The Best Espresso Machines for the Home Barista
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The Best espresso machines must thread a delicate needle. Espresso requires coffee beans ground to delicate fineness, high pressure, and high temperature—with results that can be wildly different depending on mere microns or seconds. Espresso is forceful, and finicky, kind of intimidating, and yet so essential that astronauts might take it into orbit. A home espresso machine remains the most intense and expensive device I regularly operate before my first cup of coffee.
WIRED espresso nerds have tested dozens of machines over the past decade, pooling our opinions and expertise to compile a list of espresso machines to turn your kitchen into a café. Our top-rated pick, the Breville Oracle Jet (8/10, WIRED Recommends), is the rare machine to offer both deliciousness and ease—even for those not deeply steeped in ratios, doses, and the fineness of a fine grinder. Those who prefer to mix a bit of forgiveness with the control of grinding their own beans, we offer the compact, stylish Diletta Mio ($1,409). But we also rate entry-level espresso machines like the straight-ahead Breville Bambino ($300), which hits well above its weight as a no-frills, sexy beast.
Note that this guide covers more classic, hands-on espresso machines with portafilters. For fully automated bean-to-cup machines that require little more than a button-press, check out our guide to the Best Latte & Cappuccino Makers.
Also be sure to check out our other coffee guides, like the Best Drip Coffee Makers, Best Cold Brew Makers, Best Aeropresses, Best Coffee Pod Machines, Best Coffee Subscriptions, and Best Coffee Grinders.
Updated May 2025: We've added the Breville Oracle Jet, Ninja Luxe Cafe, Cuisinart EM-160 Slim, De'Longhi La Specialista Opera, De'Longhi Linea Classic, Superkop Manual Espresso Machine, and Cuisinart EM-640 Espresso Bar. We've also updated, pared down, and reorganized our picks, as well as updated links and prices throughout.
Best Espresso Machine
- Courtesy of Breville
- Courtesy of Breville
- Courtesy of Breville
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Sometimes the upgrade pick is the pick. The Breville Oracle Jet (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the espresso machine of the moment—the one that best threads that delicate needle between ease and deliciousness. It's a powerful and frankly beautiful machine, with sterling temperature control and a solid built-in grinder that uses the same conical burrs as the excellent Baratza Encore ESP ($200). This Oracle Jet will pull beautiful nuances from beans ranging from berry-light to chocolate dark, on drinks ranging from Americano to flat white to “cold espresso” best placed in a martini.
And yet the Jet's easily accessible for anyone who can figure out an iPhone, with a touchscreen tutorial, digital guidance on finding the right grind for each bean, and automatic tamping and steaming. You'll be nose deep in a cappuccino within 20 minutes of pulling this thing out of the box. For that, the price is not in every budget. Note, too, that manual milk steaming with the Jet's powerful wand is still better than the automatic version. But lord, this machine makes delicious cups. And the cups come without me trying very hard. It hasn't left my counter since it arrived.
Specs Type Semiautomatic Dimensions 15" x 14.5" x 16.75" (height) Weight 27 pounds Heating system, pump Dual ThermoJet, instant warm-up; rotary pump Material Brushed stainless steel Grinder and hopper Conical, M2 Etzinger burrs, 45 grind settings; 12-ounce bean hopper capacity Water reservoir 77 ounces, removable Steam wand Automatic or manual; auto-purge; steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Touchscreen; 8 espresso drink options; barista guidance on grind; accessory storage behind drip tray; 58-mm non-pressurized portafilter, PID temperature control Best Espresso Machine for Most
The Barista Express had been our top pick for years, a Goldilocks pick among price, versatility, and performance. It remains among the most popular espresso machines in the world for good reason. The Barista Express produces consistent pressure for espresso, its steam wand is excellent, and the built-in grinder makes it an all-in-one device. Its mostly metal construction, easy cleaning, and other thoughtful touches make it a faithful companion: WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu has been using one with no issues for half a decade.
