The best espresso machine will deliver strong punchy coffee to kick-start your day in the best way possible. Drip coffee is all well and good, but it doesn’t have the intense flavor and aroma that you get from barista style coffee. So unless you’re a fan of going to the local drive-thru coffee place in your PJ’s, you’ll need an espresso machine in your kitchen to provide that early morning caffeine hit to get you out the door.
Whether you prefer a milky latte, foamy cappuccino or straight intense espresso, it all starts with one of the best espresso machines. And while some people enjoy the ritual of preparing the perfect coffee to savor as part of a mindful morning routine, for others, convenience and speed is the name of the game, so it’s important to get the coffee machine that fits your lifestyle, routine, and how much effort you’re prepared to put in.
There are lots of styles of coffee maker to choose from, one of the best best bean-to-cup coffee machines will deliver the freshest coffee without the need for a separate bean grinder, but these machines are often bulky and expensive. On the flip side, a speedy single serve or pod coffee machine is a quick, easy, and mess free way of getting your morning cup of joe by popping in a coffee capsule and hitting the start button, but this isn’t the machine for coffee connoisseurs. Discover more on the differences between these coffee makers by reading how coffee makers work.
Espresso is the short intense shot of coffee that’s the base for most drinks on offer in your local coffee shop. Add steamed milk and you can create almost any drink from the menu, so long as you’re prepared to develop a few skills to get it right. For barista-endorsed tips on creating the perfect coffee, read our article how to make coffee-shop worthy drinks at home, or discover the game-changing coffee maker trick that will ensure you never drink bitter espresso again.
So to get your favorite coffee without having to head down to the local coffee shop, we’ve tested a range of espresso machines from brands such as Gaggia, DeLonghi, Nespresso, and Sage (known as Breville in the US and Australia), assessing how well each brews espresso to help you decide which is the best espresso machine for you. There’s a range of prices, but if you’re looking to grab a bargain, you can also check out our roundup of the best cheap coffee maker deals and Nespresso machine sales.
Best espresso machine 2022
How we test espresso machines
We take testing espresso machines seriously and put each machine through its paces to see if it’s able to live up to its promises. We assess the quality of espresso produced by each machine, analyzing the flavor of the final drink; we look for a rich, intense shot of coffee that doesn’t taste bitter or burnt, along with a thick, stable crema that reforms after sugar has been sprinkled on it.
The temperature of the espresso is also measured, checking for consistency from one cup to another, and we assess the noise level of the machine, too. If it has a built-in steam wand, we evaluate its ability to texturize both dairy and plant-based milk, looking for tiny bubbles that create a rich, smooth texture. Again, we assess whether its noise level is acceptable.
We also evaluate how easy an espresso machine is to set up and use, whether it offers enough manual control for those who want to take on the role of barista, plus how much space it will take up on your kitchen counter. We consider if the water tank is removable for easy refills, and how the machine looks as a whole.
Best espresso machine FAQs
What to consider when buying a an espresso machine
When it comes to choosing an espresso machine, there are a number of things to consider.
First, decide if you want an espresso machine that offers manual control over dispensing water, or if you want a machine that takes on that work for you; the latter is probably better for those new to playing barista.
Next consider if you want a machine that can be used with ground coffee, single-serve pods, or a mixture of the two. Coffee pods are less messy than using ground coffee, and can be handy if you occasionally want to make decaf coffee using the machine – but they don’t produce the thick rich crema you get with freshly ground coffee.
If you regularly make espresso for a couple of people at the same time, look for a coffee machine that has a double spot on the tray and can fill two separate cups at the same time. Meanwhile, if you like longer coffee drinks with milk, such as cappuccinos and lattes, choose an espresso machine that has a built-in steam wand, or factor in the cost of a standalone milk frother.
Finally, take note of the size of the espresso maker to see if you have sufficient room for it on your kitchen countertop – or, if you plan to store it away in a cupboard, consider its weight to see that you’ll be able to easily lift it.
How do I make an espresso?
Once you have the best espresso machine for you, it’s also important to know how to make an espresso. Espresso is made by passing water at high pressure through compacted ground coffee.
However, a set ‘recipe’, which usually refers to a ratio and brewing duration, is usually given by the roaster (the brands that roast and blend coffee beans). The most common recipe is 1:2 in 25 to 35 seconds, which effectively means turning each gram of ground coffee into 2g of liquid espresso in that time period.
How compacted the ground coffee is will affect how quickly or slowly the espresso brews. If the coffee is too tightly compacted, it will take longer to brew and will be too strong; loosely compacted coffee means it will be dispensed too quickly, and will subsequently be weak. Prefer cappuccino, latte, or a flat white? Find out how to make your favorite coffee in our article.
How is an espresso machine different from a coffee machine?
An espresso machine differs from other types of coffee machines because it uses pressurized hot water which is passed through a disc of compacted coffee grounds, called a puck. It's possible to adjust the volume of water that's passed through the grounds as well as how tightly compacted the coffee is to adjust the strength of the hot drink brewed.
Single-serve coffee machines, or pod coffee machines as they're sometimes known, still use pressurized hot water, but the coffee is contained in a capsule or pod. The coffee machine punctures the capsule several times to allow the water to flow through the coffee ground to brew the drink. However, while some single-serve coffee machines let you adjust how much water is used to create different volumes of coffee, it's not possible to tweak how compacted the grounds are.
Finally, drip coffee makers pass hot water through coffee grounds that are hardly compacted at all. It's not at the same pressure as when using an espresso machine and there's no set volume of water used. Instead the brewing takes place until the water tank runs dry or the coffee maker is switched off. This creates more traditional filter coffee rather than espresso.