As a former barista, I’m a little bit obsessed with the finding the best espresso machines on the market. I started out using luxury, commercial machines, but in the past five years good espresso machines have become more accessible, reliable, user-friendly, and much more beautiful.

These hands-on machines vary significantly. You can spend thousands on huge, sparkling appliances with dials, gauges, gadgets, grinders, and other smart functions. However, there are some excellent compact, sleek, and small machines, perfect for every home. 

I’ve taken all of these to our dedicated test kitchen and some have even come back to my home for a longer trial. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the beautiful. You might recognise some of them from our buying guide for the best coffee makers on the market — it’s no coincidence. Without further ado, here are the best espresso machines on offer.

Quick List

Best espresso machines 2023

Best espresso machine overall

De’Longhi’s La Specialista Maestro gets people talking, even if they don’t like coffee. Sat on my kitchen countertop, it’s almost always the first thing people mention when they walk into the room and I’m pretty proud of it. The machine looks the part, with dials, gauges, and a shiny stainless steel finish.

On test, La Specialista more than delivers for flavors and usability. The machine can automate most functions: grinding, tamping, infusing, brewing, and steaming. Even a beginner could make a barista-quality coffee without breaking a sweat. There’s a neat dial that lets you choose from a range of delicious coffee, including iced, and cold brew options. I’ve tested a lot of espresso machines and have never seen a good cold brew function; this is a first.

The coffees it makes are consistently flavorful, well-balanced, and nuanced. Even when frothing plant-based milks, the sensitive steam wand can create a velvet texture, rather than burns and bubbles which taste horrible in the mouth.

If that sounds like a dream come true, it’s because this machine is one. However, one look at the price tag might wake you up. When not on sale La Specialista Maestro costs over $1,000. There are plenty of good models at just over half that price, so if money really matters, keep scrolling. It’s also worth noting that this is quite a dominating machine: be ready to have it on display all the time.

Best espresso machine for luxury

If you’re ready to indulge your inner barista with some luxury and quality, Breville’s The Barista Pro has been waiting for you. The shiny, stainless steel model is simply perfect. It even comes in a range of stunning finishes. Truffle black anyone? 

Getting set-up with The Barista Pro doesn’t take long. I had unboxed it, rinsed it, and brewed a delicious coffee in under five minutes without having to read novel-like instruction manuals beforehand. The grinder has an impressive 30 settings, so you can dial-in to whichever bean variety you’ve chosen to brew. 

Thanks to Breville’s smart system, the machine warms up much quicker than other, boiler espresso machines. Even better it has a pre-infuse setting which mimic ‘blooming’ coffee grounds, meaning everything I made, from espresso to cappuccino was a little sweeter and more mellow than the average coffee.

The steam wand has a flexible 360 rotation socket, which is perfect if you’re confident frothing your own milk. If not, it will take a little practice before you can get into your latte art, but be patient. It’s worth it. 

This nearly knocked De’Longhi’s La Specialista Maestro off top spot in our buying guide, but it’s not as automated or versatile. The Barista Pro won’t help you out with coffee-pre sets, auto-tamping, or auto-grinding, so the whole process is a little less precise and a lot more messy. Texturing your own milk, as I’ve mentioned, takes work too. These aren’t issues for competent coffee makers, but it’s enough to put plenty of beginners off.

There’s more detail in my Breville Barista Pro review.

Best espresso machine for beginners

KitchenAid has carried a reputation for their iconic stand mixers into the coffee industry and they are very welcome here. Their espresso machine, available in a range of classic, tasteful colors, is slim and stylish, perfect for any kitchen. It sits subtly on the countertops and quietly works on delivering perfect coffee every time. It’s a true success.

If you’ve never owned an espresso machine before, they can look a little daunting. That’s where KitchenAid’s model becomes a must-have. The simple buttons make it hard to trip yourself up. I made consistently delicious espressos in here and the steam wand is more than capable of frothing dairy and plant-based milks. 

If you’ve never used a steam wand before, it’s worth practicing, because this is one of the few aspects of the KitchenAid which isn’t fully automated. You’ll still be able to warm milk easily, but to get truly silky latte milk, you might need a bit of practice. It’s also worth noting that this doesn’t come with an integrated grinder. KitchenAid sells a co-ordinating model separately and I can attest to its excellence. However, adding this into the cost of the KitchenAid makes it seem like less of an incredible deal.