But competitors have taken direct aim at the Express with impressive semiautomatic entries like the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier ($600) and the De'Longhi La Specialista Opera ($900). Each of these offers more options, including cold espresso, with similar grind quality. For now, the Barista Express's long reliability keeps it on top as we keep testing durability on the Ninja and De'Longhi. But in the meantime, I wouldn't be sad to see the Barista Express updated to better Baratza burrs.
Specs Type Semiautomatic Dimensions 13.8" x 12.5" x 15.9" (height) Weight 22 pounds Heating system, pump Thermocoil, instant warm-up; vibratory pump Material Brushed stainless steel Grinder and hopper Conical, 16 grind settings, 8 ounces Water reservoir 67 ounces, removable Steam wand Steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Accessory storage behind drip tray; water hardness calibration, water filter, pressure gauge, PID temperature control
Best Classic Espresso Machine
A classic espresso machine rewards effort with nuance and beauty. And the Diletta Mio is everything a classic Italian-made espresso machine should be. It's compact, stylish, built to last, and brews circles around the competition. It's also a simple joy to use, wrote former WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey. It feels a bit analog, like an heirloom-quality stand mixer, but also sports sophisticated features like a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) temperature controller—a wee processor with an algorithm that keeps brew temperatures stable. Among traditional espresso machines that require a separate grinder, this is the one WIRED recommends.
Upgrade: WIRED's upgrade pick, the Diletta Bella ($1,829), is for advanced beanheads who love a sensitive machine. On the Bella, every difference makes a difference: every micron of grind size, or slight gradation of tamping pressure, will produce a different cup of espresso. But when you've dialed in your bean, the Bello is beautifully faithful—offering shot after shot of caramely crema and rich espresso.
Specs Type Classic Dimensions 9.5" x 13" x 11" (height) Weight 22 pounds Heating system, pump Single boiler for brewing, thermoblock for steaming; 6-minute warm-up; vibratory pump Material Stainless steel exterior, brass boiler Grinder and hopper Nope! Separate grinder, as is traditional Water reservoir 67 ounces Steam wand Steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Pressure gauge, PID temperature control, 58-mm un-pressurized portafilter Best Buy-It-for-Life Espresso Machjine
The Rancilio Silvia Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of WIRED's longtime favorite dual-boiler espresso machines, packed with pro-level features and built to last seemingly forever, with few plastic parts. For far less than half the price, there's the Silvia M: the sleek, smaller-footprint, single-boiler cousin. What's the diff? There'll be a little bit more lag time between shots, if multiple people want espresso immediately. But you'll get that same high-quality metal build, and consistent water temp and steam pressure. This means well-extracted, café-grade espresso.
Note that the Silvia is notoriously sensitive, so it's not for beginners. It's also famously long-lasting, repairable, and able to be endlessly modified, and so it's birthed its own society of cult devotees. Just like buying a Land Cruiser or a Jeep, you'll end up with new friends. And if people online are to be believed, a lot of the OG Silvias have been chugging along for literal decades.
Specs Type Classic Dimensions 13.75" x 9.25" x 11" (height) Weight 30 pounds Heating system, pump Single boiler, 3.5-minute warm-up, 15-bar vibratory pump Material Stainless steel Grinder and hopper Nope! Separate grinder, as is traditional Water reservoir 67 ounces Steam wand Steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Pressure gauge, PID temperature control, 58-mm un-pressurized portafilter
Best Espresso Machine for Small Spaces
The Bambino is little, fast, low-cost, and convenient—the width of a one-dollar bill. There are no apparent frills and no grinder: just a steam wand for silky milk and a choice between single or double shots. But look under the hood of this $300 beauty and you'll note features that are hallmarks of much more expensive machines: a thermoblock for immediate heating and a PID (proportional, integral, derivative) temperature controller that makes for consistent brew temps usually out of reach at this price range.
Which is to say it's a wee machine that pulls far above its weight class. Pair your Bambino with a good midlevel grinder and you'll be making beautiful cups with counter space to spare. Note the Bambino comes with pressurized portafilter baskets by default, which are easy to use but make less-nuanced coffee. When you're ready to level up, the nonpressurized baskets don't cost much and are more finicky but will give you a chance at more interesting cups.
