Best espresso machine

The best espresso machine to buy depends on whether you want café-quality espresso with hands-on control, excellent cappuccinos with minimal effort, or the best value for your money.

My general recommendation is to buy a machine that makes excellent espresso consistently without being so complicated that you stop using it. You don't necessarily need to spend $1,000 or more to get a great cup at home.

Here are the main options I'd compare, from beginner-friendly machines to serious home barista setups.

My top espresso machine picks

(Best for most beginners)

Breville Bambino Plus

$400–$500

Fast heat-up, excellent espresso potential, and automatic milk frothing make it especially easy to use for lattes and cappuccinos. You'll need a separate espresso grinder.

Best if: You want great coffee without a steep learning curve. BrewSift Tom's Guide

(Best all-in-one)

Breville BES870XL The Barista Express Espresso Maker - Die-C…

$699.95

The built-in burr grinder, adjustable settings, and steam wand give you nearly everything you need in one machine. It's a popular choice for learning to make café-style drinks at home. WIRED The Espresso Report

Available from Macy's.

View machine and price

(Best for convenience)

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Coffee & Espresso Machine De'Longhi

$499.95

A fully automatic machine that grinds beans and makes espresso at the touch of a button. Ideal if you'd rather not measure, tamp, and dial in every shot.

Best if: You want a simple daily coffee routine. Tom's Guide Top Picks Tested & Ranked

Available from Wayfair.

View machine and price

Gaggia Classic Pro E24 Espresso Machine

$599.00

A more traditional, hands-on espresso machine with a commercial-style portafilter and manual steam wand. It's a good fit if you want to develop barista skills and upgrade your setup over time. You'll need a separate grinder.

Available from Whole Latte Love.

View machine and price

Let me narrow it down to the best one for you

1. What's your budget?

Under $200

$200–$300

$300–$600

$600–$1,000

$1,000+

2. What do you drink most?

Straight espresso

Lattes and cappuccinos

Iced coffee drinks

A mix of everything

3. How much effort do you want to put in?

Push a button and get coffee

Easy, with a little hands-on preparation

I enjoy learning the craft

4. Do you already own an espresso grinder?

Yes

No

[Find my best machine]

The top-rated espresso machines vary by budget, experience level, and whether you prefer manual control or an automatic workflow: Serious Eats YouTube

Best Overall for Beginners: Breville Bambino Plus ($500) – Features a fast 3-second heat-up time, a true 9-bar grouphead, and automated milk texturing in a compact 11-pound footprint. (Many users on Reddit agree that it is a top choice for entry-level setups when paired with a quality separate grinder). Reddit CoffeeGeek

Best All-in-One Beginner Pick:Breville Barista Express Impress ($800) – Includes an integrated conical burr grinder, assisted tamping (22 lbs of pressure with a 7° twist), and smart dosing that learns and auto-corrects coffee amounts to reduce mess. Serious Eats

Best Budget Pick:De'Longhi Stilosa ($150) – An accessible 15-bar entry machine that handles basic espresso extraction and manual milk frothing for under $200. Serious Eats

• Best Multi-Drink / Pod Alternative:Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series ($600) – A versatile 3-in-1 system that handles traditional espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew with a guided digital display.
• Best Splurge / Prosumer Pick: Lelit Bianca V3 ($3,000) or Breville The Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000) – Dual-boiler systems featuring advanced pressure profiling, PID temperature stability, and professional-grade performance. CoffeeGeek Chris' Coffee

To help narrow down the right choice, let me know:

What is your budget range ?

Do you want a built-in grinder or a separate one?

Will you mostly drink straight espresso or milk drinks like lattes and cappuccinos?

The "best" espresso machine depends heavily on your budget, how much time you want to spend learning the craft, and whether you want a hands-on barista experience or a push-button fully automatic machine.

The top-rated espresso machines on the market are categorized below by how you like to brew:

1. Best for Beginners & Value: Breville Bambino Plus

• Type: Semi-automatic (Compact / Manual style) Good Housekeeping
• Why buy it: It is widely considered the best entry-level machine for people who want great coffee without a massive learning curve or counter footprint. It heats up in just 3 seconds (thanks to its ThermoJet system) and features an automatic milk frother that texturing microfoam for latte art on its own.
• Note: It doesn't have a built-in grinder, so you’ll need to budget for a separate burr grinder (like a Baratza Encore ESP).

2. Best All-in-One: Breville Barista Express Impress (or Barista Pro)

• Type: Semi-automatic with a built-in grinder Coffee Craft Studio
• Why buy it: If you want the complete café experience with bean grinding integrated right into the machine, Breville’s Barista line is the gold standard. The Express Impress version features an assisted tampering system that calculates the right dose and prevents messy grounds, making it remarkably foolproof for a manual machine.

3. Best Fully Automatic (Bean-to-Cup): De'Longhi Rivelia or KitchenAid KF8

• Type: Super-automatic (Press a button, get espresso + milk) Home Coffee Expert
• Why buy it: If you want zero fuss—meaning you press a single button and the machine grinds beans, tamps, pulls the shot, and froths milk automatically—these are top-tier choices.
  • The De'Longhi Rivelia stands out for its unique dual-bean hoppers (letting you easily swap between regular and decaf beans) and an intuitive touchscreen.
  • The KitchenAid KF8 wins praise for its sleek interface, customizability (adjusting body, temperature, and volume), and reliable, rich milk foam.

4. Best Traditional/Prosumer (For Enthusiasts): Profitec Go or Breville Dual Boiler

• Type: Single-boiler / Dual-boiler enthusiast machines The Coffee Chronicler
• Why buy it: If you view making espresso as a hobby and want heavy-duty build quality, precise temperature stability (PID), and commercial-sized portafilters (usually 58mm), look at a machine like the Profitec Go (for single-drink workflows) or step up to the Breville Dual Boiler if you want to pull shots and steam milk simultaneously like a commercial café.

