There is no single best espresso machine. There is a best fit for your budget, your counter, whether you already own a grinder, and how many lattes you make. This guide narrows it down.
Updated 9 Nov 2026 · Prices checked 9 Nov 2026 on the linked retailer pages and will change.
What this page is and isn't. Home Espresso Index has
not hands-on tested these machines. Our picks are based on published manufacturer specs and on named editorial reviews that did test them (Serious Eats, Wirecutter, Food & Wine), all linked in the
sources below. When a spec isn't published, we say so instead of guessing. There are no affiliate links on this page yet.
Who this guide is for
People in the US who want espresso drinks — straight shots, cappuccinos, lattes — at home, on a home budget. It is not a guide to café or prosumer dual-boiler machines. If you mostly want a quick, consistent coffee with minimal effort, read the capsule section first; it may save you money.
Want a shortcut? Answer six questions in the machine picker.
The shortlist, by use case
Beginner who wants a complete kit (grinder included)
Breville Barista Express Impress
Serious Eats names it its best espresso machine for beginners, crediting the built-in grinder and assisted-tamping "Impress" dose system that tells you when the dose is right and corrects the next one. Breville lists 25 grind settings, Thermocoil heating with PID, a 54 mm portafilter, and pre-infusion before 9-bar extraction.
- Price seen
- $799.95 at Breville US, as of 9 Nov 2026
- Cheaper sibling
- The original Barista Express: $499.95 at Breville US (sale price) (marked down from $699.95), as of 9 Nov 2026. Same heating and portafilter; 16 grind settings, manual tamping, and Breville US lists a 1-year rather than 2-year warranty.
Who should skip it: small kitchens (Breville lists 16.6 in wide); anyone who already owns a good grinder; and people who expect to get deep into espresso — Serious Eats notes built-in grinders have less range than standalone ones, and it wished for more settings.
Compact / small kitchen, lots of milk drinks
Breville Bambino Plus
Serious Eats' overall favorite and a pick it says it has recommended for about five years: ThermoJet heating that Breville says is ready in about 3 seconds, PID, pre-infusion, and an automatic steam wand with three temperature and three texture settings.
- Price seen
- $499.95 at Breville US, as of 9 Nov 2026
- Plan for
- A separate espresso-capable grinder — it has none.
Who should skip it: anyone without a grinder budget (the machine plus a real grinder can cost more than an all-in-one); people who want to make several milk drinks back-to-back for a group. Serious Eats also found its volume buttons inconsistent and stops shots manually.
Lowest price that still gets you a real portafilter machine
De'Longhi Stilosa
Serious Eats calls it "the cheapest model we recommend" and is frank that it "didn't love" it: shots were passable and milk foam bubbly. It is a simple dial machine with a manual frother. De'Longhi lists a 33.81 oz tank and a 1-year warranty plus 1 year with registration.
- Price seen
- $149.95 at De'Longhi US, as of 9 Nov 2026
Who should skip it: anyone who cares about latte-art milk or plans to upgrade within a year — that money often goes further toward a machine in the $500 band. If you'd be happy with consistent coffee and no grinder at all, a capsule machine may suit you better (see below). More options: budget machines.
You already own a decent espresso grinder
Gaggia Classic Pro E24 — or step up to the Profitec GO
Serious Eats names the Gaggia Classic Pro its best machine under $500, describing a single-boiler machine with commercial parts that makes great espresso for people willing to learn. The current North American E24 version has a 3.5 oz brass boiler, a 58 mm portafilter, and an OPV calibrated to 9 bar (Gaggia NA). It has no PID, so you learn to temperature-surf.
Wirecutter's current top pick (page updated 17 Mar 2026) is the Profitec GO, which it says suits beginners and enthusiasts alike. Per Whole Latte Love it adds PID, a brew-pressure gauge, an adjustable OPV, a 0.4 L brass boiler, a 2.8 L tank, and a 3-year parts-and-labor warranty.
- Prices seen
- Gaggia: $549 at Gaggia North America, as of 9 Nov 2026. Profitec GO: $1,199 at Whole Latte Love, as of 9 Nov 2026 (wood-accent versions $1,299).
Who should skip them: anyone without a grinder; people who want push-button convenience; households making several milk drinks in a row — both are single boilers that brew and steam in sequence, and Serious Eats calls switching modes on the Gaggia "a headache." Compare: Breville vs Gaggia, semi-automatics, under $1,000.
You want push-button drinks (super-automatic)
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema
Food & Wine (updated 9 Oct 2026) names it its best-value super-automatic, citing consistent shots, seven one-touch recipes, and dishwasher-safe removable parts. De'Longhi lists a conical burr grinder with 13 settings, a 60.87 oz tank, and an automatic LatteCrema milk system. Serious Eats' top super-automatic is the much pricier De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic.
- Price seen
- $549.95 at De'Longhi US (sale price) (marked down from $899.95), as of 9 Nov 2026. De'Longhi shows $599.95 as its lowest price in the last 30 days, so this is a sale price.
Who should skip it: people who want to control dose, grind, and temperature closely — Food & Wine notes that takes a pricier machine — and anyone who enjoys the craft of pulling a shot. Super-automatics trade control for convenience. More: automatic machines.
When a capsule machine is the honest answer
Nespresso (or similar)
If you don't want to buy a grinder, weigh beans, or clean a portafilter, and you mostly want a quick, consistent coffee, a capsule machine is often the better buy. Wirecutter's Nespresso guide (last updated April 2024) recommends the Essenza Mini for being compact, efficient, and easy to use. The trade-off is ongoing pod cost and less control over flavor.
Read: espresso machine vs Nespresso.
FAQ
How important is the grinder?
Very. Espresso needs a fine, consistent grind you can adjust in small steps. Serious Eats says getting a fine-enough, consistent grind "will make all the difference," and Wirecutter pairs its top machine pick with a dedicated espresso grinder. If you don't own one, either choose a machine with a built-in grinder or budget for a separate one before comparing machine prices.
Is a "15-bar" machine better than a 9-bar one?
Not by itself. "15 bar" usually describes the pump's maximum, not the pressure at the coffee. Serious Eats says a good machine produces a consistent nine bars. Breville's pages describe a 15-bar pump delivering 9-bar extraction, and Gaggia calibrates the Classic Pro's OPV to 9 bar. Look for documented extraction pressure, pre-infusion, or a pressure gauge, not the bigger number on the box.
Should I buy a budget machine or step up?
Serious Eats notes its favorite machines are almost all $500 or more, because consistent pressure and temperature make good espresso easier. A ~$150 machine can make "passable" espresso; if you already know you want lattes most days, the $500 band (with a grinder plan) is usually the better long-term spend. If you are only curious, start cheap or try capsules. See also under $500 and beginner picks.
Do I need a PID?
It helps. Serious Eats found PID machines more consistent. Non-PID machines like the Gaggia Classic Pro can still make excellent espresso once you learn a temperature-surfing routine.
Built-in grinder or separate?
For most people, built-in is simpler. Serious Eats says the average coffee drinker will probably appreciate one, while enthusiasts may want a standalone grinder's range. See machines with a grinder and compact machines.