Upgrade: The Breville Bambino Plus ($500) is hardier and slightly bigger and offers automatic milk frothing.
Specs Type Classic Dimensions 7.75" x 12.5" x; 12.75" )height) Weight 11 pounds Heating system, pump thermoblock, instant heat-up; vibratory pump Material Stainless steel and plastic Grinder and hopper Nope! Separate grinder, as is traditional Water reservoir 48 ounces Steam wand Steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Pressure gauge, PID temperature control, 54-mm pressurized portafilter Best Pro-Level Espresso Machine
I spent two weeks with the Linea Mini, the 2023 updated version of La Marzocco's home espresso machine. This is the same company that makes the fancy espresso machines you'll see in coffee shops around the world, and that is in large part a reason to buy the Linea Mini at this eye-searing price. It looks absolutely fantastic, has the brand's reputation to back it up, and it's serviceable, so you can expect it to last a very long time on your countertop. La Marzocco's service also seems to be exceptional, as I spent an hour on the phone with someone in its customer service team just to get help dialing the system in. (I guess you should expect as much after dropping this kind of cash.)
If you're spending this much, you'll want to invest in a good grinder and even a scale. I tried the Acaia brew-by-weight scale ($400) that automatically connects to the Linea Mini via the companion app, and it lets you set the dose you want for precise espresso measurements. (That said, I wish this scale was just integrated into the machine itself.) What the Linea Mini really showed me was that there is so much room for experimentation with coffee, and it gives you that freedom to adjust things the way you want. It also has a killer cool-touch steam wand that froths milk in seconds. It got me closer to making the perfect coffee shop latte, though I still need to work on my latte art. —Julian Chokkattu
Specs Type Classic Dimensions 14" x 21" x 15" (height) Weight 71 pounds Heating system, pump Dual-boiler,; 10-15 minutes warm-up; rotary pump Material Stainless steel Grinder and hopper Nope! Separate grinder, as is traditional Water reservoir 84 ounces Steam wand Steamed, latte, or cappuccino foam Other features Pressure gauge, PID temperature control, auto-backflush, 58-mm bottomless portafilter
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Best $200 Espresso Machine
It's tough to find a reliable espresso machine in the $200 range—and Italian coffee machine company De'Longhi has long dominated the WIRED Gear team's favorite no-nonsense, low-budget espresso picks. The new Linea Classic is shiny chrome rather than plastic, with buttons for steam and your choice of single or double shots. It likewise sports a rare-at-this-price-point pressure gauge, a 15-bar pump, and an updated thermoblock system for fast heating. The surprisingly powerful steam wand has enough oomph to create some rudimentary latte art, if that’s your thing.
There's enough clearance between the portafilter and drip tray to fit a coffee or cappuccino mug as opposed to a tiny espresso cup. The portafilter is a bit flimsy, however. Note that the Linea was flagged as a frequently returned item on Amazon, after water leaks in an early production run. De'Longhi reps say the problem is now resolved, and reviewer Kat Merck didn't experience the same issue.
Specs Type Classic Dimensions 11" x 9" x 12" (height) Weight 3.6 pounds Heating system, pump Thermoblock, instant warm-up; rotary pump Material Stainless steel and plastic Grinder and hopper Nope! Separate grinder, as is traditional Water reservoir 57 ounces Steam wand Steamed milk or cappuccino foam (though it leans enough to latte-style foam) Other features Pressure gauge Best Hand-Powered Machine
Every wonder why an espresso shot is sometimes called a pull? In the beginning, baristas used a lever to create the necessary pressure to extract espresso. And there's still a real satisfaction to literally pulling your own espresso, reviewer Jaina Grey noted. There’s no milk steamer, no boiler, no power cable. This thing is powered by a human, namely you.
Load it up with coffee and water per the manufacturer’s instructions and give it a good press. There’s also a pressure gauge to make sure you're hitting the target. Think of it like one of those strongman games at a carnival, except that the reward is delicious espresso.
