Espresso machines can be intimidating due to their heated metal, steam, and chrome tubes. Every component of the machine contributes to creating a well-pulled shot. Shopping for a home espresso machine can be a daunting task as it involves personal preferences and technical considerations. Additionally, the machines are usually costly, and people hold strong and varied opinions about them.
What are the different types of espresso machines?
When testing machines, we have found that almost all of them, including those sold at major retailers, can be classified into two categories: semi-automatic espresso makers and super-automatic espresso makers. These machines are electronic and use motor-driven pumps to make espresso. However, the main differences between them occur prior to brewing. Although not all semi-automatic machines have the same features, such as built-in grinders or integrated pressure gauges, they all require users to fill a portafilter and pack the coffee grounds tightly. Additionally, on a semi-automatic machine, users must insert the portafilter into the group head, which is where water is pumped out of the machine.
The steps of grinding, tamping, brewing, and frothing milk are performed by super-automatic espresso machines with just a button press, requiring no additional effort. Although they provide convenience, super-autos usually lack the customization options offered by semi-autos for achieving your desired espresso flavor.
Breville Barista Express
The Breville machine ensures a steady pressure for making espresso, steams milk using a steam wand that can be adjusted without difficulty, and even grinds coffee beans. Essentially, it is like having a coffee shop right on your kitchen counter. Similar to its pricier counterparts (such as the Barista Pro), the Barista Express gradually builds up water pressure, as indicated by the included pressure gauge, to ensure a consistent and uniform extraction process.
The durability of its mostly-metal build and the ease of cleaning have contributed to its popularity over the years. It has been a personal favorite of ours for quite some time, and WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu has experienced no problems after using it for five years.
Diletta Mio Espresso Machine
The Diletta Mio epitomizes the qualities expected from an espresso machine made in Italy. It possesses a compact and fashionable design, ensuring durability while surpassing its competitors in terms of brewing. Using it is an absolute delight. The controls are simplified, featuring only essential buttons for power, brewing, and steaming, along with a switch to switch between brew-ready and steam-ready modes. A desirable espresso machine should have a nostalgic, analog feel reminiscent of a high-quality, enduring stand mixer.
The Mio, however, keeps things sufficiently up-to-date. It includes a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller, which functions as a small computer and utilizes an algorithm to monitor the internal temperature of the machine. This ensures that the temperature remains stable or reaches your desired level. Conversely, machines without a PID rely on an internal thermostat to determine when the proper temperature is reached, much like the thermostat in your home, subsequently shutting off the heating element. While this may be suitable for maintaining warmth in a house, it often leads to inconsistent espresso. It is uncommon to find this feature on an espresso machine in this price range, and it guarantees that each shot you extract is precisely how you want it.
Rancilio Silvia M
The Rancilio Silvia M is almost identical to the Rancilio Silvia Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which is one of my favorite dual-boiler espresso machines. It shares the same pro-grade features and durability, but comes at a significantly lower cost.
The slender silver frame easily fits on apartment countertops and generates steady water and steam pressure, resulting in a reliable extraction of high-quality espresso. Notably, the machine is constructed without much plastic, demonstrated by its substantial weight of 30 pounds. This sturdy build enhances durability as plastic parts can become unstable over time due to heat-induced expansions and contractions.
Breville Barista Express Impress
This espresso machine, which is the advanced version of our top choice, the Breville Barista Express, boasts additional grind and dosing options. Moreover, it automates certain complex steps of extracting excellent espresso, such as achieving the precise amount of ground beans per shot. Additionally, it features a convenient tamping lever, ensuring the grounds are perfectly tamped.
While there may be certain restrictions and some aspects that are overlooked (such as not being able to measure grounds based on grind time instead of weight), the Barista Express Impress is an excellent machine that should be seriously considered by those who enjoy making coffee at home.
Breville Bambino
The Bambino, which is approximately the size of two cereal boxes placed next to each other, is an adorable small espresso machine. It has minimal features, such as a steam wand and buttons for power, one shot, and two shots, but it still possesses impressive brewing capabilities. Despite not having a shot timer or adjustable temperatures, this compact machine with a small boiler can extract espresso just as effectively as larger and pricier Breville machines.
Ensure that you use both hands to secure the lightweight portafilter in place while twisting it, as it has a tendency to slide around.
Delonghi Stilosa Espresso Machine
The search for a good inexpensive espresso machine can be difficult, however, the Delonghi Stilosa is one of our favorite choices and typically costs around $100. Although it lacks high-end features such as a pressure gauge or built-in grinder, the Stilosa offers everything necessary to make excellent espresso at home, including a dependable steam pump, a solid portafilter, and a steaming wand. It is worth noting that it is a bit lightweight, so it is advisable to provide support when attaching or removing the portafilter to prevent it from sliding.