How to choose your style:

• Go with a Super-Automatic (De'Longhi / KitchenAid) if you just want luxury coffee drinks with zero learning curve and quick cleanup.
• Go with a Semi-Automatic like the Breville Bambino Plus if you want to learn the art of espresso, pull custom shots, and don't mind a 5-minute morning routine.

What is your general budget, and do you prefer a hands-on barista process or a one-touch machine?

For most people, the Breville Barista Pro is the best all-in-one pick: it has a built-in grinder and makes consistently good shots. If you’d rather buy a grinder separately, the Profitec Go is a strong choice.businessinsider.comnbcnews.comnytimes.com

The "best" espresso machine depends on your needs—whether you're a total beginner wanting quick, reliable drinks, someone who loves dialing in shots manually for the absolute best flavor, or a family needing easy milk-based coffees without constant tinkering. As of October 2026, expert reviews from sources like Forbes Vetted, Wirecutter, Coffee Circle, and IMTEST (a leading European tester) converge on a few standout options across categories. No single machine is universally #1, but here's the current consensus based on hands-on testing for espresso quality, consistency, ease of use, milk frothing, build, and value. www.forbes.com www.nytimes.com

Top Overall Pick: Profitec Go (or Profitec Go 2.0)

• Why it's the best for most people (especially enthusiasts): This semi-automatic (siebträger) machine consistently delivers the most robust, full-bodied espresso with rich flavor and excellent shot consistency, no matter your skill level or bean choices. It has a brass boiler, PID temperature control, externally adjustable brew pressure, a comfortable 58mm portafilter, and a steam wand that produces silky microfoam with a bit of practice. Heat-up is fast (7–9 minutes), it switches seamlessly between brewing and steaming, and it looks premium without being overly bulky. Wirecutter and Forbes both named it their top pick after testing dozens of models—it's praised for extracting deep, flavorful shots reliably and lasting years. www.nytimes.com www.forbes.com
• Price range: Around $1,100–$1,200 (often bundled with a grinder).
• Best for: Home baristas who want café-quality espresso (straight, over ice, or with milk) and are willing to learn basic dialing-in. It's not fully automatic but far more consistent than cheap bean-to-cup machines.
• Drawbacks: More manual effort (you grind, dose, tamp, and pull shots yourself), single boiler (wait ~1 minute between espresso and milk drinks), and basic cleaning.

If you're new to espresso, start here after buying a good grinder (e.g., from the same retailer).

Best for Beginners / All-Round Value: Breville Barista Express Impress (or the similar Barista Touch / Bambino Plus)

• Why it's a top choice: These are the most frequently recommended for new users. They include a built-in conical burr grinder (with smart dosing and assisted tamping on the Impress), PID control, a pressure gauge, and steam wand for milky drinks. The Impress adds automation like guided shot-making and a touchscreen for programming. Forbes calls the Impress the best beginner pick; Wirecutter's runner-up (Barista Touch) is similar but with even more touchscreen programs. The cheaper Bambino Plus is a slim, no-fuss option that still produces great espresso and is perfect if counter space is limited. www.forbes.com www.nytimes.com
• Price range: Impress ~$800–$1,000; Bambino Plus ~$300–$400; Touch ~$800.
• Best for: Daily café-style drinks (lattes, cappuccinos) with minimal learning curve and built-in convenience. Great "set it and forget it" once dialed in.
• Drawbacks: The grinder is good but not pro-level; full manual control is limited compared to a standalone machine + grinder setup.

Best Fully Automatic / Bean-to-Cup: De'Longhi Rivelia (or similar premium models like Siemens EQ.700 or De'Longhi Maestosa)

• Why it's excellent: These do everything hands-free—grind beans, brew espresso, steam milk, and clean themselves. The Rivelia (Forbes automatic pick) and IMTEST's top tester (Siemens EQ.700) excel at balanced espresso with dense crema, great foam (even for lactose-free milks), and features like app control, multiple drink programs, and dual outlets for families. They heat quickly, run quietly, and maintain consistency. www.forbes.com www.imtest.de
• Price range: $1,000–$2,000+.
• Best for: Busy households or people who want barista-level drinks with zero daily effort (and milk frothing).
• Drawbacks: More expensive upfront, potentially louder, and you can't easily modify the machine later like with a traditional setup. Maintenance (descale, rinse milk system) is still required.

Quick Buying Tips

• Type matters: Semi-automatic (like Profitec or Breville) gives you the best flavor and control but requires more hands-on work. Fully automatic is convenience king but less customizable.
• Key features to prioritize: PID temperature control (for consistency), 15+ bar pump, 54–58mm portafilter, and a good steam wand (or integrated milk system). Always buy a separate grinder if not built-in—fresh beans are essential.
• Budget options: Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (~$400–$450) for solid entry-level espresso; Ninja Luxe Café Premier or Cuisinart models for multi-function (espresso + cold brew).
• Where to buy: Check Whole Latte Love, Amazon, or specialty retailers for bundles, warranties (2–3 years typical), and current deals. Read recent user reviews for your specific water hardness (hard water needs more descaling).
• Pro tip: The "best" often pairs with a good grinder and fresh medium-to-dark beans. Start with one of the top picks above, dial in your shots (aim for 25–30 seconds extraction), and you'll be making drinks rivaling the café in weeks.

If you share more details—like your budget, whether you want milk drinks, counter space, or experience level—I can narrow it down further or suggest specific models/deals! Espresso machines last 8–10+ years with good care, so investing wisely pays off.