Specs Type Manual, non-electric Dimensions 12" x 6" x 10" (height) Weight 5 pounds Heating system, pump Manual lever up to 9 bar; heat your own water Material Stainless steel Grinder and hopper Nah Water reservoir 2 ounce single-shot cylinder Steam wand Nah Other features Pressure gauge, 39-mm bottomless portafilter
How We Tested Espresso Machines
Over the past decade, WIRED has tested dozens of espresso makers to find our favorites. The process, in part, is simple. We brew a whole lot of coffee. I’ve written about coffee for more than a decade on both the East and West Coasts, including my hometown coffee mecca of Portland, Oregon. Other current and past WIRED espresso testers—who include former baristas and longtime coffee writers—include Jaina Grey, Jeffrey Van Camp, Kat Merck, Tyler Shane, Pete Cottell, and Scott Gilbertson.
On each machine that’s capable, I make and assess at least four drinks, on multiple roasts and beans: a basic 2:1 espresso, an Americano, a latte, and a cappuccino. On machines that advertise a wacky array of drinks, I test each one. This includes any newfangled coldspresso and head-scratching variations on a “long.” It also includes, if science dictates, espresso martinis.
I might make many dozens of coffees to dial in a machine and truly understand it. (Sometimes, alas, you understand a machine’s shortcomings far sooner.)
I test whether the hot water spout splatters, whether descaling requires a degree in hydrology, whether the brewing temperature is consistent, and whether the latte milk gets silked. I’m truly terrible at latte art, but whether it’s possible is a straightforward test of the body of the frothed milk. I test the airier foam of cappuccinos and compare manual and automatic milk frothing on machines that try to froth milk for you. I test how fast the wand steams and whether it’s easy to fully integrate milk before the dang thing starts to burn your milk.
On machines with built-in grinders, I both assess the grind and weigh the dose—and then weigh it again. And then again. Consistency is the hobgoblin of little cups. I also test multiple grind settings to make sure the grind is consistent.
On any semiautomatic machine that decide the shot size for you, I test this to see whether you're getting a ristretto or a lungo by default. Then I resolve never to say the word “lungo” again.
I don’t generally take apart the machines I’m sent, but I do quite often look up videos of people who do—and look at how the thing’s constructed under the hood.
How We Evaluated Our Top Espresso Machine Picks
What I’m looking for is nuance, aromatics, beauty, sensitivity to the characteristics of each bean, and the satisfying texture of fully integrated milk. But also, I’m looking for ease, the thoughtful touches that make an espresso maker something you can fall in love with.
Espresso isn’t just a finicky process: It’s finicky by design. The most sensitive and sophisticated traditional machines are responsive to every tiny nuance in the coffee grind and every fluctuation in the water temperature. The deepest bean geeks want this: They want the control, the frustration, the vision quest.
But I also know that most of you out there aren’t looking to be in an abusive relationship with your coffee machine. Few want to wake up to feelings of inadequacy, brought on by a machine that costs as much as a used car. And so I look for is the espresso machines that can pull lovely character from each bean, but also make this easy on you.
This means that our top picks, the ones I recommend to most people, tend to fall in the semiautomatic camp: They’re the ones that offer the best coffee, with the least effort. Finding this balance is delicate and often rewarding. And year by year, espresso machine makers get better at this goal.
The lowest-cost machines I recommend tend to offer more forgiving pressurized filter baskets as options, even though these sacrifice a bit of nuance for forgiveness, because I don’t want to assume you’re pairing a $200 espresso machine with a $2,000 coffee grinder. Although I know some of you do this, especially with our beloved Breville Bambino.
But hey, if you’re a tinkerer for life? We recommend a machine for you, too. Mostly so you can disagree on Reddit, and explain why your favorite is better.
Other Machines We Like
Ninja Cafe Luxe Premier for $600: Ninja has already released an upgraded Pro version ($750) to its espresso machine debut. But the Cafe Luxe Premier (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is already a corker, a low-priced all-in-one with cold brew, coffee, espresso, excellent milk frothing, and unexpected luxury features like a built-in scale so the grinder can dose by weight. The device can feel either overstuffed or generous, depending on who you are. Either way this damn near unseated the Breville Barista Express as WIRED's mid-tier top pick, aside from a few leaks and sensible caution about its durability.
