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A person places espresso in an espresso machine Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Best Espresso Machines of 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

A person places espresso in an espresso machine Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

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Editor's Choice Product image of Breville Barista Touch Impress
Best Overall

Breville Barista Touch Impress

Check Price at Amazon

With a user-friendly touchscreen and assisted dial-in and tamping technology, this machine is great for beginners. It also produces delicious espresso. Read More

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive
  • Smart, assisted technology
  • Great for frothing dairy-free milks

Cons

  • Pricey
2
Editor's Choice Product image of De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB
Best for Latte Art

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB

Check Price at Amazon

This espresso machine features a commercial-style MyLatteArt steam wand, which can help you easily refine your barista skills at home. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent steam wand
  • Produces high-quality espresso
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Crema level varies
  • Water tank could be bigger
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Gaggia Classic Pro
Best Value

Gaggia Classic Pro

Check Price at Amazon

If you're familiar with espresso brewing, you may consider this Gaggia that extracts the smoothest shots with thick crema. Read More

Pros

  • Customization
  • Tasty coffee
  • Optimal extraction

Cons

  • May not be suitable for beginners
  • Finicky steaming wand
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Breville Infuser
Best for Beginners

Breville Infuser

Check Price at Amazon

For beginners, this machine is a great learning tool and can extract superb coffee. Read More

Pros

  • Pressure Gauge
  • Compact design
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Less customization
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Breville Barista Touch

Breville Barista Touch

Check Price at Amazon

If you're new to espresso, this machine is the most intuitive we've tested for everyone. Read More

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Easy to clean
  • Produces high quality espresso

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Less customization
  • Best Overall Breville Barista Touch Impress
  • Best for Latte Art De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB
  • Best Value Gaggia Classic Pro
  • Best for Beginners Breville Infuser
  • Other Espresso Machines We Tested
  • How We Tested Espresso Machines
  • What You Should Know About Espresso Machines
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

The best espresso machines make it simple to produce good espresso at home. But even straightforward machines can be daunting at first. That’s why we selected 11 popular espresso machines across mid-range price points and brewed countless shots of espresso with them. We judged the machines on criteria like ease of use, durability, versatility, and taste.

Our best value pick, the Gaggia Classic Pro (available at Amazon) pulled the most delicious shots of coffee. And we thought the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte (available at Amazon) excelled at frothing milk for latte art.

However, we chose the Breville Barista Touch Impress (available at Amazon for $1,499.95) as our best overall for its convenience and excellent performance across a variety of tasks. With its intuitive touchscreen design, it’s perfect for both beginners and experienced espresso snobs who appreciate consistent, high-quality shots.

Breville Barista Touch Impress surrounded by espresso beverages on a kitchen counter
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Breville Barista Touch Impress is the best espresso machine we've ever tested.

Best Overall
Breville Barista Touch Impress
  • Dimensions: 12.9 x 13 x 16.4 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 67 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes

The Breville Barista Touch Impress builds off the already-incredible performance of its predecessor (the Breville Barista Touch), but it's somehow even better.

This machine takes everything we love about the previous model—including the semi-automatic touchscreen design and electronic temperature control—and takes it up a notch with even more user-friendly features.

Perhaps most notably, the Touch Impress features an Auto MilQ function that automatically heats and froths milk according to the drink type and milk variety. There are three pre-programmed dairy-free settings (oat, soy, and almond) that will froth the respective milk with unique steam settings.

And we found these to be impressively successful—even watery almond milk transformed into silky lattes and frothy cappuccinos. There's also a built-in temperature sensor, so you don't have to worry about lukewarm or too-hot drinks.

This new model also features built-in Barista Guidance, a new smart technology that detects when it's time to adjust dial-in settings. We found this to be an extremely helpful and intuitive addition, offering suggestions on adjustments like coarseness settings and grind timing in order to ensure every shot comes out tasting rich and full-bodied, with plenty of decadent crema.

Plus, there's the addition of the Impress Puck System in this machine, which offers assisted tamping for more precise dosages and less mess.

Simply put, this machine is a joy to use. You don't need any prior barista training to achieve deliciously professional espresso drinks at home. And oat, soy, and almond milk lovers no longer have to settle for measly microfoam, thanks to new built-in technology. This machine comes at a price, but for serious espresso lovers, it's worth the plunge. (Just think how much you'll save on overpriced oat milk cappuccinos!)

Read our full review of the Breville Barista Touch Impress.

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive

  • Smart, assisted technology

  • Great for frothing dairy-free milks

Cons

  • Pricey

$1,499.95 from Amazon

$1,499.95 from Best Buy

$1,429.00 from Walmart
DeLonghi La Specialista Arte on counter top beside a hot latte.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte is the best espresso machine we tested when it came to frothing milk.

