Best Prosumer
Breville
Breville Dual Boiler BES920XL
Two PID boilers. Brew and steam at once. The ceiling of this site.
Premium tierSemi-Automatic
The Best Semi-Automatic Coffee Machines
You control the grind, the dose and the shot. The machine handles pressure and temperature. The sweet spot for people who want to actually learn espresso.
10 machines reviewed, best editor score first
Best All-Rounder
Breville
Breville Barista Express
The one machine that turns a kitchen counter into a coffee bar.
Mid-range tierBest for Purists
Gaggia
Gaggia Classic Evo Pro
Commercial parts in a domestic box. The machine you keep, not the machine you replace.
Mid-range tierBest Long-Term Buy
Rancilio
Rancilio Silvia
Commercial brass and steel in a home shell. The machine you rebuild, not replace.
Premium tier
Breville
Breville Barista Express Impress
The Barista Express with the tamping taken off your hands.
Mid-range tierBest Compact
Breville
Breville Bambino Plus
Café-grade thermals and hands-free microfoam in the footprint of a toaster.
Mid-range tier
De'Longhi
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo
The machine people cross-shop against the Barista Express — grinder, 15 bar, manual wand, cold brew.
Mid-range tier
De'Longhi
De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885
Real espresso in a machine that fits where nothing else does — 5.9 inches wide.
Mid-range tierBest Budget Pick
CASABREWS
CASABREWS 3700 Essential
The budget-band machine that answers the question 'should I just buy the cheap one?'
Budget tierBest Budget Entry
De'Longhi
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260
The cheapest honest way to find out whether espresso is your hobby.
Budget tierNot sure which one is for you?
Buying your first one? The guide to the best espresso machine for beginners weights how fast you get to a good drink, and explains the cost nobody puts on the box.
If you want the craft rather than the coffee, our guide to the best espresso machine for learning to pull real shots ranks on control over the shot and the ceiling on cup quality.
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