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Best Espresso Machines Under $500

The best espresso machines under $500, ranked by our review scores. This is the entry band for real espresso, and the specs that separate one machine from the next here (pressurised or unpressurised baskets, the steam wand, how long the boiler takes to recover between shots) matter more than the price gap between them.

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.

Espresso Machines Under $500, ranked by score

scored on what the maker publishesOpen a row for the score working
  1. 1BrevilleBambino BES450From $299.957.4

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction8.9
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.5
    Build Quality & Durability6.4
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link3.5
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning8.3
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics8.1
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$299.95
    Score7.4
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the Breville Bambino BES450 review →
  2. 2GaggiaClassic Evo Pro RI9380/49From $4996.7

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction6.1
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durability7.8
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link4.1
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning9.2
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.2
    Value for Money9.0
    Price from$499
    Score6.7
    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. 3BrevilleInfuser BES840XLFrom $336.506.6

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction7.5
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durability7.6
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.9
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning5.8
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.6
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$336.50
    Score6.6
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the Breville Infuser BES840XL review →
  4. 4GaggiaE24 RI9380/46 Espresso MachineFrom $4496.4

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction6.1
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.5
    Build Quality & Durability7.2
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.9
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning7.5
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money9.3
    Price from$449
    Score6.4
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialSolid steel housing
    Read the Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine review →
  5. 5Mattino ProMattinata Espresso MachineFrom $159.996.3

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.5
    Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link4.8
    carries 16 of the 87.2 points scored
    Ease of Use & Learning Curve6.2
    Maintenance & Cleaning8.3
    plumbable not published; bottomless not scored
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$159.99
    Score6.3
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Automatic MilkYes
    Read the Mattino Pro Mattinata Espresso Machine review →
  6. 6De'LonghiClassic Signature Espresso MachineFrom $224.996.2

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.0
    Build Quality & Durability7.2
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link3.5
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning7.5
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics6.9
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$224.99
    Score6.2
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine review →
  7. 7De'LonghiDedica EC680MFrom $149.955.9

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing6.0
    Build Quality & Durability6.7
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.9
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning6.7
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.0
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$149.95
    Score5.9
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel
    Read the De'Longhi Dedica EC680M review →
  8. 8De'LonghiStilosa EC260BKFrom $104.995.6

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing5.0
    Build Quality & Durability6.4
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.9
    carries 12 of the 87.2 points scored
    Maintenance & Cleaning5.8
    plumbable and bottomless not published
    Workflow & Ergonomics5.0
    Value for Money10.0
    Price from$104.99
    Score5.6
    Machine TypeSemi-automatic
    Built-in GrinderNo
    Automatic MilkNo
    Body MaterialStainless steel, Plastic
    Read the De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK review →
  9. 9FlairClassic Manual Lever Espresso MakerFrom $1595.2

    How it scored

    Shot Quality & Extraction5.0
    Steam Power & Milk Texturing3.5
    Build Quality & Durability5.0
    Ease of Use & Learning Curveweakest link2.4
    carries 12 of the 87.2 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 →
⇄ Compare
01PIDBreville Bambino BES450
7.4Very good

Breville Bambino BES450

A first espresso machine: compact, a 3 second ThermoJet heat-up and a manual steam wand, no grinder

Boiler
ThermoJet
Pressure
9 bar
Material
Stainless steel
Machine type
Semi-automatic
from$299.95
02Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/49
6.7Decent

Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/49

Anyone who wants commercial fittings at home and expects to keep the machine for a decade

Boiler
Single uncoated aluminium boiler
Pressure
9 bar
Material
Solid steel housing with brass
Machine type
Semi-automatic
from$499
03PIDBreville Infuser BES840XL
6.6Decent

Breville Infuser BES840XL

Someone who already owns a grinder and wants the shot control without paying for a second one

Material
Stainless steel
Machine type
Semi-automatic
Tank
1.7 L
Ships to
US
from$336.50
04Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine
6.4Decent

Gaggia E24 RI9380/46 Espresso Machine

Commercial parts in a domestic machine, made in Italy and meant to be serviced

Pressure
9 bar
Material
Solid steel
Machine type
Semi-automatic
Tank
2.1 L
from$449
05Auto milkMattino Pro Mattinata Espresso Machine
6.3Decent

Mattino Pro Mattinata Espresso Machine

Home baristas seeking an affordable cappuccino machine with milk frothing capability

Boiler
Dual thermal block
Pressure
20 bar
Machine type
Semi-automatic
Tank
1.3 L
from$159.99
06De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine
6.2Decent

De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine

A compact pump machine with a pressure gauge, for somebody learning to dial a shot

Boiler
Thermoblock
Pressure
15 bar
Material
Stainless steel
Machine type
Semi-automatic
from$224.99
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