13 of the Very Best Espresso Machines

Components

Size

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:12.3” x 10.1” x 13.1”

Breville offers 12 espresso makers in total, with a wide range of capabilities at a wide range of price points (that’s why you’ll see multiple models on this list). The brand is expert approved: “Its home machines are some of the best you can get in terms of user experience and customer service,” Ramage says. And nearly every other expert I talked to agrees. While truly serious coffee people might invest in something higher end (or even pro-level), the average person isn’t likely to be so hyperaware of espresso nuances and obsessive about customization.

The Bambino Plus is Breville’s second-lowest cost offering — but it still produces great and consistent shots. (The original Bambino is cheaper but doesn’t have the automated milk-steaming feature.) I’ve been using mine for a couple of months now to make delicious lattes every morning — and it’s by far my favorite machine I’ve tested. It’s so intuitive to use, requiring little maintenance or technical know-how. I only had to play around with my coffee-grind size a bit at the beginning. Once that was set, the rest was smooth sailing.

Strategist writerKatherine Gillespie, who has been using the Bambino Plus daily for the last year and a half, calls it a magnificent machine. She also notes its simplicity:“It is just so quick to start up and pull a shot, and very easy to do when you’re half-asleep.” She appreciates the automatic steamer, too. With the press of one button, “the microfoam it produces is very close to the quality that a talented barista could achieve manually,” she says.

One final note: Breville has instructional videos on itswebsitethat are useful for getting started, and, Gillespie says, there’s a passionate online community of Breville Bambino users offering tips across the internet as well.

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:16.25” x 5.5” x 12.75”

If you’re interested in something even simpler that doesn’t require weighing grounds or tamping, consider thissingle-servepod-based machine. Two coffee and espresso aficionados, textile designerCaroline Hurleyand clothing designerAlex Cranekeep one on their kitchen counter “because it’s just so easy,” Hurley says. It’s a completely different style than the Breville, but one that we’re designating the best less expensive because it can’t be beat in terms of priceandsimplicity. Instead of needing to learn how to pull a smooth shot, this one operates by placing a Nespresso pod into a slot (both Hurley and Crane use the espresso ones, but you can also buy them incoffeeform) and clicking a button. The maker heats and brews in a matter of seconds, automatically depositing the used pod in a container at the back that you can empty and recycle (with some specific guidelines).

Hurley likes that you can buy a big variety of flavors that they’ll send to you in a tester pack — “like jelly beans but for coffee,” she says — so you can determine your preferences. “And honestly, they taste deep and flavorful,” she says. “I don’t thinkgrinding whole beansmakes much of a difference.” Crane says he appreciates that the maker brews with what he calls “a gentle sound, unlike some others that sound so loud and sinister,” as well as the fact that it only producesone cup at a timeso he can watch his consumption. “If there was a fullFrench press, I would drink all of it,” he says.

If you’re interested in a much less expensive (and portable) single-serve espresso maker, the $40 Aeropresscomes recommendedby the two coffee pros who praise it for its low-acidity brew and durability.

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:4.17” x 3.07” x 2.8”

The Picopresso is marketed as a portable model that is especially good for travel, but there’s no reason it can’t be employed at home. Its super-compact size — much smaller than the Breville and the Nespresso — might even be essential for people with small kitchens who are still dedicated to having an espresso option.

“We actually crowdsourced this one in our work Slack channel,” Suyog Mody, founder of Brooklyn’sDriftaway Coffee, told me. “Several people on the team strongly endorse it. I feel like it’s sort of an industry secret.” The Picopresso works with manual hand pressure, meaning that one essential part of the espresso-making process is generated via the person brewing instead of the machine. According to the company, you just have to dial in the correct grind size and tamping (something you have to do with electric models anyway) — and then perfect your pulling technique, a skill that seems well worth the learning curve for an espresso maker that costs not much more than $100 and still makes a stellar shot.

Components:No dual boiler, built-in grinder |Size:7.09” x 16.1” x 12.48”

The Café Affetto is only seven inches across, less than any other more permanent setup on this list. (The portable Picopresso above and the stovetop options below are both smaller.) Strategist associate editorJenna Milliner-Waddellsays it sits perfectly on the small bit of counter space she has.

