The 7 Best Espresso Machines of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

If you’re a frequent coffee drinker, you’ve probably thought about purchasing an espresso machine. After all, with the cost of your daily dose of caffeine on the rise — and long lines at Starbucks making the morning rush all the more stressful — the benefits of an at-home brewing solution have never been greater. (Even celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Alba know the joy of a quick DIY cup.) But espresso machines can feel like an intimidating purchase: with an expansive range in both prices and technology, it might feel more like you’re getting a barista job than snagging an at-home luxury. But finding the right machine doesn’t have to be difficult.

When searching for the best espresso machine, coffee expert and Serious Eats writer Jesse Raub says that it’s only a matter of taste: “The more you try to define it, the harder it is going to be to create a level playing field — but basically pulling a good-tasting shot and then consistently being able to pull that shot multiple times in a row, those are the baseline goals.”

Luckily, we did all the work for you. After testing 20 espresso machines, we found which ones make the best-tasting lattes and cappuccinos. Read on for the best espresso machines that PEOPLE Tested.

Best Overall

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Ease of Cleaning

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Design

  5/5

• With a compact design, this is a small-space-friendly machine.

• When used correctly, espresso shots had fantastic body, a medium crema, and a consistent extraction and pour.

• The milk frother is especially impressive, creating velvety foam at a consistent temperature.

• There’s no coffee grinder, so users will need to purchase one separately (or purchase already-ground coffee).

• The espresso shots varied in temperature, ranging from 157 to 173 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Users may need to experiment with different coffee grinds before the machine pulls quality espresso shots.

The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine is our top pick because of its beginner-friendly interface, full-bodied espresso pulls, and superior milk frother. We found that it may take some time to find the perfect grind for the machine (although finer grinds seemed to work best): at first, it made slightly watery, bitter shots. But when the grind was right, it pulled espresso shots in “viscous, honey-like streams” that remained consistently hazelnut in color and had a full body and a medium crema. 

The milk frother was one of the stand-outs of this machine; with three foam settings and an automatic sensor that stops the wand instantly, it’s easy to use and produces velvety thick foam. That foam stood up well in cappuccinos and also remained a consistent 138 degrees Fahrenheit no matter the setting.

The Breville Bambino Plus is also a breeze to set up and easy to clean with buttons that showcase setting options (this includes single shots, double shots, temperature, foam thickness, and steam wand). The biggest consideration before purchasing is that it doesn’t come equipped with a bean grinder; however, beginners can purchase espresso grinds at most supermarkets, while more advanced coffee connoisseurs should buy a high-quality grinder that allows customization to their preferences.

Grinder: No | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 12" H x 6.75" W X 12" D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Semi-automatic

Best Budget

De'Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Ease of Cleaning

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Design

  5/5

• This machine pulls high-quality shots – espresso was not bitter or acidic and tasted pleasantly robust with a near-perfect body and crema.

• This machine is consistently priced under $100.

• Some of the elements of this affordable machine are made of plastic.

• The frother is a bit temperamental, producing more foam than hot milk thanks to overly powerful steam production.

Although this is an incredibly budget-friendly espresso machine, you won’t know it once you taste the results. As with many at-home machines, a learning curve and some experimentation with the amount of espresso and the fineness of the grinds are required (this one also doesn’t have a built-in grinder). Still, we were incredibly impressed with the espresso it pulled on the fourth try, with our tester saying it was “robust in taste and aromatics.” Notes like cocoa and sweet amaretto were identified — an incredibly impressive feat for an at-home machine. The body and crema were additionally outstanding. In fact, even with some inconsistencies in pressure and water flow, shots still came out tasting great.

The built-in frother was a bit temperamental with powerful steam and intense pressure that ended up producing more foam than hot milk. Users will likely need to experiment with water to test out its strength before moving on to milk. 

Some features of this machine will remind the user that it’s a budget option — some parts (including the exterior) are made from flimsier plastic. And the inconsistency of the shot pour can be noticeable even if it doesn’t affect taste. Overall, though, it’s a solid beginner-friendly option that would even be great for more picky aficionados.

Grinder: No | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 11.22" H x 13.5" W x 8.07" D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Semi-automatic

Best Investment

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Ease of Cleaning

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Design

  5/5

• For those looking to have cafe-quality espresso at home, this is as close as you’ll get to a commercial-grade machine.

