The Best Espresso Machines for Home Use | Espresso Machine Reviews

Looking for the best home espresso machines for home use? Our espresso machine reviews will help you find the perfect machine for you- from luxury to budget and everywhere in between.

The best espresso machines for the home barista produce full-bodied, rich espresso with luxurious crema every time. They should be easy to use, whether you’re a skilled espresso enthusiast or a complete novice. Our espresso machine reviews will help you find the perfect machine for you- from luxury to budget and everywhere in between.

If you’ve never owned an espresso maker before, you might be wondering if buying an espresso machine is worth the investment. We think so, and here’s why. Let’s say you’re spending $5/day on your favorite espresso drink at your local coffee place. That’s $150 each month! Even a high-end espresso machine will pay for itself after just a few short months.

And what about the weekends? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make your favorite espresso drink right in your own kitchen while you chill in your jammies on Sunday morning? You can’t be your own barista without an espresso machine!

Having your own espresso machine allows the home barista to experiment with different drinks, as well as make them for family and friends. From cappuccinos to lattes and espresso martinis to americanos, you can make them all at home if you have an espresso machine!

Honestly, my home espresso machine is probably the most used appliance in my house, and I can’t imagine not having one!

Are you ready to dive into our espresso machine reviews? Read on for our take on the best espresso machines for home use!

Our Top Picks at a Glance: The Best Espresso Machines for Home Use

Espresso Machine Reviews: Finding the Best Espresso Machine for Any Budget

Our espresso machine reviews will help you find the best espresso machine for the home barista- from luxury to budget and everywhere in between.

1. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL

I’m not gonna lie… the Breville BES870XL is a pretty hefty investment! But it’s also the best espresso machine I’ve ever used. Period. This is the machine I’ve been using to make my coffee and tea every day for years, and if something ever happened to it, I would hit up Amazon to order another one ASAP. Honestly, this machine is pretty much an espresso lover’s dream come true!

In my opinion, the Breville Barista Express is worth every penny, not only because it produces better than café quality espresso, but also because it has an integrated conical burr grinder with dose control grinding and adjustable grind size. It also has a professional-grade 15-bar pump, a swivel-mounted steam wand, and PID regulated temperature control. And, the Barista Express pre-infuses the grinds for even soaking and better extraction. You simply won’t find those qualities in a budget home espresso machine!

So, what else do I love about the Breville BES870XL? For starters, it has a streamlined design and a beautiful stainless steel finish that looks fantastic in my kitchen. The integrated grinder is incredibly convenient, and it has an 8-ounce hopper, so I’m not refilling constantly. The built-in PID temperature keeps the water at a perfect 200 degrees during extraction. As any home barista knows, the temperature is one of the most crucial aspects of extracting the perfect shot of espresso, so this machine also allows you to adjust up or down in two-degree increments.

You can quickly select the water level for single or double shots with the push of a button, so there’s less to think about in the morning. This espresso machine by Breville also has several features that make it obvious you’re using a top of the line espresso machine. One of my favorites is the patented stainless-steel dosing tool that trims your portafilter post-tamp, ensuring that you get a consistent shot each time. There’s also a separate hot water dispenser that makes creating Americanos (my husband’s favorite) a breeze. I use it to make tea, too!

Reviewers of the Breville Barista Express love it for the same reasons I do. And, they also point out that the large 67-ounce water tank is super convenient. Did I mention that this home barista espresso machine also steams milk to a glorious, silky, micro-foam texture? The only real drawback to this machine is the price… but if you’re a dedicated espresso drinker like me, you already know how quickly buying your favorite drinks at the coffee shop can add up. And, the taste of your espresso will be light-years better than anything you get at your local coffee place, too. For me, this machine was well worth the investment!

–>Buy Your Own Breville Barista Express Here.<–

2. Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine

Our winner for the best all-around espresso machine for home use is the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine. This home barista espresso maker comes in at a very reasonable price point with all the key features you need to make café quality espresso drinks at home.

Mr. Coffee has gone the extra mile to include a 19 bar Italian pump on this machine, so it delivers perfect pressure and extraction for rich, full-bodied flavor. One of our favorite features of this machine is the easy one-button interface that takes all of the guesswork out of pulling the perfect shot. It brews one or two shots without any fuss… What more can you ask for on a busy morning?

But, perhaps the best thing about this home espresso machine is its fully automatic, built-in milk frother. It does a beautiful job of creating light, creamy luxurious froth in a removable milk reservoir that’s super easy to clean and fill. You can even store any leftover milk in the fridge to use later. You can’t be your own own barista if you can’t froth milk at home, and this machine makes the entire process super easy!

We also love the adjustable tray that accommodates both short and tall coffee cups. Unfortunately, this machine does not have an “Add Water” indicator, so you do need to keep an eye on the water level in the reservoir. All in all, it’s an excellent, easy to use home espresso espresso machine and cappuccino maker that will look fantastic in any kitchen.

