Sometimes a cup (or cups) of coffee just won’t do. You need something stronger to perk up your mornings and get you through the day. If you want that some serious caffeine boost, consider swapping your usual cold brew for an espresso.
Espresso is prepared using pressurized water. It also requires using more ground coffee which results in a higher concentration of caffeine than drip coffee. So this beverage definitely packs more of a punch than your regular cup of joe.
If you’re already wise to the wonders of this Italian coffee concoction, you might be in the market for an espresso machine. Nothing like having a sip of this potent beverage before 9 am so it’s good when you can make it in your kitchen.
Much like standard coffee makers, you need to picky about where your pop that precious ground coffee into. More importantly, you want a machine that works and can last years.
The good news is you don’t have to pore through hundreds of Amazon listings for espresso machines. We’ve done all the hard work for you. Take a look at our top five picks for the best espresso machine you can purchase on the Amazon marketplace.
Best Espresso Machines Comparison & Rating
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Want to Learn More?
We want you to make an informed decision when buying your very first espresso machine. That’s why we’ve added all the features and specifications that come with each product. This way you can quickly weigh your options and add one to your shopping cart with as little effort as possible. Also, be sure to click the yellow buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon!
Breville BES870BSXL Barista Express Espresso Machine
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 13.25 x 12.50 x 15.75 inches |
Weight | 23.00 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Color | Black Sesame |
The Barista Express is a high-quality espresso machine. You don’t need a separate burr grinder because the built-in one gets the job done. The frother is great, much better compared to other coffee machines. Add-on features like a pressure gauge and a hot water dispenser contribute to making a tasty cup of espresso. Finally, the stainless steel housing is sleek and gives you the feeling of having a professional barista setup.
De’Longhi EC155 15 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 12.20 x 19.30 x 15.00 inches |
Weight | 6.68 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Color | Black |
The De'Longhi EC155 makes delicious espresso shots and steams milk quickly. With enough practice, you can master latte art. The water reservoir allows you to make multiple cups of espresso before refilling. This machine and its components are also really easy to clean. Lastly, it comes with two different portafilter basket sizes: a shallow size for a single shot and a deeper size for a double shot and a convenient cup holder under the lid for the one not in use.
Sowtech Espresso Machine 3.5 Bar 4 Cup Espresso Maker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 10.63 x 7.68 x 13.78 inches |
Weight | 5.19 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel, Plastic, and Glass |
Color | Black |
The Sowtech Espresso Machine is a great machine to have especially if you are found of cappuccinos. This makes a really strong espresso base before you add a generous splash of milk. This espresso machine is easy to operate, unlike other machines that required more knowledge (and practice) to use. In addition to being user-friendly, you also get excellent frothing so you get that delicious milk foam. Good coffee extraction too for a more delicious brew. For the price, it's a good machine nice look to at as it has a good value.
Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 11.22 x 8.86 x 12.60 inches |
Weight | 10.37 pounds |
Material | Plastic, Steel |
Color | Red |
If you want an espresso machine that’s fully automated and easy-to-use, this is the product to purchase. The Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker is attractive and can make espresso shots and brew coffee just the way you like it. The unit comes with all you need - just add electricity, water, milk, and coffee. It includes a water tank, a milk tank, two filers (single and double), a porta-filter, and a combination scoop/tamper. It has a 26" cord and is 1,040 watts. If you’re vegan, you’ll love the fact that this machine can froth plant-based milk products like soy, almond, coconut, flax, and hemp really well. It’s quite compact so that it takes up less space than a traditional coffee maker.
Nespresso D40-US-BK-NE Inissia Espresso Maker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 4.7 x 9 x 12.6 inches |
Weight | 5.29 pounds |
Material | Plastic |
Color | Black |
The Inissia is compact and well made. It is fairly easy to use and makes great espresso. The water heats up really fast so you can get your coffee fix in the morning very fast. We like that the water catch reservoir has a flip lid detaches from the machine. This was housed under the expended pod catch. This made it really easy to remove and dispose of the excess water and expended pods. Overall, it’s a practical espresso machine that gets the job done.
Espresso Machine Buyer’s Guide
Think about how you like to have your espresso. Are you a person who’s rushing out the door every morning? Or someone whose day doesn’t have to start at noon and will eat a big breakfast? Your routine and habits can be a handy reference when creating your criteria for that perfect espresso machine.
Espresso machines can either make fresh espresso from ground coffee beans or prepare the contents of a coffee pod for a quick and easy pick me up. There’s the right machine type whether you prefer to just take your espresso plain or just to use it as a base for lattes or cappuccinos.
Select an espresso machine that has nine bars of pressure or more. You also want a machine that can get to a range of 194 and 201 degrees Fahrenheit. And, if you’re opting for an automatic machine, it’s important you pick one with a high-quality grinder like a flat or conical burr with medium rotation speed.
Large machines require more power but some models have energy-saving options.
Settle on a budget for your dream espresso machine before you shop.
FAQs
Here are some things you can do to have that perfect cup of espresso.
Keep the portafilter clean.
Always preheat the equipment (machine, cup, and portafilter).
Soften the water you are using to make the espresso or use bottled distilled water.
Use a fresh espresso blend and grind the coffee beans only before making the espresso.
There’s the semi-automatic, the fully automatic, the super-automatic, and the ultra automatic that uses pods or capsules.
There are four in total. Piston-driven, steam-driven, pump-driven, and air-pump-driven.
No matter what kind of espresso machine you have, you should make sure to soak your portafilter, group head, and dispersion screen in a water/coffee cleaner solution for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse them off really well with clean water and give them a thorough wipe with a rag. Clean the steam wand by wrapping a very wet cloth around it and letting it “simmer” for 10 minutes.