There’s more detail in my KitchenAid Espresso Machine review.

Best espresso machine for small spaces

Breville’s Bambino Plus is the coffee community’s worst kept secret. It’s the machine which most baristas will have at home for a multitude of reasons, but the main three are: it’s excellent value, well-built, and has sensitive brewing controls. 

Keen coffee drinkers who are limited with countertop space will be grateful for the svelte and slim design of the Bambino Plus. It looks the part of a true espresso machine, with a control panel, steam wand, and all the signature features. The Bambino comes in three, simple finishes, which would blend well into any coffee bar — just don’t expect the same range of colors as the KitchenAid, for example.

When it comes to brewing coffee, the Bambino Plus is quietly competant. Breville has integrated the technology of their more expensive machines, so that the Bambino Plus can pre-infuse shots, taking any unwanted acidity out of your morning Americano. 

The steam wand is semi-automatic, which is useful if you’re not confident using an espresso machine on your own. I tested it on dairy and plant-based milks and the Bambino Plus didn’t discriminate, the results with both were smooth and silky. 

Most people will hold-off investing $500 in the Bambino Plus because it doesn’t come with a coffee grinder. Breville happens to make an excellent model, but it’s a cost which you’ll need to factor into considerations for which espresso machine you buy. The fact that you can’t steam and brew at the same time might also slow you down if you have a lot of coffees to make in the morning.

There’s more detail in my Breville Bambino Plus review.

Best technical espresso machine

If you’re after authenticity, luxury, and quality, La Pavoni has a shiny, stainless steel marvel waiting for you. The machine is eye-catching. There’s no avoiding it, but all the levers and dials can make it a little scary too — it depends who you are.

If you’re a confident coffee maker, looking to dive deep into the details of coffee making, this will be an exciting challenge. La Pavoni is a manual machine, which makes delicious coffee. Once you’ve mastered the pressure and steam gauges, you can pull a beautiful (and very satisfying) espresso shot. La Pavoni’s Professional model also comes with a steam wand, so you can texture milk by hand too. It’s an experience you’ll either love or resent, depending on how you feel about taking time over coffee.

If you’re not a confident coffee maker, that probably sounded a bit scary. La Pavoni is a lot to handle and there are much simpler manual espresso machines on the market that you could try first. In fact, I recommend the NEO Flex further down because it’s a fraction of La Pavoni’s price. However, it’s not nearly as stunning as the La Pavoni.

Best portable espresso machine

Those who are always on-the-go probably already have a Wacaco Picopresso sized-hole in their lives. This espresso machine is no bigger than a can of soda, but can really pack some coffee power. It makes a shot which can rival the machines at the top of this buying guide, but requires a fraction of the space and money too.

One of the best parts about the Picopresso is the packaging. Every part of the Picopresso has an ultra-premium feel, from the stain-finish case to the smooth, matte exterior. Every aspect of the product is a true delight. If you have a coffee friend, this will make the perfect present for them. If that goes down well, there are also some lovely accessories, such as the Picopresso stand which can help you to complete your portable coffee collection.

The Picopresso is quick to use. I went from unboxing to espresso in less than five minutes, but the process is more involved; you need to pump a piston to create the equivalent of 15 bars of pressure. This doesn’t take long, but those with mobility wishes might not like this idea. 

The coffee results, as I have mentioned, are exceptional. The Picopresso made an espresso with a thick, hazelnutty crema. My coffee was well-balanced and delicate. However, when you start looking for more than an espresso or Americano, the Picopresso cannot deliver. It can’t warm, steam, or produce hot water. 

There’s more detail in my Wacaco Picopresso review.

Best espresso machine for style

It should come as no surprise that Smeg makes the most stylish espresso machine on the market. The colors, chrome, and curves are irresistible. Even if you have a relatively compact kitchen, the slim design will slot neatly into place, not disturbing your clear aesthetics at all. 

The Smeg was easy to set-up and most of the controls are automated, so it’s a matter of pressing some simple buttons to get an espresso made. Flavor-wise, the Smeg is hard to fault. My espresso was chocolatey, smooth, and delicate. Even when I tested out the pod portafilter, which is compatible with ESE pods, the notes were well-extracted. If you’re an espresso drinker, you’re in for a treat.