• Everything about this stainless-steel machine – from the boiler to the compressor – is made of durable, high-quality materials.

If you’re looking for the highest-quality machine on the market, the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is as close to a commercial-grade machine that you can bring home. Just by looks alone, this resembles something you’d see in a cafe, from its durable stainless-steel exterior to its standard analog-style control panel. It has three switches for temperature, hot water, and steam, and a steam wand that’s controlled by a valve knob. If you’ve ever worked in a coffee shop, this will be an intuitive machine for you to use; and with a powerful compressor, this machine is leaps and bounds beyond a standard home model. 

Once everything is set up (and set up, like most machines of this type, is a bit rigorous), it pulls tight, consistent espresso streams. We found that this espresso machine has incredible potential — but users should note that this machine is not only an investment in price, but it’s also an investment in time, as users will likely need to experiment with the grinds and the espresso pulls to produce a quality shot.

After a few pulls with various rates of success, we found that it can be easy to under or over-extract shots, so some came out watery while others came out bitter. Once adjustments were made regarding the grind and the amount of coffee put into the machine, shots eventually came out with a firm crema and a rich body with notes of cherry. Still, Raub notes this isn’t uncommon: “Espresso is really inconsistent. Even if you have a high-end machine and a really high-end grinder that you're using with it, you can't expect perfection every single time.”

The steam wand is also an excellent feature of this machine – the valve knob allows the user to control how much pressure is released, which can allow some customization with the thickness and richness of the foam. It reached temperature quickly, but that did not oversteam it or affect the texture. Again, because this is commercial-quality, it will create rich, velvety foam for cappuccinos or just a hint of foam for drinks like lattes. 

If you’re willing to learn and have the desire to create coffee drinks that rival your favorite cafe, this machine will take some learning — but once you master it, it’ll be well worth the effort.

Grinder: No | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 13.3" H x 11.4" W x 9.2" D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Semi-automatic

Best Automatic

Breville Barista Express Impress

• This Breville machine comes with a grinder, which means it’s an all-in-one option for perfect espresso drinks.

• The automatic function on this machine remembers the previous dosage and tamp of an espresso shot, so once you find the settings you like, it’ll be easy to recreate.

• This is a large, bulky machine so it may not be the right fit for small apartments or kitchens with limited counter space.

• At its price point, it’s an investment.

Simply put, an automatic espresso machine means that you start the espresso shot and the machine finishes it for you — and that’s part of the appeal of this Breville machine. Plus, it comes with a coffee grinder right on top. Additionally, the conical burr grinder has 25 different grind sizes and two options to control it – users can either adjust the wheel or adjust the tightness of the grinder itself to create a customized cup of espresso. 

The first few pulls of espresso were watery and under-extracted, but when the grinder was manually dialed a few times, it eventually produced a “phenomenal fully manual pull that was perfectly extracted.” (That means it was easier to manually adjust the tamper to produce a superior espresso shot, rather than rely on automation.)

However, because the machine remembers the last setting, the shots pulled after were perfect as well, and the espresso itself was dark with a crema that had a lovely texture and no hint of sourness or bitterness. The machine also produced nice foam — when it was heated up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the microfoam was rich and had a pleasant texture and taste. 

The machine itself is also fairly intuitive, with clearly labeled buttons and lights that make it quick to learn. It was also easy to set up and clean, which was another nice benefit of this high-quality machine. 

Grinder: Yes | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 16.1" H x 12.9" W x 14.9" D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Automatic

Best Super-Automatic

SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Ease of Cleaning

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Design

  5/5

• This high-tech machine pulls double duty, making espresso as well as coffee drinks.

• An automatic machine is incredibly intuitive and works with a push of a button, making it an ideal machine for those who want a quick cup of coffee.

• It pulled the most consistent shots of all of the options we tested.

• This machine only pulls single shots of espresso.

• Although our tester loved the taste of the espresso shots, they did lean a little bit bitter.

Super-automatic machines, according to Raub, are even more streamlined than automatic machines: “You push a button and it does everything for you.” This makes the machine pretty hands-off, which can be incredibly appealing to beginners or users who want a quick latte on their way out the door in the morning. There’s also an internal grinder that has six different settings controlled by a turn dial, so you don’t need to pre-grind the coffee.

