Best 10 Espresso Machines According to Expert Testing

Elevate your at-home coffee routine with the best espresso machines that can turn ordinary coffee into a coffee shop experience. In our continuous effort to find the top-performing home espresso machines, the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has evaluated over 40 espresso machines in the last few decades. Testing various types, from super-automatic to capsule machines, we focus on assessing consistency, ease of use, and additional features like built-in milk frothers and coffee bean grinders.

1. Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine With Grinder (Best Overall)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Touch screen to guide you through the drink-making process
  • Customizable grind size, water temperature, froth temperature, and amount
  • Options for manual or automatic milk frothing

Cons:

  • Most removable parts are hand-wash only

The Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine stands out with its touchscreen guidance, offering a seamless espresso-making experience. Customizable options allow you to tailor your shot of espresso according to your preferences.

Type: Automatic
Dimensions: 12.5 x 12 x 16
Pressure: 15-BARs

2. Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine (Best Value)

credit: Amazon

Pros:

  • Water tank with a built-in handle for easy filling
  • Simple operation with a few buttons
  • Comes with a scoop for precise ground espresso measurement

Cons:

  • Does not include a frothing pitcher
  • Requires force to lock the portafilter into place

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine offers affordability without compromising performance. It pre-infuses espresso grinds for a smooth extraction and features a touchscreen for easy navigation.

Type: Semi-automatic
Dimensions: 10.5 x 8 x 11.75 inches
Pressure: 15-BARs

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3. Breville Bambino Plus (Best Small Espresso Machine)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Hands-on operation ideal for traditionalists
  • Compact size and easy to clean
  • Steam wand attached for milk frothing

Cons:

  • Does not have a built-in grinder

For those wanting a compact yet high-quality machine, the Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent choice. It offers hands-on operation and a steam wand for frothing milk.

Type: Semi-automatic
Dimensions: 7.6 x 12.5 x 12.2 inches
Pressure: 19-BARs

4. Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine (Best Professional for Home)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Built-in grinder with 30 grind sizes
  • LCD display for temperature and grind customization
  • Steam wand for manual milk frothing

Cons:

  • 30 grind sizes may be overwhelming for beginners

The Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine caters to coffee enthusiasts with its built-in grinder and extensive customization options. The intuitive LCD display ensures precise control over your espresso-making process.

Type: Automatic
Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.9 x 15.98 inches
Pressure: 15-BARs

5. De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine (Best Super-Automatic)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Grinds, tamps, and brews automatically
  • Unique milk hopper for easy use
  • Touchscreen with 16 drink options

Cons:

  • Requires regular emptying of grounds container and drip tray

The De’Longhi Dinamica Plus is a top-notch super-automatic espresso maker, offering convenient features like automatic grinding and brewing, a detachable milk hopper, and a responsive touchscreen.

Type: Super-automatic
Dimensions: 9.3 x 17 x 13.7 inches
Pressure: 15-BARs

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6. Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine by De’Longhi (Best Capsule Espresso Machine)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Preset brews for consistency
  • Easy to use and clean
  • Nespresso recycles returned pods

Cons:

  • Limited to Nespresso capsules

The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe is a user-friendly capsule machine that guarantees consistency with preset brews. Its simplicity and the option for pod recycling make it a convenient choice.

Type: Capsule
Dimensions: 5.59 x 16.88 x 12.79 inches
Pressure: 19-BARs

7. Café Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine & Frother (Best Compact Espresso Machine)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • App-enabled with Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Removable milk frothing wand
  • Sleek design with hidden water reservoir and hopper

Cons:

  • Not recommended for dark roast coffee beans

The Café Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine combines style and technology, with app-enabled customization, a removable milk frothing wand, and a compact design suitable for smaller spaces.

Type: Automatic
Dimensions: 15.7 x 7.2 x 12.5 inches
Pressure: 20-BARs

8. Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine (Easiest for Lattes and Cappuccinos)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use touchscreen control panel
  • Dishwasher-safe milk hopper
  • Excellent for lighter-bodied drinks

Cons:

  • Coffee drinks may seem less hot than other machines

The Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine offers a large touchscreen control panel, dishwasher-safe milk hopper, and a focus on lighter-bodied drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

Type: Super-automatic
Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 15 inches
Pressure: 15-BARs

9. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine (Best for Beginners)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Easy to use with adjustable grind size
  • Even extraction for consistent results
  • Built-in coffee grinder for experimentation

Cons:

  • May have a slight learning curve for tamping

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine strikes a balance between automation and manual control, making it perfect for beginners. It includes a built-in coffee grinder for experimenting with grind size.

Type: Automatic
Dimensions: 13.8 x 12.5 x 15.9 inches
Pressure: 15-BARs

10. Lavazza Classy Plus All-In-One Espresso Machine (Best Single-Serve for Cappuccinos and Lattes)

credit: amazon

Pros:

  • Easy to make single-serve capsule cappuccinos and lattes
  • Works well with dairy and nut milk
  • Various Lavazza capsules available

Cons:

  • Touchscreen not as intuitive to use

The Lavazza Classy Plus All-In-One Espresso Machine stands out for its convenience in making single-serve milk-based drinks. It uses capsules and offers versatility with different Lavazza capsule options.

Type: Capsule
Dimensions: 5.7 x 15 x 11 inches
Pressure: 9-BARs

How We Test Espresso Machines

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we thoroughly evaluate each espresso maker based on factors such as ease of use, brew time, consistency, taste, temperature, and noise

level. Over the years, we’ve tested over 40 espresso machines, brewing more than 60 cups of espresso in our most recent test.

Our testing includes assessing the timing and temperature of multiple espresso shots, noting the quality of crema, and evaluating the flavor and smoothness of each drink. If the machine includes a milk frother, we test it with various types of milk, comparing cappuccinos and lattes for milk ratio and frothing quality. The best machines demonstrate easy setup, simplicity in use, quick heating, and the production of a hot, smooth cup of espresso with a delightful crema.

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