The Best Home Espresso Machines (2024 Guide)

If you are reading this guide then you fall into one of two categories – you are looking to replace your existing home espresso machine or you are completely new to the world of home brewing. Either way our detailed guide will help you find the perfect espresso machine that matches both your budget and needs.

For some coffee drinkers a regular cup is more than enough to satisfy their caffeine cravings, but for true coffee lovers its more about the texture, taste and aromas. Buying the best at home espresso machine you can afford will allow you the freedom and convenience to make delicious coffee right from your counter-top – plus it will save you an absolute fortune if you’re a regular at the local coffee shop.

Our Top Pick: The Breville Barista Express BES870XL

There is no escaping that this machine is at the top end of most people price range. However here at Espresso Express we believe it is worth every single penny. Its beautiful stainless steel body is jam packed with pretty much every feature imaginable.

Table of contents

• Best over $1000
• Best under $500
• Best under $200
• Buying Guide

The best home espresso machines over $1000

1. Rancilio Combo1 set

We call this the beast! This semi-automatic espresso machine maybe a tad on the expensive side, but it certainly built to last. As this is a set, it comes complete with the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder.

It has a super strong housing which is constructed of an iron frame and stainless steel side panels – while still looking very trendy. It is built with Rancilio’s commercial grade head which provides excellent heat stability and premium coffee extraction. It features a patented ergonomic 58mm porta filter which is the same ones used on the Rancilio commercial machines.

The Rancilio Combo1 set has the largest single boiler of any home espresso machine in its class. The chrome plated brass boiler can hold 12oz or 0.3 liters and produces remarkable steaming power with super short time between shots. For ease of use the reservoir can either be removed or filled from the top – perfect if you are struggling for space.

When it comes to steaming your milk, the Rancilio comes with an articulated steel steam wand that allows for a complete range of motion. With this commercially designed wand, you can control the steaming power to ensure you create the perfect latte every time. The Rancilio also comes with a 7 gram coffee scoop, a plastic tamper and two filter baskets – both single and double.

The Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder is a burr grinder with a 50mm plate – the same kind of plate found in other entry-level commercial grinders. It is sure to keep up with you coffee making needs as it can grind 7.7lbs per hour! The Rocky SD allows you to grind directly into the porta filter and comes with a removable metal fork to hold your porta filter in place. With a 166 watt motor and spinning at 1725 RPM’s, the Rocky is remarkably quite during operation. It also has simple controls and you can change the grind settings by simply unlocking a lever and spinning the bean hopper. Most importantly you can grind the coffee to a fine powder or a course grind in seconds – meaning this is suitable to everyone’s taste.

2. Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine

The Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine has all the technology of a commercial grade machine jam packed into a delightful home espresso machine.

When it comes to making the perfect espresso at home, you require precision temperature and pressure control every time – and this is achieved via the dual stainless steel boiler heating system. The first boiler is dedicated to espresso shots and is PID temperature controlled. The second is a steam boiler which offers instant and powerful steam on demand. These combined means you can brew your shot at exactly the right temperature to delivering the optimal flavor while steaming your milk to cafe barista style quality. What’s more, there is another element in the group head which ensured the entire system maintains a constant temperature – we did say this machine was commercial grade!

Another great feature of the dual boiler is the Over Pressure Valve which limits the maximum pressure, something important to prevent bitter flavors in your shots. It also offers a programmable low pressure pre-infuser which gradually increases the pressure to expand the grinds evenly leading to an even extraction.

The Breville BES920XL has a very neat auto start setting that can preheat the machine at a programmed time meaning no more rushing around in the mornings. The dedicated hot water outlet makes it super fast to preheat cups and prepare an Americano. You also have a shot clock and a pressure gauge to help you become a master barista over time. The dual boiler has a descaling function which makes cleaning your espresso machine at home a breeze.

As you would expect this machine comes with a 2 year manufacture warranty – however a machine of this caliber would easily last you much long.

