Espresso Machines
Manual and semi-automatic machines, compared on boiler type, steam power and what it actually takes to pull a shot.
Also see Bean-to-cup machines if you would rather press one button than pull a shot.
How we rate espresso machines — the 7 criteria behind every score on this page.
Our pick
· research-based, chosen for a reason, not a rating
Home baristas who want a fast, all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated grinder and minimal wait time
Scores 10.0 of 10 on Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published), the heaviest criterion in this category at 22 of 100.
The best espresso machines, ranked
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
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 $4995
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 $4496
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.
7
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 $692.998
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 $699.999
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 $224.9910
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 $149.9511
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.
12
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo5.7- 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)
- 5.4
- Maintenance & Cleaning (plumbable and bottomless not published)
- 5.8
- Workflow & Ergonomics (tank, footprint only)
- 8.3
- Value for Money
- 3.8
Weakest link: Value for Money — 3.8 of 10, carrying 10 of the 70.1 points scored here.
Machine TypeSemi-automaticBuilt-in GrinderYesAutomatic MilkNoBody MaterialStainless steelRead review →PriceFrom $699.9513
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 $104.9914
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/A15
Philips Barista Brew Semi Automatic Espresso Machine PSA32185.2- Shot Quality & Extraction (non-pressurised basket, bottomless available and pump not published)
- 6.5
- Steam Power & Milk Texturing
- 4.4
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- 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 (no price published)
- 5.0
Weakest link: Steam Power & Milk Texturing — 4.4 of 10, carrying 16 of the 70.1 points scored here.
16
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.
More espresso machines guides
How to choose a espresso machine
Espresso is the least forgiving thing you can do with coffee. The machine has about 25 seconds to get water at the right temperature through a puck at the right pressure, and everything on the spec sheet is either helping that or padding the box.
Shot quality is 22 points, and three specs carry most of it
Portafilter size. 58mm is the commercial standard, and it matters mostly because of what surrounds it: baskets, tampers and distribution tools are all made for it, and a wider basket spreads the same dose thinner, which extracts more evenly. 51mm and 54mm machines work, but you are shopping in a smaller world for everything you might add later.
Pressurised versus single wall baskets. A pressurised basket has a restriction built in that generates crema regardless of your grind. It makes a bad grinder look acceptable, and it hides everything you would need to know to improve. A single wall basket tells you the truth. Machines that include both are being sensible about who is buying them.
PID temperature control. A PID holds the brew water within about a degree shot to shot. Without one, the temperature depends on how long since the last shot, which is why the second one tastes different from the first. This is one of the clearest lines between a machine that can be dialled in and one that cannot.
Bar pressure is the most oversold number in coffee
Espresso extracts at about 9 bar. A machine advertising 15 or 20 bar is quoting the pump's maximum, not the pressure at the puck, and every vibratory pump in this class can do it. 20 bar is not twice as good as 9 bar, it is the same number measured somewhere less useful. We do not award points for it.
Steam is where cheap machines are actually cheap
Steam power is 16 points. If you drink milk, a single boiler machine has to switch modes between brewing and steaming and wait each time, which is fine for one flat white and tiresome for four. A heat exchanger or dual boiler does both at once. A "panarello" or automatic frothing wand injects air for you: easier, but it produces foam rather than the glossy microfoam latte art needs.
What to ignore, and what makers hide
Ignore included accessory counts, since a plastic tamper and a doser spoon are not value. Ignore "professional" applied to anything.
The specs makers avoid are the ones that cost money: boiler material, whether the group head is heated, warm-up time, and the actual brew pressure at the puck. A machine that publishes its warm-up time and boiler material is confident. We mark down the ones that do not, because a buyer cannot check what is not written down.
Reading on espresso machines
What to know before you pick one.
- Why Oat Milk Curdles in Coffee, and How to Stop It
It is not spoilage. Two things make oat milk split in a hot cup, and both of them are under your control.
- Caffè Shakerato: Italy's Iced Coffee, Made in a Cocktail Shaker
Espresso, ice and sugar shaken hard and strained into a cold glass. No milk, no syrup, and no ice in the finished drink.
- Cappuccino vs Frappuccino: Not the Same Family
One is a hot Italian espresso drink with a definition. The other is a blended trademark. The similar names are a coincidence of marketing.
- What Is a Cortado?
Espresso cut with an equal amount of warm milk. No foam to speak of, no latte art, and a glass rather than a cup.
Frequently asked
Is a 20 bar espresso machine better than a 9 bar one?
No, and the number is misleading. Espresso extracts at roughly 9 bar at the coffee puck. A 15 or 20 bar figure describes the pump's maximum output, not the pressure the coffee sees, and essentially every vibratory pump in the home class can produce it. It is a specification that sells machines rather than one that predicts a better shot, so it earns no points in our scoring.
Do I need a 58mm portafilter?
You do not need one, but you probably want one. 58mm is the commercial standard, so baskets, tampers, distribution tools and bottomless portafilters are all easy to find and cheap. A wider basket also spreads the same dose of coffee into a shallower puck, which tends to extract more evenly. 51mm and 54mm machines pull good espresso, but every accessory you buy later comes from a smaller pool.
What is the difference between a pressurised and a single wall basket?
A pressurised basket has a small restriction built into it that creates back pressure artificially, so it produces crema even with a supermarket pre-ground coffee. That makes it forgiving and it makes it opaque, because it hides the effect of grind and dose. A single wall basket gives you no help and complete feedback. If you own a decent grinder, use single wall. Machines that ship both baskets are doing the right thing.
Is PID temperature control worth paying for?
If you plan to dial in and repeat a shot, yes, it is one of the highest value features on the sheet. Without PID the brew temperature drifts depending on how long the machine has been idle, which is why the first shot of the morning and the third one taste different. A PID holds it within about a degree, which turns espresso from something that varies into something you can adjust deliberately.
Single boiler, heat exchanger or dual boiler?
A single boiler heats one thing at a time, so you brew, then wait for it to come up to steam temperature, then steam. That is perfectly workable for one or two milk drinks. A heat exchanger draws steam and brew water from one boiler at two temperatures, so there is no wait. A dual boiler runs two independent boilers and is the most stable and the most expensive. The honest question is how many milk drinks you make back to back.
What is the best espresso machine?
Based on our research across the category, Breville Barista Pro is our editor's pick for espresso machine. Home baristas who want a fast, all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated grinder and minimal wait time
Is there a cheap espresso machine worth buying?
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK is the least expensive we have reviewed in this category at $104.99. Cheapest is not the same as best value: the review says which corners were cut.
How much does a espresso machine cost?
The ones we have reviewed run from about $104.99 to $987.99. Price tracks build material, capacity and how much of the specification the maker publishes.