5 Best Espresso Machines for Your Kitchen

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

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

Breville BES870BSXL Barista Express Espresso Machine, Black Sesame
Specifications

Dimensions

13.25 x 12.50 x 15.75 inches

Weight

23.00 pounds

Material

Stainless Steel

Color

Black Sesame

Rating: 96% Overall
99%
Performance
97%
durability
93%
Easy to use
96%
Easy to clean
Pros
  • Breville’s Barista Express uses digital temperature control (PID) technology which detects and minimizes any fluctuation during extraction, ensuring the temperature is kept at its optimum range, every time.
  • The 9-bar extraction pressure and pre-infusion on this espresso machine deliver a sweet and creamy extraction by evenly soaking the ground coffee.
  • The Barista Express’s automatic steam wand that turns your milk into a silky smooth micro-foam, essential for latte art.
  • It uses a thermocoil heating system that gives you a quick heat-up time and also a really clean taste.
  • Pre-set single or double shot settings can be programmed to customize your shot volume.
Cons
  • The burr grinder can sometimes make a loud screeching noise during the process.
  • Has a learning curve to  learn the right grind setting, grind amount, tamp pressure, and amount of extraction time
Verdict

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

De'Longhi EC155 15 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker,Black
Specifications

Dimensions

12.20 x 19.30 x 15.00 inches

Weight

6.68 pounds

Material

Stainless Steel

Color

Black

Rating: 95% Overall
98%
Performance
96%
durability
94%
Easy to use
92%
Easy to clean
Pros
  • The De'Longhi EC155 uses convenient pods or ground coffee with the patented dual function filter holder, making espresso preparation simple and fast.
  • It easily prepares latte and cappuccino with the swivel jet frother, for perfect drinks every time.
  • You can enjoy delicious espresso for years to come with the durable, high-quality stainless steel boiler and 15 bar pump pressure.
  • It eliminates annoying start-up preparation with the self-priming operation. 
  • Always brews espresso at the perfect temperature with two separate thermostats, which allow for water and steam pressure to be controlled separately
Cons
  • Has a plastic portafilter holder
  • Could develop a water leak over time if not cleaned regularly
  • Short space to put a coffee cup
  • The water reservoir is fairly small.
Verdict

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

Espresso Machine 3.5 Bar 4 Cup Espresso Maker Cappuccino Machine with Steam Milk Frother and Carafe
Specifications

Dimensions

10.63 x 7.68 x 13.78 inches

Weight

5.19 pounds

Material

Stainless Steel, Plastic, and Glass

Color

Black

Rating: 94% Overall
97%
Performance
95%
durability
93%
Easy to use
91%
Easy to clean
Pros
  • The Sowtech Espresso Machine includes 1 x Steam Espresso Machine, 1 x Filter and Funnel, 1 x Spoon, 1 x Carafe, 1 x Manual.
  • There’s a single switch knob with indicator light for easy operation with function transform-coffee/steam selector and on/off.
  • The accurate temperature control ensures the best tasting espresso.
  • The powerful 3.5 bar pressure espresso coffee maker can make 1-4 cups (240ml) espresso coffee and rich smooth cream.
  • The easy-pour glass cup is clearly marked to serve the perfect amount every time, delivers a truly rich espresso in seconds
  • The stainless steel compact design of the espresso coffee machines saves lots of space, smaller and lighter.
  • The removable, washable drip catcher collects coffee drips and keeps brew space tidy, best for home and kitchen use.
Cons
  • The heating element can get faulty through time.
  • Smells plastic during the first few uses
Verdict

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

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, Red - BVMC-ECMP1106
Specifications

Dimensions

11.22 x 8.86 x 12.60 inches

Weight

10.37 pounds

Material

Plastic, Steel

Color

Red

Rating: 92% Overall
96%
Performance
93%
durability
90%
Easy to use
87%
Easy to clean
Pros
  • The Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker lets you craft delectable, robust coffeehouse-quality espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes.
  • It features an electric 15-bar pump that creates powerful pressure to extract bold, rich flavors during the brew.
  • One-touch controls let you choose between single or double shots and automatically froths milk with an adjustable control knob.
  • The milk reservoir is removable to store leftover milk not used during the brew in the refrigerator. You just fill it and let the machine determine the amount needed.
  • A recipe book is included to easily create impressive coffee drinks from the comfort of your own home.
Cons
  • The frothing steam wears out with frequent use.
  • The drip tray is too high and is not ideal to accommodate other sizes of cups.
Verdict

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

Nespresso D40-US-BK-NE Inissia Espresso Maker, Black (Discontinued Model)
Specifications

Dimensions

4.7 x 9 x 12.6 inches

Weight

5.29 pounds

Material

Plastic

Color

Black

Rating: 91% Overall
95%
Performance
92%
durability
88%
Easy to use
89%
Easy to clean
Pros
  • The Nespresso Inissia Coffee Machine fits perfectly into any interior design and is available in a full palette of colors to satisfy all tastes.
  • It’s compact, lightweight, and equipped with an ergonomic handle so it’s easier to operate.
  • In just one touch and 25 seconds, the water reaches the ideal temperature to make up to 9 coffees without having to refill the 0.7 L tank.
  • Two sizes (Espresso and Lungo buttons) are available so you can adjust the cup or serving size.
  • An energy-saving mode automatically switches the machine off after 9 minutes.
  • The folding drip tray accommodates larger cup sizes and drops down automatically when you remove your mug to catch drips.
Cons
  • The cup size buttons don’t always work as desired.
  • The placement of the coffee pods must be exact or else the pods will be damaged.
Verdict

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

lifestyle

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.

type

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.

internals

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.

energy usage

Large machines require more power but some models have energy-saving options.

price

Settle on a budget for your dream espresso machine before you shop.

FAQs

What are some tips for making the perfect espresso?

Here are some things you can do to have that perfect cup of espresso.

  1. Keep the portafilter clean.

  2. Always preheat the equipment (machine, cup, and portafilter).

  3. Soften the water you are using to make the espresso or use bottled distilled water. 

  4. Use a fresh espresso blend and grind the coffee beans only before making the espresso. 

Check the grind and change it if you don't like the espresso it has produced. The extraction time should be 25-30 seconds. Adjust the grind if it is not.

What are the different types of espresso machines according to the kind of automation used?

There’s the semi-automatic, the fully automatic, the super-automatic, and the ultra automatic that uses pods or capsules.

What are the different types of espresso machines according to the driving mechanism?

There are four in total. Piston-driven, steam-driven, pump-driven, and air-pump-driven.

How do I clean an espresso machine?

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.