3. Saeco Philips Intelia Deluxe Espresso Machine

The Saeco Phillips Intelia Deluxe Espresso Machine comes from a long heritage of awesome home espresso machines – Saceo has been dedicated to bringing coffee-lovers the most fulfilling coffee experience for over 30 years.

With its Italian craftsmanship housed in a timeless stainless steel body, this wouldn’t look out of place in any high end kitchen. Overall the Intelia is a smartly designed piece of technology that delivers proven quality, convenience and most importantly divine coffee.

If you are looking for an easy to use home espresso machine then the Intelia could be for you. From coffee to cappuccino to espresso all at the touch of a button, a whole new world of coffee making awaits. We have a great article on the best cappuccino makers here. There is no need to fiddle around with levers or knobs, just select the coffee you like and the perfect tasting coffee waiting almost immediately.

The patented dual chamber carafe ensures every coffee you prepare will be topped with a layer of silky milk. The milk is frothed twice and then poured, splash free, at just the right temperature so not only does it taste good, but it looks amazing too. The carafe can be removed and stored in the fridge saving the hassle of having to fill it up with milk each use. Importantly it is also dishwasher proof making is really hygienic.

Most of the commercial grade home espresso machines come with metal grinders, but the Saeco Philips Intelia Deluxe Espresso Machine, Silver comes with ceramic grinders. The ceramic material means that it will never overheat and warp. It is also generally accepted that they last longer than a metal grinder and are much more quiet when in operation. Another great Saeco innovation is the removable brewing group.

Everything the machine needs to make you coffee is housed in this one unit which is great as you can have fresh beans ground consistently each time at the touch of a button. Also being removable it is really easy to clean – it uncouples with just a single click.

Overall we love everything about this machine – and if you can stretch to the price tag then it is one of our top picks.

4. Jura IMPRESSA C65 Automatic Coffee Machine

The Jura Impressa C65 is quite the bargain – it can usually be found on sale with some great savings.

The design of this machine is quite literally breath taking and would take centre stage in most kitchens. If you want a sexual looking best espresso machine for home then this could be the one for you.

“Turn, press, enjoy – that’s how easy it is to enter the world of Impressa C65” – well that all sounds amazing – but after researching this machine we can confirm that this is pretty much the case. It is all because of the revolutionary one-switch operating concept knows as Rotary Switch. The machine features an 11-language plain text display where you simply select the type of coffee you would like, press the button and seconds later your drink is ready. It makes a perfect coffee every time thanks to the high performance conical grinder where the beans are freshly ground with each new brew. You can also customize the pre-programmed settings to ensure each cup is exactly to your taste.

The Jura IMPRESSA C65 Automatic Coffee Machine, Platinum comes with a height adjustable coffee spout, meaning you can brew pretty much any size cup. This makes it the perfect home espresso machine as you can make anything from a small espresso to a large Americano. Also as the spout is adjustable between 2.6 and 4.4 inches this prevents coffee splashing on the machine keeping it clean and tidy. Another great feature is the fine foam frother. This unique technology ensures quality milk foam with a fine, feather-light consistency – perfect to give the finishing touch to your favorite coffee.

Again this machine comes with a 2 year manufactures warranty – great for piece of mind when spending a lot of money.

5. Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine

The Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine is the most expensive in this guide and is probably the closest commercial grade home espresso machine you can buy. When you invest this much money you expect top cafe quality coffee and a machine that will last you for many years – and the Oracle doesn’t disappoint.

As a top end super-automatic the Oracle has automatic grinding, dosing, tamping and milk texturing – automating the two most difficult parts of making an espresso manually. It is also incredibly quick because you can extract espresso and texture milk at the same time, meaning you can go from beans to latte in under a minute. Thanks to the automated system the integrated conical burr grinder tamps 22 grams for a double shot which is similar to the commercial machine in your favorite cafe.

