6 Best Espresso Machines

The best home espresso machines can help you get your latte or cappuccino fix right in the comfort of your own kitchen. Traditional coffee shop machines can seem like huge, unknowable beasts, but home espresso machines can have you pulling a shot with a good “crema” (the creamy, light-colored surface of an espresso) in no time. Some espresso makers will grind beans for you, pack the grounds and make your cup with just the push of a button, but many require you to learn to fill a hopper (known as a portafilter) with grounds and tamp them (which means to compress the grounds into a puck so the hot, pressurized water can extract a lot of flavor as it passes through quickly).

How we test espresso machines ?

We evaluate each espresso maker ease of use, time to brew, consistency, taste and how loud they were. In our most recent test, we rounded up well over 20 espresso machines in the Lab, brewing more than 60 cups of espresso. We test the timing and temperature of multiple straight espressos and note the quality of the crema. We also rate the flavor and smoothness of each drink. If the machine had a milk frother, we tested it with both skim and oat milks. Where applicable, we made cappuccinos and lattes to compare the milk ratio of each setting and the quality of the frothing.

Our favorites were the machines that were easy to set up, simple to use without a user manual, quick to heat up and reasonably quick. The best machines produced a hot, smooth cup of espresso that had depth and wasn’t too bitter or acidic, with crema that was smooth without any noticeable big or small air bubbles.

What is the best type of espresso machine?

An espresso machine is an investment — especially if you want one with all the bells and whistles. There are several ways to make espresso, with manual, semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic and pod machines all available to the home barista, so it’s important to consider the type that fits your needs.

Manual machines require finely ground beans that are scooped into a portafilter and tamped down. The filter is attached to the brew head and a lever is used to manually pull water through the grounds. It is the most customizable method but arguably the most difficult to master.

Semi-automatic machines are similar to manual machines in terms of preparation, but they operate with a button or dial that automates the water flow instead of a lever, and the size of the brew is controllable.

Automatic machines use a button instead of a lever to brew espresso. The size of the espresso or coffee-drink is automated and often programmable. This method offers more consistency than a manual or semi-automatic machine, making them super easy to use and nabbing top scores in Lab tests.

Super-automatic machines are a step above automatic machines. In addition to automated and programmable coffee sizes, they can also grind beans, measure them out and often tamp them. These tended to be our favorite in Lab testing for their do-it-all performance.

Capsule machines use capsules or pods filled with pre-measured coffee to make espresso or other coffee drinks. They offer the most consistency and hands-off ease of use.

• BEST OVERALL ESPRESSO MACHINE : La Specialista

• BEST PROFESSIONAL ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR HOME : Barista Pro

• BEST TRADITIONAL ESPRESSO MACHINE : Bambino Plus

• BEST ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR BEGINNERS : K-Cafe Coffee Maker

• EASIEST ESPRESSO MACHINE TO MAKE LATTES AND CAPPUCINOS AT HOME : 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

• BEST SEMIAUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINE : Carezza Deluxe Espresso Machine

Why we love it :

• 6 Grind sizes and 5 brew options

• Easy to use and adjust

• Adjustable steam wand and tamping mechanism

This automatic espresso machine delivers a cup of espresso that’s as fancy as it looks; plus, it’s easy to use and adjust based on your preferences. Choose from six grind sizes (fine for dark espresso, coarse for coffee), then select single espresso, double espresso, Americano or coffee. It also dispenses hot water for tea.

La Specialista has a built-in tamping mechanism, which helps pack your grounds perfectly, and a pressure gauge you can monitor to ensure you’re making the perfect cup. It also has an adjustable steam wand that can be used for flat (best for lattes) or foamy (best for cappuccinos) milk. We loved the full-body espresso it produced, with a thin, silky crema. A knock box for used grounds can be bought separately, which we found very useful when making espresso after espresso.

Why we love it :

• 30 Grind sizes, 5 temperature options and 4 filter baskets

• Automatic machine

• Steam wand for frothing milk

If you’re very particular about your coffee, this is the automatic espresso machine for you. The Barista Pro allows you to choose from 30 different grind sizes and five temperatures. The steam wand is basic, so you can froth your milk exactly how you like it. It also comes with four filter baskets, two for pre-ground coffee and two for whole coffee beans. We recommend playing around with the settings, starting with the default settings, to create your perfect espresso.

Why we love it :

• Perfect for traditionalists

• Hands-on operation

• Steam wand attached for frothing milk

The Breville Bambino Plus is a perfect automatic machine for those who crave the traditional espresso-making experience. It comes with two dual-wall filter baskets for pre-ground coffee beans, a trimming tool, tamper and a milk jug to be used with the attached steam wand. Choose between a single espresso or a double espresso, plus steamy, frothy or very frothy milk. In our tests, this machine made espresso that was strong with a crema that wasn’t overbearing. We also appreciated that this machine heats quickly and wasn’t too loud.

Why we love it :

• Super simple operation

• 4 Brewing sizes, plus latte and cappuccino options

• Built-in frother

If you’re looking for a Keurig upgrade, a special gift or the option to froth milk with a capsule machine, look no further than the Keurig K-Cafe. Four coffee size options (6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz and 12 oz), plus a “strong” option make it easy to enjoy your favorite K-cup exactly how you like it. Opt for an Espresso Roast K-cup capsule and the “shot” size option and you’re well on your way to making a fine cup of espresso.

While the Espresso Roast K-cup doesn’t quite deliver on crema, a built-in coffee frother allows you to froth milk quickly and easily for cappuccinos (less milk) and lattes (more milk); plus, there’s also a “cold” option if you’d like to enjoy your frothy milk drink over ice. In our tests, this capsule machine was very consistent when it came to preheat time, brew time, coffee temperature and volume.

Why we love it :

• Easy-to-use touchscreen control panel

• Dishwasher safe milk hopper

• Less-bold coffee, for those who like lighter-bodied drinks

The automatic LatteGo espresso machine from Phillips has a large, intuitive touchscreen control panel that makes it easy to select and brew drinks. It grinds whole beans for five different drinks: espresso, cappuccino and latte macchiato as well as black coffee and Americano. It has a removable, dishwasher-safe milk hopper rather than a wand, so frothing milk is simple and hands-free. Our testers found the drinks flavorful but light-bodied.

Why we love it :

• Attractive design

• Front-loading water reservoir

• Pre-brew function

The Gaggia Carezza Deluxe is made in Italy and has classic Italian styling that suits upscale kitchens (at a reasonable price for an automatic espresso machine). While we have not tested this machine in our labs, reviewers comment that the machine makes great coffee — once you get to know its quirks, such as finding the grinds, tamping and timing that will produce the cup you want. We like the front-loading water reservoir with viewing window for easy access, though some reviewers comment that you have to refill it frequently.