“It couldn’t be easier to use thanks to the automatic grinder,” Milliner-Waddel says. “You put whole espresso beans in, fill the reservoir with water, and it grinds and brews the perfect shot.” It also features a steam wand, which Milliner-Waddel says heats all brands of oat and almond milk just the same. Perhaps most impressive of all, though, is the machine’s smart capabilities. It prompts you to clean and descale it, she says, so you never forget upkeep, and it has app compatibility that allows you to pre-program your preferred settings.

[Editor’s note: This espresso machine is out of stock, but a similar version with a built-in milk frother is available for $629 atBest Buy.]

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:7.5” x 8” x 4.5”

A moka pot doesn’t technically make espresso, but is still often described as a “stovetop espresso maker” — meaning it’s a reliable way to make delicious espresso-like drinks at home without any fuss. Ken Nye, owner ofNinth Street Espresso, explains that this is because “the result is still concentrated and full bodied.”

I’ve used the Bialetti many times and love it. It’s a classic Italian model, though there are alsomany out thereto choose from. No matter the brand, moka pots take super finely ground beans, just like espresso machines, and generate a liquid prime for being mixed with milk. Marco Suarez, one of the owners ofMethodical Coffeein Greenville, South Carolina, endorses them, too, saying, “I think they’re really cool. I don’t know if they can do theexactconcentration of a machine, but they get pretty close if you’re just trying to replicate a good cappuccino or latte at home.” And one final endorsement: Isabella Rossellini makes two espressos a day with her Bialetti, an itemshe says she can’t live without.

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:5” x 6” x 3”

For a Bialetti with slightly different functionality, try this model with two spouts. It still percolates from the heat underneath a burner, but dispenses directly into two glasses instead of a larger compartment up top. “It’s great because it really does pull shots, rather than feeling like a small cup of very strong coffee,”says New YorkTimesmovie critic and espresso fanAlissa Wilkinson. “Also, often my husband will make espresso and then just bring me the little cup, which is efficient and fun.” Additionally, she points out that, just like the classic model above, no mechanical parts means it’s “fairly indestructible,” “simple to clean,” and can be “squirreled away most anywhere or packed for AirBnb purposes.”

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:12” x 8.75” x 15.04”

This machine bills itself as a coffee maker — but it has what the brand calls a “specialty” button to make coffee concentrate, similar to the full-bodied liquid the moka pot creates that’s especially good for lattes and cappuccinos. (There’s an attachedmilk frotherfor making those drinks, too.) Strategist writerArielle Avilauses the setting regularly and says it “definitely tastes stronger than regular coffee and is thicker.” It doesn’t quite have the same creaminess as true espresso, she admits, “but I still think it’s a win for the price point and convenience.”

Components:Grinder, no dual boiler |Size:13.9” x 16.1” x 16”

The Breville Barista Pro is comparable to the high-end Rancilio Silvia (below) in price point, but comes with an additional piece: a built-in grinder. For his part, Suarez says, “I don’t necessarily think you need one. When you have less going on in one machine, you can kind of optimize for each thing. If the grinder breaks, you’re screwed a little bit.” But I think it’s also worth noting that a good espresso makeranda grinder for $800 is really quite affordable, asstandalone grinderscan also cost quite a bit.

Components:Grinder, no dual boiler |Size:14.25” x 11.25” x 15.75”

The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte is an even more affordable machine with a built-in grinder. And for his part, Hugo Murray, co-founder of New York City’sButler, is a pro who stands by this feature, especially for people who are short on space. He’s used this machine at home for nearly a year. (Both the Breville and De’Longhi are the only picks on this list with a built-in grinder and no dual boiler.) “The grinder is easy to adjust, shots pull well, and the steam wand allows forgood texturing,” he says, referring to the high amount of pressure it emits to create “a silky thickness all the way through” the milk. He also points out that all the removable parts are dishwasher safe so it’s easy to keep clean.

Components:Dual boiler, no grinder |Size:17.3” x 17.3” x 20.2”

As explained above, a dual boiler means you can simultaneously brew your espresso and froth your milk, each function heated to the exact degree it should be. Not only this, but without one, as McCarthy notes, “there’s a little bit of a time delay. If you steam your milk first, you have to wait for the boiler to cool down so it doesn’t burn your coffee. If you make your coffee first, you have to wait for it to heat up before you steam your milk.” This machine goes up several inches in size, so you’ll want to make sure you have the space for it.