The espresso shots this machine produced were consistent once the tester set the grinder to 2.5 — only the first shot was under-extracted and watery. Afterward, all the shots produced had a dark brown crema with a well-balanced flavor that was sweet and featured a “pleasant slight bitterness.” This was also one of the most consistent machines tested, likely because it's a super-automatic model. The adjustable frother arm did emit a high temperature that made it easy to scald, but the flavor was still nice and the texture was velvety and creamy. 

While this machine is also able to make coffee drinks, we were very happy with its intuitive programming that would likely be great for beginners — it’s easy to master this machine. The biggest consideration is that it only pulls single shots of espresso, so it might take longer to make a double-shot latte. 

Grinder: Yes | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 17" H x 7” W x 13.25” D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single | Machine Type: Super-automatic

Best Design

Smeg Espresso Machine

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Ease of Cleaning

  4/5

• Heat Up Time

  5/5

• Brew Quality

  4/5

This espresso machine from SMEG is design-forward. This isn’t a surprise given the brand, which is known for its high-end retro appliances. It comes in a few colorways, including red, black, and pastel green, and has a simple control panel that doesn’t distract from its aesthetic. This control panel consists of three buttons, including single shot, double shot, and steam. 

Another benefit of this SMEG Espresso Machine is its ease of use: it’s simple to set up and a breeze to clean. Plus, it’s a great beginner machine that still pulls fairly excellent shots. During testing, it took a few tries to pull a shot that tasted good — before adjusting the grind, the first few shots were watery with no crema cap and a slightly burnt flavor — but after adjustments were made, shots were dark, full-bodied, rich in chocolate and caramel notes, and topped with a firm crema. Testers found the most success pulling single shots in the two-shot portafilter, finding that double shots were consistently underwhelming throughout the process. The steam wand was another plus for this machine, as it was quick to master: it took about 15 seconds to heat up and about 30 seconds to produce creamy, well-steamed milk with only occasional large airy bubbles.

This machine's biggest draw remains its beautiful design, but it’s also a great machine for beginner users or those who have no interest in mastering the complexities of more difficult machines. If you’re looking for an efficient machine that makes quick lattes and looks nice on a countertop, it’s a great choice.

Grinder: No | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 13” H x 6” W x 12” D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Automatic

Best Compact

Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine

• This small machine is also beginner-friendly, while still producing delicious espresso shots.

• It’s also another fairly affordable option at under $200.

This small machine is great for kitchens with limited countertop space, and it’s also lightweight at only eight pounds. It has a simple control panel with a digital timer that displays brewing time and buttons that are quick to understand (one shot, two shots, power, hot water, and steam).

As with most machines, testers had to pull a few shots before finding the right coarseness and weight of the grind; but at the end of testing, shots had a honey-brown crema, a thick consistency, and a chocolate-forward nutty flavor. The tester was also satisfied with the quality and the learning curve, finding the machine easy to master even if the user has no previous experience with making espresso. 

The steam wand was not the Caspresso’s greatest asset: it has a smaller nozzle and because of that, it’s harder to use. The temperature only reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and the foam produced had some large, airy bubbles. There also was some trouble switching from the steam function to the espresso function — which could have been an issue with the particular machine that was tested, but it’s still important to mention. 

Overall, this compact machine is effective at making high-quality espresso pulls no matter the user’s experience. If that and size are your number-one considerations, this is a great machine.

Grinder: No | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 11.75”H x 8”W x 10.5”D | Espresso Shot Pulls: Single and double | Machine Type: Automatic

Other Espresso Machines We Tried

• Café Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine & Frother: This machine was design-forward and compact, but it was also incredibly heavy at 18 pounds. Its main technical issue, however, was that it needed to connect to Wi-Fi to properly adjust its settings, so those who don’t want to do that will lose some of the machine’s functionalities.
• Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte Maker: The frother on this machine produces thick, creamy foam that also ended up tasting slightly burnt – but it was automatic and easy to use. The tester also found the design to be quite flimsy, which was likely one of the reasons that shots were consistently bitter, sour, and burnt.
• Breville the Dual Boiler: This is one of the priciest machines we tested, but it lost points for not including a coffee grinder, meaning the user will have to grind beans separately. It works similarly to a commercial-grade espresso machine and the quality was apparent — it pulled the most consistent shots that were hazelnut in color and the steamer was great, too. Still, the flavor of the shots was slightly sweet and unbalanced throughout testing, and for the price, we expected perfection across the board.
• De’Longhi La Specialista Arte: This machine was high-quality and performed fairly well, but the steam wand produced a cappuccino with too thin a body, and the espresso was slightly sour. It did, however, feature an internal burr coffee grinder.