De'Longhi La Specialista Opera for $900: Speaking of espresso makers that came running at Breville, this Opera is a beautifully forgiving semiautomatic machine that makes excellent espresso in the medium- to dark-roast range, with non-pressurized portafilter baskets that make for a nice and surprisingly subtle cup. The Opera sports a lot of options —including dose and temperature control—while remaining refreshingly analog with its satisfying metal frame, metal buttons, and prominent pressure gauge. The grinder is decent, though its 15 settings might not offer enough sensitivity to pull the best from each roast. One could wish for a removable hopper and a sturdier tamping lever. But if you or your partner love cold coffee drinks or espresso martinis, this gives comparable Brevilles a strong run for the money.
De'Longhi Stilosa for $144: The Stilosa was our top budget pick for years. It's still a good budget pick, and it often goes on sale for less than $100. You're not going to get high-end features like a pressure gauge or built-in grinder, and it's a little plasticky. But what the Stilosa does provide is everything you need to make great espresso at home: a solid portafilter, a reliable steam pump, and a steaming wand. It is a little light, so you'll want to brace it when you mount and dismount the portafilter (or it might slide around on you). After brewing cup after cup of espresso, the Stilosa never showed signs of slowing or breaking down the way many inexpensive machines can.
Breville Barista Express Impress for $800: This espresso machine (6/10, WIRED Recommends) is the more tricked-out sibling of the Breville Barista Express. It includes more grind and dosing settings and automates some of the more complicated parts of brewing consistently good espresso, like getting just the right amount of beans ground per shot.
Breville Dual Boiler for $1,600: The Dual Boiler (9/10 WIRED Recommends) is an absolute tank of an espresso machine. It's huge. It's heavy. It makes amazing espresso. But while its size makes brewing espresso feel luxurious, it does eat up a lot of space and needs a little time to heat up, versus newer Brevilles like the Oracle Jet that favor thermoblock-style heaters. But a dual boiler does mean you can brew shot after shot, with steamed milk and hot water at the same time, without having to wait in between shots. Consider this good for large households who get their espresso all at once.
Cuisinart EM-160 Slim for $250: The lowest-cost espresso maker from Cuisinart's new espresso line is among the slimmer espresso machines out there, less than 7 inches across. This makes it a treasure for certain kitchens. The espresso quality is about what you'd expect from a pressurized portafilter: smoother, less nuanced, but also pretty forgiving for beginners trying to dial in a bean. This'll be best for those who mix milk with their espresso. Same goes for the fast-dripped “cold espresso” option, which takes a couple minutes to complete and comes out a bit tannic, but mixes well with cold milk or a lot of ice.
Superkop Manual Espresso for $800: This manual espresso machine is technically not a Jackie Chan movie. The Superkop (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is instead a quite finely engineered espresso device. It looks pretty, and unlike other manual espresso machines you don't need a strong arm to use it. So if you want to pull espresso, but not pull it hard, the Superkop is your huckleberry. That said, $800 is a lot of money for a manual device. Buy it if you know you'll love it.
Also Tried
Cuisinart EM-640 Espresso Bar for $600: Cuisinart rolled in with some ambition on this semiautomatic espresso machine, with a built-in grinder and a non-pressurized, bottomless portafilter meant to play in the same sandbox as Breville's top devices. Alas, I really couldn't get consistency on either dosing or grinding from the device's built-in grinder—and the system for customizing the dose in particular was mostly wild guesswork. This all added up to botched shots, wild spray from the portafilter, and none of the ease one wants from a semiautomatic.
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo for $750: This semiautomatic espresso machine (6/10 WIRED Reviewed) with a built-in burr grinder makes great espresso right out of the box, and is slimmer than other espresso machines in its category, It does have quirks: It includes a little plastic adapter needed to attach the portafilter to the grinder spout, and a little stepstool for your espresso cup to keep the coffee from splashing. It's a good machine, but I'd upgrade to the Opera any day of the week.