The Stilosa, after brewing cup after cup of espresso, exhibited no signs of slowing down or breaking down like many inexpensive machines tend to do. When an espresso maker is poorly made, you typically notice a steam wand that sputters and a machine that struggles to build up pressure after a few months of use. However, these symptoms were never observed in the Stilosa. While it may not be as fast or powerful as the high-end machines on this list, it’s an excellent choice for beginners to learn about espresso and will continue to serve you well for an extended period.
Flair Classic Espresso Maker
This machine provides the opportunity to physically extract your own espresso, which can be quite satisfying. It lacks features such as a milk steamer, boiler, or even a power cable. It solely relies on human power. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you simply load it with coffee and water, and then press it firmly. To ensure consistent extractions, a pressure gauge is included.
Solis Barista Perfetta Plus
This example shows the value of long-term testing for a product. Although the Breville Barista Express Impress was our top pick for much of 2022 and we still regard it as a good machine, we discovered an issue during our six months of consistent use that made us reconsider. Specifically, the built-in grinder tended to jam with lighter roasted coffee beans. Consequently, we have decided to place the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus back on top. Solis is a Swiss brand known for their Scala entry-level burr grinder and their espresso maker strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and customizability. We were highly satisfied with the espresso shots we brewed with the Solis, which were comparable to those made with the semi-automatic Breville Machines such as the Infuser, the Barista Express, and the Barista Express Impress. The shots were well-extracted and featured a distinct layer of crema on top. When it came to milk drinks, the steam wand on the Solis proved to be powerful and produced excellent flat whites. Additionally, the machine includes a hot water dispenser for Americanos. Remarkably, all of these features are packed into a compact package that measures just over seven inches wide. We cannot stress enough how advantageous this is in a category where bulky machines dominate the countertop space.
Although it is slender, the machine is well-constructed and sufficiently heavy to prevent it from sliding on the countertop while locking the portafilter. It has an adaptive PID controller, which can be likened to a precise thermostat that maintains the water temperature at the ideal level. This feature is essential for a high-quality semi-automatic machine. Additionally, the machine has a pressure gauge placed prominently on the front, providing immediate feedback on the extraction of shots, specifically whether they are over- or under-extracted. It also allows users to switch between three different brew temperature settings and manually program both the pre-infusion and brew time. Lastly, in comparison to similar machines, the Solis is relatively inexpensive, costing slightly less than $400 at the time of writing.
Delonghi Eletta Explore
To be honest, the initial performance of the Eletta Explore was not impressive. We encountered difficulty in adjusting the espresso grind to our liking. The machine features a built-in burr grinder with 13 settings, and we discovered that a coarser setting, around eight, worked best for us. It took us a considerable amount of time to achieve the desired result, to the point where we were considering choosing the Jura E8 as our top pick for automatic espresso machines (more details on this below). However, we are grateful that we persevered and properly calibrated the Eletta Explore, as it turned out to be an incredibly adaptable machine. While the espresso shots were not as exceptional as those from the Jura, they were still enjoyable and suitable for post-dinner consumption. Moreover, the Eletta Explore’s touchscreen offers an impressive range of over 40 drink options.
There is a risk associated with any machine that claims it can produce a large amount, as it often turns out to be similar to a push button gas station coffee machine that makes drinks like a mocha chockerato™. However, the milky espresso drinks from the Delonghi machine are smooth, creamy, and distinct from each other, which is not common with automatic machines of this kind. In lower quality machines, the only difference between a latte and a cappuccino is usually the size. This is not the case here, as you have the option to choose a flat white or a macchiato.
The Eletta Explore has the capability to create cold milk foam for iced lattes or flat whites, surpassing expectations in this area. The iced drinks offered a smooth and substantial experience, although the coffee itself could sometimes be overshadowed. Please note that skim milk or alternative milks such as oat or almond are required for cold beverages. Skim milk is preferable for cold foam due to its higher protein content, resulting in a larger volume of foam. In terms of oat milk, the Eletta Explore outperformed its competitors by creating a thick and consistent foam. The Jura, which came in a close second, produced oat milk foam with large bubbles that lacked texture consistency.
Lastly, this fairly intricate machine provides genuine user-friendliness. The water tank has a sufficient capacity that eliminates the need for refilling for several days. It provides detailed instructions in case of uncertainty, such as the appropriate milk frother setting, the amount of ice to be added, and the steps required for rinsing or cleaning the machine. Furthermore, it clearly guides users on how to adjust the settings to achieve stronger or larger beverages. Although we are technologically adept, we would confidently entrust this machine to an individual who experiences difficulty logging into their email.