Best Stainless Steel Espresso Machines
The best stainless steel espresso machines, ranked by our review scores. The only finish that looks the same in ten years: it does not yellow, fade or chalk. What it does do is show fingerprints and, in hard water, spots - and brushed and polished behave completely differently there, with polished collecting marks hourly and brushed forgiving them. The word is also used loosely. On cheaper machines "stainless steel" often describes a trim panel or a steel-look wrap over plastic rather than a steel body, so it is worth reading which part the maker is talking about.
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
Breville Barista Pro7.3- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 9.2
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 6.2
- Build Quality & Durability
- 8.2
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 5.4
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 10.0
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 8.3
- Value for Money
- 4.2
Weakest link: Value for Money — 4.2 of 10, carrying 10 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialBrushed stainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $849.952
Breville Infuser BES840XL7.0- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 8.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 5.6
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.6
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 3.1
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.8
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 6.7
- Value for Money
- 9.7
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 steelRead review →PriceFrom $336.503
Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS6.9- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 6.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 8.1
- Build Quality & Durability
- 8.2
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 8.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 7.5
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 3.4
Weakest link: Value for Money — 3.4 of 10, carrying 10 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automatic with built-in grinderBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkYesBody MaterialStainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $987.994
Mattino Pro Mattinata Espresso Machine6.5- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 5.6
- Build Quality & Durability
- 4.8
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 7.3
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 8.3
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 8.3
- Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 4.8 of 10, carrying 16 of the 70.1 points scored here.
5
Breville Barista Express BES870XL6.3- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 8.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 5.6
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.6
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 5.4
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.0
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 4.3
Weakest link: Value for Money — 4.3 of 10, carrying 10 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automatic with built-in grinderBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $692.996
Gevi 20Bar Super Automatic Espresso Machine6.3- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 10.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 4.4
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.2
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 5.4
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.0
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 4.3
Weakest link: Value for Money — 4.3 of 10, carrying 10 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $699.997
De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine6.2- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 4.4
- 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)
- 6.7
- 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 steelRead review →PriceFrom $224.998
De'Longhi Dedica EC680M6.1- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 5.6
- Build Quality & Durability
- 6.7
- Ease of Use & Learning Curve (shot timer, pressure gauge and pressurised basket not published)
- 3.1
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 6.7
- 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 steelRead review →PriceFrom $149.959
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.
10
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine5.5- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 5.0
- 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)
- 5.8
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 6.7
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
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 MaterialIron frame with stainless steel side panelsRead review →PricePricing N/A