As with the Breville BES920XL this machine comes complete with dual stainless steel boilers and heated group head – both regulated by digital temperature control (PID) to ensure that water is automatically delivered at exactly the correct temperature ensuring maximum flavor potential. The Oracle also features an over pressure valve (OPV) which is typically found only in commercial machines. The OPV limits the pressure throughout the coffee extraction helping to prevent bitter flavors in your shot. The use of a true low pressure pre-infuser gradually increases pressure to expand the grinds for an even extraction. If all of that sounds a little complicated – it just means that this machine packs some amazing features to ensure your coffee tastes great every single time.

The Oracle has an automatic steam wand which textures your milk to your preferred taste and temperature – from silky smooth lattes which require less texture through to creamy cappuccinos which requite more texture. The steamer is powered by a dedicated boiler to deliver barista style micro-foam that is essential for creating latte art – a great guide can be found here. If you are a fan of an Americano then the innovative ‘One Touch Americano’ feature will be perfect for you. It delivers a double shot of espresso and using the separate spout, while simultaneously filling the cup with hot water which is the exact same way any good commercial machine works.

Overall if you are looking for the best espresso machine for your home then this is it!

The best home espresso machines under $500

1. Breville BES840CBXL The Infuser Espresso Machine

The Breville BES840CBXL The Infuser Espresso Machine, Cranberry Red is the the first of our top 5 recommended at home espresso machines. At this mid-level price range you won’t get commercial grade equipment, however these are perfect for the frequent user who enjoys several cups per day. This machine also comes in Silver, however we think the red is pretty damn nice!

The Breville Infuser lives up to its name due to the way it pre-infuses your ground coffee with low, steady water pressure before extraction to gently expand the grinds before stepping up to higher pressure for the final brew. Infusing your coffee this way ensures optimal espresso flavor in every single cup. There is a PID temperature control that is totally customizable and can be adjusted in 35.6 Fahrenheit increments. There is also a beautiful pressure gauge to help guide you to the right extraction – essential if you are going to try you hand at some latte art.

Another great feature is the programmable volumetric control. This semi-automatic feature means the Breville BES840CBXL The Infuser Espresso Machine, can pour the exact cup of coffee to suit your needs at the touch of a button. Do you have a favorite espresso cup or a special Americano cup – then you can use this feature to ensure there is no spillage and your cup is always filled to perfection. The high powered 1650w high pressure steamer is also a great addition so you can create a delicious micro-foam – essential when creating cafe quality coffee at home.

Overall this is a great machine for the every day user and offers great value for money considering the amazing features.

2. DeLonghi EN550BK1 Lattissima Touch Nespresso Single Serve Espresso Maker

The De’Longhi EN550BK1 Lattissima Touch Nespresso Single Serve Espresso Maker, Black is marketed as an ‘automatic espresso/cappuccino system with Nespresso Capsules’. If you are looking for beautiful cafe quality coffee at home with the ease of just inserting a capsule then this home espresso machine could be for you.

De’Longi has created a masterpiece with the De’Longhi EN550BK1 Lattissima Touch Nespresso Single Serve Espresso Maker. Its streamlined design packs a whole load of coffee making machine into a small footprint, saving you valuable kitchen space, while still looking like a premium unit.

Thanks to the One Touch system it is incredibly easy to make exceptional espressos, bold cappuccinos, creamy lattes and rich macchiatos – you simply press the button and the machine does the rest. If you have never used a capsule machine before then obviously we recommend you try a cup before splashing our a few hundred dollars, but if you have then you would be hard pushed to find a home espresso machine this good. One of the benefits of a Nespresso Capsule machine it that the recyclable aluminium capsules contain the finest espresso for authentic taste without measuring or cleaning up.

The Lattissima also comes with the De’Longhi Automatic Cappuccino System which creates perfectly layered froth to top off you espresso in style. Using the patented espresso extraction system and 19 bars of pressure, this machine draws the most flavor and brews at the desired temperature in each cup. There is an removable carafe which dispenses milk in adjustable levels to suit your taste – and being removable it can be kept in the fridge for freshness. It is also dishwasher safe to is pretty easy to clean.