–>Buy Your Own Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine Here.<–

3. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Lhongi

Our espresso machine reviews wouldn’t be complete without a single-serve, pod brewer! If you’re looking for convenience, reliability, and ease of use, you really can’t go wrong with a Nespresso VertuoPlus by De’Lhongi. This pod espresso maker delivers freshly brewed coffee and authentic tasting espresso with decent crema using Nespresso Vertuo capsules.

Simply pop in your chosen capsule and this intuitive machine reads the barcode and brews your drink at the perfect time, pressure, and temperature for each blend. Nespresso’s centrifusion technology spins the pod for even extraction and best flavor, too.

The VertuoPlus features a generous 60-ounce water reservoir that can stay behind the machine or swivel out to save space, depending on the configuration of your counter. It heats up in under 15 seconds and brews in four different cup sizes at the touch of a button.

We love that this home espresso machine comes with a range of capsules so you can try them out to see which blend you like best. If you’re looking for a gift for your favorite coffee and espresso lover, the Nespresso Virtuo Plus would be a great choice! We’ve done a complete comparison of Keurig vs Nespresso machines if you’re interested in learning what sets these two single-serve brewers apart.

–>Buy Your Own Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi Here.<–

4. De’Longhi 15 Bar Pump Driven Espresso Machine

Let’s be honest, there aren’t a whole lot of options out there when it comes to home espresso makers for around $100. In my opinion, the De’Longhi doesn’t get nearly enough love. I’ve owned one of these machines for years, and although I’ve upgraded to the Breville, I still keep this one around for backup. Although it’s a very basic espresso maker, it gets the job done. If you only have about $100 to spend on an espresso machine, this one is certainly worth considering.

So, let’s go over some of the pros of this very affordable espresso machine by De’Longhi. It’s easy to operate, and it’s fast. You can get a decent shot of espresso using ground espresso, or you can use pods. The De’Longhi features a swivel jet milk frother that does a surprisingly good job of frothing milk for cappuccinos and lattes. This machine is easy to clean and includes a generous 35-ounce detachable water tank.

Believe it or not, the De’Longhi also has two separate thermostats. They allow you to adjust the water and steam pressure separately. The 15-bar pump provides plenty of pressure to extract decent flavor and aroma. This home espresso machine also allows you to brew two separate cups at a time, which is nice if you don’t like to wait around in the morning. The De’Longhi is also one of the smallest espresso machines I’ve ever used, so it’s great for tiny kitchens.

Now for the cons. It’s always best to use bottled or filtered water in your espresso maker, but with this machine, it’s especially important. Sediment and hard water will kill this machine pretty quickly. I also recommend descaling it regularly if you want to get the longest life possible from your De’Longhi Espresso Machine. Some reviewers commented that this machine vibrates noisily, especially when using the milk frother. This issue seems to be hit or miss because I haven’t noticed it with my machine.

At the end of the day, this machine is a very affordable option. It would be an excellent choice for anyone looking for a decent home espresso machine in the $100 price range. You absolutely can get a café quality shot of espresso with the De’Longhi, but it will take some fiddling with the size of the grind and the tamp to get there. I will admit that reviews of this machine are very mixed, but my experience with it has been a positive one.

Note: This machine comes with a built-in tamper, which I never use. You’ll get much better results if you invest a few bucks into a decent, well-balanced tamper, like this one. (Read more about proper tamping techniques and why they’re crucial to pulling a decent shot of espresso.)

–>Buy Your Own De’Longhi 15-Bar Pump Driven Espresso Maker Here.<–

5. Sowtech Espresso Machine – 3.5 Bar, 4-Cup Espresso Maker

If you’re on a really tight budget, you’ll want to check out Sowtech’s 3.5 Bar, 4-cup Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine for the home barista. It’s priced at just under $60 and includes a steam milk frother for all of your favorite fancy coffee drinks.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that this budget espresso machine produces rich espresso flavor with a decent crema – especially if you use top quality, freshly ground beans. It comes with an easy-pour glass carafe with convenient markings for 1-4 cups. This machine also allows you to adjust the temperature, which is crucial for getting the best flavor.

Sowtech’s 3.5 Bar Espresso Machine features a compact design to save counter space. It also has a removable drip catcher to keep your counter clean and tidy. The single-knob control is easy to use, even for the novice home barista. It’s a fantastic espresso machine for home use, especially if you just want to make cappuccinos and lattes every day without a lot of fuss.

The only con to this machine is that it does take some practice to get the technique just right. Check out our complete guide to making espresso at home and be sure to read our troubleshooting tips to help you fine-tune your process. At the end of the day, you can’t beat the price of this 3.5 bar espresso machine. If you’ve been buying your coffee at Starbucks every day, this machine can save you a ton of money each week.

–>Buy your own Sowtech 3.5 Bar, 4 Cup Espresso Machine Here.<–

Wrapping Things Up

And that wraps up our espresso machine reviews for the home barista! These are our top 5 picks for the best espresso machines for home use in 2020. When you’re ready to learn how to use your new espresso machine, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Making Espresso at Home. It will help you learn how to get the most out of your machine and we’ve even including some troubleshooting tips to help you fine-tune your brewing process.

Here are some recipes you can make at home with your brand-new espresso machine:

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