The steam wand is very usable and can froth both dairy and plant-based milks well. However, it’s really short. If you have a deep milk jug, you’ll need to overfill it so that the steam wand can reach your milk. Dimensions also became an issue with the brew head. Travel cups and tall mugs simply don’t fit under the brew head, which is frustrating and can create extra washing up if you’re always having to use espresso cups. 

It’s also worth noting that the machine doesn’t have an integrated grinder. Luckily, Smeg makes a grinder, which I think is one of the best on the market. The grinder and espresso machine next to each other look fantastic and they’re both pretty compact, but it’s an extra expense you’ll need to consider.

There’s more detail in my Smeg Espresso Maker review.

Best value espresso machine

You’ve probably seen the Casabrews 5700 Pro all over your TikTok. Everybody loves it for the value, quality, and classic espresso machine aesthetics. Before I had tested it, I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical. The price doesn’t seem to match-up to the claims Casabrews makes. However, after testing, I can confirm that this is worth the hype.

For the money, Casabrews delivers a great experience. The machine looks like a proper barista machine; it sounds like one (maybe a little too much, because it’s very loud); and it comes with a ton of extras, including a spare burr, a tamper, tamping mat, stainless steel jug, and so much more. Unboxing the Casabrews felt like my birthday on repeat.

Whilst the Casabrews can pull a flavorful espresso shot, steam milk, and function like any other espresso machine, it’s easy to tell that this is cheaper than the Breville Barista Pro, for example. When I pulled shots with the Casabrews, it could take ten seconds or maybe forty, the time varied enormously — and so did my shots. A confident barista could take hold of this machine and make the perfect coffee anyway, but if you’re a complete beginner, you might not know how to adjust the way you grind and tamp to suit the — slightly unpredictable — machine.

If you really want the espresso machine look, but not for an espresso machine price, I’d recommend doing your research into the Casabrews before you buy it. You can make the most out of it, but it’ll just need more work.

Best manual espresso machine

I wouldn’t advise manual espresso machines to everyone: they’re a technical, hands-on way of making your morning coffee. However, if you’re determined to test these models out for yourself, there’s no better place to start than with the Flair NEO Flex. 

Flair are market-leaders for manual machines, but that’s not reflected in the price. You could pick up one of these for around $30, making it the cheapest in this buying guide by a long way. Without the need for a motor or electrics, the NEO Flex is completely portable (although quite big), ultra quiet, and has a very distinctive, looping silhouette. I’d be tempted not to leave this on show, because it’s quite fragile, but you could. I’m sure people would comment on it.

My instinct when I unboxed it was that the NEO Flex felt cheap. However, the plastic frame gives the flexion needed for the device to pull espresso shots and work with pressure. 

Using the NEO Flex takes a bit of adjusting. You need a special superfine espresso blend (which you can buy from speciality coffee shops) and some muscle to help create pressure in the chamber. Once you’re used to this, it’s really satisfying to make your own shots. However, if you need more boiling water or frothed milk, you’ll need another appliance to help you out. Thankfully, you save a lot with the NEO Flex, so you can afford to splurge a little on other appliances.

How to choose the best espresso machine

Choosing the right espresso machine for your home is easy when you know what you’re looking for. There are some key considerations you’ll want to make before jumping into a purchase:

Size Think about the space you’re willing to set aside in your kitchen. If you’re short on space opt for slimmer models or ones which are easy to pack away. You’ll need to think about design and color, so that it matches your kitchen décor too.

Noise If you choose a manual espresso machine, it will make a lot less noise than automated ones, especially those with grinders. Generally, these can be noisy machines, but the noise doesn’t last long.

Grinder Not every machine has a grinder integrated, which might suit you if you already own one. If you don’t, it’s worth factoring-in the cost of a grinder when you’re looking at these machines. 

Extra features There’s a lot on offer with different espresso machines, some you might want, others you might not. For example, De’Longhi’s La Specialista Maestro can automatically froth milk, but Breville’s The Barista Pro doesn’t. Others might pre-infuse your coffee too.

How we test

How we test the best espresso machines

(Image credit: Future)

At Living Etc, we want to give you practical, useful information. That’s why all our buying guides are based on in-person tests which our expert testers have undertaken. Every espresso machine in this guide has been to our test kitchen. There, we make notes on everything: coffee flavors, cleaning up, ease of use, and even the unboxing. 

I’m a former barista and I tested all of these myself. I have high standards for what good coffee is and these all met the mark. If you’d like to know more about how we test, you can visit our dedicated page.