Components:Dual boiler, built-in grinder |Size:14.5” x 14.7” x 17.6”

If you really want an all-in-one machine — meaning a dual boileranda built-in grinder — the Breville Oracle is the way to go, named specifically by Ramage and Cary Wong, a member of thePartners Coffeeeducation team. It is, surprisingly, slightly smaller than the Dual Boiler, so if space is an important consideration (especially given that with the Dual Boiler, you’ll have to get an additional piece of equipment), it might be the perfect fit. Wong also says he wouldn’t worry too much about getting a separate grinder: “If you’re a regular consumer, it’s really useful and convenient.”

Components:Dual boiler, no built-in grinder |Size:6.7” x 5.6” x 4.0”

Far and away, the espresso-maker the pros recommended to me most is the Linea Mini. This isn’t too surprising, as it’s “literally a commercial machine at home,” says Wong. What he means is that it’s made of parts that go into La Marzocco’s industry-standard cafe-grade machines — only smaller. And unlike the Rancilio Silvia below, which is also built from super high-quality parts, the Linea Mini has that dual boiler I’ve talked so much about, which really puts it over the top. It’s also, we know, over the top in price, several thousand dollars more than the top-of-the-line Breville. In other words, it’s not so much for the casual (or even semi-casual) espresso drinkers among us. But it also would have been a glaring omission in the world of espresso to leave it off this list. Not only is it “aesthetically beautiful,” as Wong says, but it’s also quite customizable; you’re able to choose the color of the feet, the style of the knobs, and more. “There is no other machine that is as durable and that can consistently make perfect coffee shot after shot,” says Morisson.

La Marzocco recently released an even more compact model, theLinea Micra, which the brand calls a “true home espresso machine.” It’s still expensive at a couple thousand dollars less than the Mini, but its build and functionality are very similar. The most notable differences, aside from the placement of certain buttons and indicators, are the smaller steam boiler and water reservoir; you have to fill the reservoir more often, but the appliance heats up faster. (If you want to directly compare the features and specs of all La Marzocco’s offerings,take a look here.)

If (for some reason) you want an even more professional setup than the Mini, you can buy La Marzocco’sGS3for an additional $2,000. Morrison explains the difference: “Whereas the Linea Mini is more analog, the GS3 has a full-feature electronic interface that allows the user to fine-tune and program coffee brewing settings to their preferences.”

Components:No dual boiler, no built-in grinder|Size:9.2” x 11.4” x 13.3”

The Rancilio Silvia espresso machine is markedly less expensive — $3,035 less expensive, to be exact — than even the Linea Micra. This is in large part due to the fact that it doesn’t have a dual boiler, and that it doesn’t deliver quite as sleek of a design with all those customizable parts. Indeed, it’s more difficult to operate: People who opt for a Rancilio Silivia are generally obsessive about technique (there are tricks you can learn and separate parts you can buy to better control temperature, which the machine doesn’t do automatically, discussed at length on forums like Reddit). In short: It’s for the real coffee nerds. While the machine has three clear settings (one for hot water, one to pull shots, and one to activate the steam wand), in giving it my own best go, there was certainly a learning curve. (I watched a few instructional videoslike this one, and did a slightly deeper dive into “temperature surfing,” the method used to regulate degrees.) At first, my tries yielded espresso that was too dark and bitter — but I finally got decent ones by applying the right amount of pressure to my tamping and getting the hang of temperature surfing.

If that’s who you are, it comes enthusiastically recommended by Wong, as well as Mody and James McCarthy, coffee educator, at Brooklyn’sDriftaway Coffee. “Rancilio used to make commercial machines,” Mody says. “They created this one to send to their distributors and give away at trade fairs. But it ended up so popular that they decided to release it to the consumer market.”

And though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this machine for total newbies like myself (unless you’re committed to learning a ton), there are some immediately noticeable appealing features. It has a flat tray at the top to store mugs and glasses, and the bottom plate is easy to slide off and clean thoroughly. Mody also says that while all espresso makers generate noise, this one is on the quieter side. And perhaps most notable of all, it’s shorter than any of the other electric machines on this list besides the best compact machine — key if you have low cabinets.