One of the main attractions of buying a capsule machine is the wide selections of capsules available. There are a variety of Nespresso capsule options from three gourmet aromatic families – Intense, Mild and Fruity – and all the selections are available in both regular and decaf. You can find more information about them on the Nespresso website here.

So if you are looking for a great quality machine that is easy to use, the Lattissima won’t let you down.

3. DeLonghi America EC680B Dedica 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine

The DeLonghi America EC680B Dedica 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine may only take up 6 inches of counter space, but it still packs some great features. If you are looking for a cheaper at home espresso machine then you will want to carry on reading.

The Dedica is basically a slimmer version of a more traditional bar pump machine which incorporates all of the usual features and more. It is almost half the width of most pump driven machines, yet still has a generous 35oz water tank at the back. The great thing about this machine is that you can use both ground coffee or capsules which makes the brew process easier and less messy.

The options and customization from this machine will get even the most hardened coffee geek (us obviously) excited. You can set the water hardness of your area, the temperature of your coffee and how long you want the machines to stay on for after use – and thats before you start with the brewing variable such as the amount of coffee, how much it is tamped down and how long or shot you want your espresso.

The DeLonghi America EC680B Dedica 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine had a option of choosing between 1 or 2 shots of espresso, brewing the exact beverage you desire. If you would like a longer drink then you can dispense a shot and use the steam wand at the site to froth milk to a firm, creamy texture for cappuccinos. While it does require cleaning after pretty much every use, the cover detaches to reveal the rubber spout, making it easy to spot and remove any residue.

Overall the machine is perfect if you want to spend the time brewing with ground coffee or want the convenience of using a capsule and its smaller size will certainly appeal to a lot of people.

4. DeLonghi EC860 Espresso Maker

The De’Longhi EC860 Espresso Maker was created with the Automatic Cappuccino System – meaning this is one of the best mid-level at home espresso machines on the market. In my personal opinion it is one of the sexiest looking machines too.

The EC860 is integrated with the De’Longhi patented Automatic Cappuccino System which allow you to create prefect authentic, rich and creamy Italian barista style drinks at home. You also have the option of using a scoop of your favorite ground coffee or the ease of popping in an Easy Serving Espresso Standard coffee pods – of which there are hundreds of amazing flavors.

The De’Longhi EC860 Espresso Maker comes with some great features. The first being its detachable steam wand. The steam wand is an important part of any high quality home espresso machine, and it allows you to froth your milk to create delicious espresso, cappuccino or even hot chocolate. This wand is detachable because you can replace it with the Automatic Cappuccino System which actually froths the milk inside the milk container at the touch of a button. Another good feature is the water reservoir – mainly because it comes with an inbuilt filter, something not seen on many machines. Having a water filter is important for keeping the machine clean and extending its lifespan and also to ensure calcium deposits from the tap water are not in the coffee impeding its taste.

We really liked the electric cup warmer feature of this machine. Usually a professional barista will warm your cup before making your drink to prevent it being ruined by a cold cup. The EC860 has a dedicated area resting on top of the unit where the cup will warm from the temperature inside the boiler. Even though this doesn’t sound like a big deal, if you want to replicate the same style of drink you get from a coffee shop, this is actually very important. While we are on the topic of temperature, there is a programmable menu where you can set the amount of coffee in each drink as well as the temperature of the water used to make your coffee. Once this temperature and volume is reached, the machine stops brewing by itself thanks to its flow stop technology.

In our opinion this is probably one of the best espresso machines under $500.

5. Delonghi EC680M DEDICA 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine

The Delonghi EC680M DEDICA 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine packs all the features you would expect in a traditional espresso and cappuccino pump machine, while taking up just 6 inches of counter top. It is also the cheapest at home espresso machine in our under $500 category.

The EX680M Dedica allows you to enjoy straight shot espressos or delicious cappuccinos with thick, rich foam using the steam nozzle. Thanks to the espresso pump’s thermoblock technology, you can enjoy your drinks also immediately. The water heats up to ideal brewing temperature in just 40 seconds, and the De’Longhi self-priming system means the machine is always ready to use.

