 points scored
    Price from$1699.95
    Score6.6
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X review →
  4. 4GaggiaE24 RI9380/46 Espresso MachineFrom $4496.5

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction6.5
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.5
    Build Quality & Durability7.2
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.7
    shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning7.5
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money9.5
    Price from$449
    Score6.5
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialSolid steel housing
    Read the Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine review →
  5. 5La MarzoccoLinea MicraFrom $45006.3

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction8.5
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing8.5
    Build Quality & Durability6.4
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.7
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning7.5
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Moneyweakest link1.1
    carries 10 of the 80.5 points scored
    Price from$4500
    Score6.3
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Read the La Marzocco Linea Micra review →
  6. 6Rocket EspressoAppartamento TCAFrom $23006.0

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction8.1
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durability7.8
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.7
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning8.3
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.6
    Value for Moneyweakest link2.0
    carries 10 of the 80.5 points scored
    Price from$2300
    Score6.0
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Read the Rocket Espresso Appartamento TCA review →
  7. 7De'LonghiStilosa EC260BKFrom $104.995.7

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.0
    Build Quality & Durability6.4
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.7
    shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning5.8
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.0
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$104.99
    Score5.7
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel, Plastic
    Read the De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK review →
  8. 8BrevilleBambino Plus BES5005.6

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction7.3
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link4.4
    carries 16 of the 80.5 points scored
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve5.3
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning5.0
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.6
    Value for Money5.0
    no price published
    PricePricing N/A
    Score5.6
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkYes
    Read the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 review →
  9. 9Flair58 Plus 2From $6995.5

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction6.5
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturingweakest link2.0
    carries 16 of the 80.5 points scored
    Build Quality & Durability8.9
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve2.0
    shot timer and pressurised basket not published
    Maintenance & Cleaning6.7
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money5.5
    Price from$699
    Score5.5
    Machine TypeManual lever
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the Flair 58 Plus 2 review →
  10. 10FlairClassic Manual Lever Espresso MakerFrom $1595.2

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing3.5
    Build Quality & Durability5.0
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.0
    shot timer and pressurised basket not publishedcarries 12 of the 80.5 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning5.0
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$159
    Score5.2
    Machine TypeManual lever
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Read the Flair Classic Manual Lever Espresso Maker review →
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