Things to Consider Before Buying an Espresso Machine

Ease of Use

Since we're not all professional baristas, it's important to know how simple an espresso machine is to set up and use before purchasing. It's worth noting how much of each type of drink you can make at once, as well as what features the machine comes with: a built-in coffee grinder, a milk frother, a tamper, etc. Also, check to see if it requires any special filters and if it's a programmable model or adjusts automatically. You should know how much work will be involved with your machine every morning, as well as what additional equipment you will need (such as a good coffee grinder) to make that perfect shot of espresso.

Espresso Quality and Speed

If you're sacrificing your daily coffee run, you want to know you're still getting a high-quality product. Read reviews to get a better sense of overall taste and drink characteristics — such as the firmness of the crema, the flavor notes of the final espresso pulls, and (if there’s a frother attached) the texture and temperature of the foam it produces. 

When it comes to quality, Raub says that the ratio of coffee to water might affect taste, noting that espresso shots with too little water turn out super strong, while shots with too much water turn out watery and bitter. If you’re experiencing either of those issues, adjusting the water should give you a better shot. Finally, if you’re looking for the appropriate window of time a shot should take to pull, Raub says it should be around 25 to 30 seconds.

Ease of Cleaning

No one is looking for extra chores, so find out if the machine is easy to clean and if any of the parts are dishwasher-safe. Also, check to see if it needs to be disassembled to clean and, if so, how easy that process is. In our testing, some machines are especially easy to clean, like the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine, which took only five minutes with a damp sponge and mild soap.

How We Tested

We tested 20 espresso machines in our industrial kitchen. To ensure accurate and comparable tasting notes, we used the same brand and type of coffee beans for all of the machines, as well as the same brand of milk for steaming and building lattes or cappuccinos. Testers then timed and recorded how long it took to set up each machine, as well as a full cleaning/flushing cycle. 

Five shots were pulled for each type of machine, noting flavor, consistency, and ease of use in the tester’s recordings. Different processes were followed for automatic, semi-automatic, and super-automatic machines to account for the differences in their mechanics — however, all espresso shots were measured for volume each time. Additionally, all espresso shots pulled were tasted and examined for under- or over-extraction, crema, and body.

Milk frothers were also tested to a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit, aerated, and poured over a shot of espresso. Finally, the machines were cleaned thoroughly. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s the difference between automatic, semi-automatic, and super-automatic?

  Automatic machines allow you to start the shot while the machine finishes it. For a semi-automatic machine, you start and stop the shot. And for super-automatic machines, you simply push a button and the machine does all the work for you. Semi-automatics, according to Raub, are generally the default in espresso machines and work by pushing a button that opens the valve and starts the pump, meaning you have to also manually stop it to stop the pump.

  While super-automatic machines take the least amount of user effort, Raub also notes that it’s “really hard to really change a lot of the espresso variables with those machines.” So if you’re looking for an incredibly bespoke cup of coffee, semi-automatics or automatics might be the best fit — and those looking for the easiest option will likely love a super-automatic.

• Are coffee machines and espresso machines the same?

  No, the machines required to make drip coffee and espresso coffee are different. The methods of preparation and the size of the grind differentiate the two. A drip coffee maker heats water and then disperses it over coarsely ground coffee and a filter. In comparison, an espresso coffee maker creates high pressure to force water quickly over tightly packed, finely ground coffee beans. There are some machines, like the SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine, which can brew both espresso and coffee.

• Do you need special beans for espresso?

  The beans used for espresso are the same as for other types of coffee; the difference is how finely the beans are ground. The fine grind of the beans and the lower water-to-bean ratio make espresso coffee thicker and stronger than regular coffee — and users should be expected to play with these elements to find the right cup of coffee for them.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer for PEOPLE (and the original author of this article) with a background in lifestyle writing, spanning everything from beauty to home. Alida Nugent is a commerce contributor for PEOPLE with an extensive background in commerce writing, editing, and strategy. She also writes for Food Network, HGTV, and Better Homes & Gardens. Alida updated this article with fresh insights from our PEOPLE Tested lab, focusing solely on the best espresso machines you can buy right now.

What is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

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