The Delonghi EC680M DEDICA 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine doesn’t come with a steam wand, but has a manual cappuccino system for creating rich and creamy frothed milk. This works by mixing air, water and milk with the patented cappuccino frothing system. It also pours hot water for making Americanos or brewing tea. To ensure you do not scold yourself, it has a built in steam regulator which keeps the temperature at a safe level. As the name of the machine suggest, it has 15 bars of pressure, which is used to easily create a rich and frothy crema for your espresso drinks.

Don’t forget to check out our best cappuccino maker guide here.

Like the De’Longhi EC860, the EC680M Dedica also has a built-in cup warmer. We love this feature on machines and it is often overlooked when trying to choose the right unit. It only has room for two espresso size cups, however this can be expected due to its sleek design and small size. The last feature we will touch on it the in built alarm that lets you know when it is time to descale your machine. Depending on what part of the country you live, the hardness of the water varies tremendously. If you were to let your machine continue to run without being cleaned or descaled, then pretty soon your drinks would taste horrible.

Overall this machine is great if you are looking for the quality of a higher priced unit, but have limited kitchen space.

Best home espresso machines under $200

1. Espressione-DeLonghi of Italy 1324 Cafe Minuetto Professional Die-Cast Espresso/Cappuccino Maker

The Espressione-DeLonghi of Italy 1324 Cafe Minuetto Professional Die-Cast Espresso/Cappuccino Maker it the first of our reviews in the best espresso machines for home under $200 category. We chose this machine because not only does it pack some great features for a mid-level machine, but it has some very good reviews on Amazon.

The Espressione Cafe Minuetto looks pretty impressive with its stainless steel casing and one dial settings – the single dial means using the machine is a breeze. It accepts both ground coffee and also coffee pods meaning you have the ease and quickness of a pod in the weekday and the ability to experiment with different grounds at the weekend.

Thanks to the boiler, the machine heats up almost instantly and gets hotter in a short amount of time. This ensures a strong and flavorful espresso with good creme over the entire surface of the shot. If you want to create something a little different, then you can use the steam wand to froth the milk. A little tip – you can try different types of milk including soy and almond – each produces its own unique taste.

The Espressione-DeLonghi of Italy 1324 Cafe Minuetto Professional Die-Cast Espresso maker comes with a generous reservoir and three filters: one for coffee pods, one for a single shot and another for a double shot. It’s important to change these filters to ensure that you always brew the perfect coffee! Another nice feature is the handy cup warmer – something we love here at Espresso Express. You also get a nice little dual-use tool with a tamping surface at one end and a measuring spoon for your coffee on the other.

Overall this is a very nice machine and for under $200 you will not be disappointed.

2. Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe (CF085Z)

The Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe is billed as one of the best espresso machines for your home – and its clear why Ninja are so confident. For the price this machine fits a whole lot of awesome features into a very small and compact unit.

The first feature we will touch on is the Auto-iQ One-Touch Intelligence system. Developed by Ninja, it allows you to choose a size and choose a brew and then the machine will automatically draw out just the right amount of water needed based on the brew size – you can choose from cup, travel mug, half carafe or full carafe. With some espresso machines you will need to carefully watch to ensure you turn the water off at the right time to avoid spillage, so this feature makes it perfect if you want to brew a drink in the morning while getting ready.

Another great feature of the Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe is Ninja’s patent pending brewing technology. It has been totally designed from the start to deliver a better, richer tasting coffee with variable richness levels that are never bitter. It also makes use of their Thermal Flavor Extraction method which truly unlocks the full potential of your coffee. If all of that sounds a little fancy – it basically means that the technology inside the machine helps you to make the best brew every single time.

You are able to choose from 3 different brews: Classic and rich brew, over ice brew and specialty brew. The classic brew delivers a smooth balanced flavor from your favorite coffee grounds. If you want to take it to the next level, then the rich brew creates a more intense flavor that stands up to extra milk and flavorings. The over ice brew dials up the richness even more by increasing the coffee concentration. This is important when making an ice coffee to compensate for melting ice watering down the flavor. The specialty brew is the highest concentration of coffee. It makes a coffee extract that you can use to create some amazing coffeehouse style layered drinks. This is great if you are having friends around and want to show off a little – hint hint!

Overall this is a great machine for the mid level budget. It is stylish and compact at the same time and can be used to create a huge variety of different coffee drinks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWJ1CiGeTaU

3. DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker

The De’Longhi EC702 is classed as a bar-pump espresso machine, however it doesn’t look like traditional bar-pump machine – We think that it looks much sexier and sleeker! If you are intent on getting a bar-pump espresso machine for the house then this would be a great choice.

Making you favorite brew with the EC702 is super easy as you can use either ground coffee or the Easy Serving Espresso pods with the patented duel filter holder. There is a Sempre Crema Filter which takes two measures of ground coffee to enhance the brewing process and produces a perfect crema. The DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker comes with two separate thermostats for controlling the water and steam pressure – this is a nice touch so you can make both espresso or cappuccino to the prefect temperature.

If you are partial to a cappuccino then you will love the patented cappuccino frother, which includes a special chamber that mixes steam and milk to create a rich creamy froth – very important when trying to achieve a great coffee. The EC702 also comes with a self-primer mode so you can enter your settings and ensure that your coffee is ready and waiting every morning. This little feature will be handy for anyone who is usually rushing around before work.

The design features a unique no-drip nozzle so you don’t have to deal with a messy clean up and is made of stainless steel to ensure many years of espresso making use.

Overall if you want a machine which is easy to operate, looks good but is compact enough for to be classed as a bar-pump machine, then you won’t go far wrong with this one.

4. DeLonghi BC0330T Combination Drip Coffee and Espresso Machine

The DeLonghi BC0330T Combination Drip Coffee and Espresso Machine is one of the best all-in-one cappuccino and espresso machine and drip coffee maker on the market. It has countless good reviews on Amazon and would make a great machine for someone looking for a home espresso machine.

The BC0330T offers a combination of different ways to brew your coffee to your preferred strength and create your favorite espresso drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. The unit places a heavy focus on its advanced filtration system – something we find particularly important for fresh tasting coffee. The water filtration system helps to eliminate odd flavors caused by chlorine in tap water. There is a handy little freshness indicator to ensure you only drink fresh coffee. After brewing, the LED lights illuminate every 15 minutes to let you know how long your coffee has been standing – great if you have a busy household and you can’t always drink a brew right away.

The DeLonghi BC0330T Combination Drip Coffee and Espresso Machine has a 24-hour programmable timer and water level indicator. You can program the machine to start brewing your coffee before you wake in the morning – great to start the day with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. Using the timer function can be a little dangerous if you let the water reservoir run dry, however the water indicator ensures that you are aware when it needs refilling.

Another good feature is the pause and serve function. You can suspend the brewing cycle with the pause button to pour a cup of coffee even before the pot has finished brewing. The BC0330T can keep a pot of coffee warm for upto 12 hours – however we wouldn’t recommend this as the freshness is totally lost.

If you are interested in making more elaborate coffee style drinks, then the user friendly swivel jet frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich and creamy froth – you can also use the frother to quickly heat milk for hot chocolate.

Overall this machine packs all of the usual great features of a De’Longhi and a few extra ones like the advanced filtration system. For machines in this price range, we could certainly recommend this one.

5. Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother

The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother is a bargain – it comes with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother which is sold separately for $199. If you are looking for a compact espresso machine for the home that can preheat in 25 seconds, then this machine could be perfect for you.

We absolutely love this machine – its is tiny, compact, lightweight and has an ergonomic handle. It would fit perfectly into any interior design and is available is a multitude of colors – we just prefer the white. The machine allows you to make smooth and textures hot or cold fresh milk froth for your coffee via the simple and fast automatic system. Not only is is really fast and easy to use there is no noise of vibration – an engineering marvel.

The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother warms up in 25 seconds with just a single touch meaning there is virtually no waiting. After the 25 seconds the water is the ideal temperature to make upto 9 coffees without having to refill the 23.8oz tank. You can also program the machine for 2 coffee sizes with a single button; espresso or lungo.

Even though it is a small compact machine, it manages to squeeze 19 bars of pressure ensuring impeccable barista style coffee every time. For those of us who forget to turn our machines off in the morning, the Inissia has a handy energy saving mode that automatically turns the machine off after 9 minutes.

The machine comes with a welcome set of 16 different flavors of Nespresso capsules – a cheap way to find out which capsules you love. Overall this machine is one of the best designed and quiet we have seen. It would be perfect for a modern kitchen as you can choose from a number of colors and would suit a bust individual who enjoys all of the flavors of the Nespresso capsules without wanting to experiment with ground coffee.

Don’t forget you can check out our article highlighting the difference between an espresso machine and a Nespresso machine here.

Home Espresso Machine Buyers Guide

If you already have an espresso machine or are totally new to the world of home brewing, deciding on where to start when choosing a new home espresso machine can be very daunting. There is so much choice on the market, each with their own technical terms for essentially the same thing, that is can be a nightmare to research. However we believe there is a machine suitable for everyone – it’s just a matter of matching needs, wants and budget. Although we have reviewed our favorite machines above we will cover some of the basic factors that you should consider when deciding.

Boiler Type

There are 3 different main types of boilers that go into espresso machines: single boiler, dual boiler and heat exchanger. We won’t go into heat exchangers as they are not very common anymore and all of our reviews are for the standard single or double boiler machines.

A single boiler is exactly what it says on the tin – a single boiler. These boilers with usually have two thermostat; one to regulate the temperature for coffee mode (depending on the model it may have features which allow it to stop heating at certain temperatures depending no your preference) and another to regulate the steam.

The main difference between a single and a double boiler is that the same water is used for the espresso extraction and for steam production in a single boiler – in a double the water is totally separate. If you choose a single boiler then you are able to make good quality espresso but at a lower price.

The main downfall of choosing a single boiler is that when you go from steam mode to coffee mode the unit needs to cool which can be more time consuming. If you can afford the extra for a double boiler then it is much more convenient and will save you quite a lot of time.

Size

Most modern day kitchens have plenty of worktop space but it is still important to check the dimensions of an espresso machine before purchasing.

Depending on the model the size can vary massively – for example a Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe is 10.8 x 10.5 x 14.9 inches and 8.6lbs vs a Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler which is 16.2 x 15 x 15 inches and 30lbs.

Also keep in mind that to get the most out of your machine you will want a burr grinder which will take extra kitchen space (some machines come with a built in grinder).

Water Type

Almost all of the espresso machines we review here have to be manually filled with water – however it’s important to note that some machines have to be plumbed in and some have both options. The obvious advantage of having a machine plumbed in is that you don’t have to worry about filling the reservoir or having the boiler run dry. However it becomes a nightmare if you move house or just want to move the machine around the kitchen.

When choosing one with a reservoir always keep in mind how the it detaches from the machine to ensure it is easily accessible in your kitchen – e.g does it come out of the top yet you are placing it under a shelf.

Design & Style

We put this as the last thing to consider when choosing an espresso machine for your home, however for some this is the most important. There are a huge number of design styles you can choose from in today’s market – everything from stainless steel covered beasts to petite multi-colored plastic machines. You can have large impressive looking unites or small and unassuming ones that are jam packed with the latest features.

Conclusion

So there you have it – our review of the best at home espresso machines under $1,000, under $500 and under $200. Obviously there are hundreds, if not thousands of different espresso machines on the market and we would love to review them all. But we have specifically chosen these ones based on their Amazon reviews, budget and awesome features.

We are super confident that you will end up buying one of these machines, but if you would like us to review a different one, please reach out to us via the contact page or leave a comment below (we answer all comments).