Best for Latte Art
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB
  • Dimensions: 11.22 x 14.37 x 15.87 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 56 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: Yes

If a high quality steam wand and the ability to try DIY latte art is your first priority, De'Longhi's La Specialista Arte should be your go-to.

A rendition of De'Longhi's original La Specialista, this machine features an upgraded, MyLatteArt steam wand, which mimics the style you would find behind the bar at a traditional coffee shop. It also comes equipped with a built-in grinder, 56-ounce water tank, and almost a dozen accessories to help ensure your espresso is perfect every time (like a stainless steel milk pitcher, water hardness test, and tamping accessories).

When we tested this machine, we were impressed by how well the steam wand mimicked the traditional, commercial style frothers. Both traditional and non-dairy milks came out silky, and it was easy to tweak our technique to achieve both latte and cappuccino levels of froth.

This machine also produces delicious espresso, of course. The provided manual offers simple instructions to guide you through optimal dosage and coarseness of whatever bean roast you prefer, to make sure your shots taste right every time.

We did notice some variation in crema levels when testing this machine, and some shots were creamier than others. But getting familiar with the correct settings for your optimal espresso, and adjusting them over time, can easily fix this problem.

Read our full review of the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte.

Pros

  • Excellent steam wand

  • Produces high-quality espresso

  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Crema level varies

  • Water tank could be bigger

$650.00 from Amazon

$699.95 from Best Buy

$699.95 from Target

$489.90 from Walmart
The Gaggia Classic Pro on a white countertop along with esspresso shots and coffee beans.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Gaggia Classic Pro is our best value pick.

Best Value
Gaggia Classic Pro
  • Dimensions: 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 47 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

While not the most exciting to look at, the Gaggia Classic Pro constantly pulled the best shots of espresso in our roundup. This upgrade from Gaggia’s popular Classic features more commercial-grade components. That includes a three-way solenoid, and an over-pressure valve that helps discard dry coffee pucks easily.

The chrome-brass 58-millimeter wide portafilter is on par with commercial-grade portafilters. That may explain why it continuously delivered superior texture and full-bodied flavor in our taste tests. It also produced crema with little leopard-like speckles, which gave each shot a unique depth.

The taste was pleasant, with notes of caramel and cocoa, indicating a high-quality coffee. The commercial-grade steam wand frothed velvety milk foam that helped us create perfect lattes.

The machine comes with three filter baskets: one pressurized basket for consistency, one single-walled for creativity, and a pod basket for ESE pods.

Although we’re satisfied with its overall performance, the Gaggia isn’t without flaws. It took about five minutes to brew a double shot from start to finish—four minutes longer than our top pick. With no PID system to monitor temperature digitally, it took about 30 seconds to heat up, trailing behind the Breville models.

Additionally, Gaggia is less user-friendly than the Breville Barista Touch; we struggled to insert the portafilter under the brewhead. However, its ability to pull a cafe-quality shot makes this your best choice for the value.

Pros

  • Customization

  • Tasty coffee

  • Optimal extraction

Cons

  • May not be suitable for beginners

  • Finicky steaming wand

$450.85 from Amazon
The Breville Infuser with a fresh shot of espresso being poured, sitting on a white countertop.

The Breville Infuser is our top pick for espresso beginners.

Best for Beginners
Breville Infuser
  • Dimensions: 11.5 x 13.7 x 13.25 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 61 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

The Infuser is a great balance of convenience and affordability. It provides the majority of Breville’s most advanced features, without costing you an arm and a leg.

Like the Barista Touch, this model has a pre-infusion function that gives the grounds a thorough low-pressure wash before pumping pressure through them. The PID heating system accurately controls the water temperature, adjustable in 4°F increments, for the best brewing results.

It’s also programmable, saving your favorite coffee presets for easy brewing. The analog pressure gauge can tell you whether the pressure has reached the required level, and whether you’re over- or under-extracting your coffee. This made dialing in much easier, taking out the guesswork when we first tested it.

Ultimately, the Infuser makes a great learning tool for beginners who want to learn how to become an at-home barista.

Pros

  • Pressure Gauge

  • Compact design

  • Affordable

Cons

  • Less customization

$599.95 from Amazon

$689.99 from Walmart

Other Espresso Machines We Tested

Product image of Breville Barista Touch
Breville Barista Touch
  • Dimensions: 12.7 x 15.5 x 16 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 67 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: Yes

The Barista Touch is one of the most intuitive, user-friendly, and reliable espresso machines we've tested. Pulling a shot of perfect espresso takes practice, patience, and a little science, but the Barista Touch greatly simplifies it.

It includes an advanced digital temperature controller, also known as a PID (or Proportional Integral Derivative). This increases the boiler's temperature in a controlled way that results in better tasting coffee. As a result, the Barista Touch consistently brewed creamy, smooth, flavorful espresso. Plus, its thermojet heating system gets the machine ready in just three seconds.

This semi-automatic espresso machine's touchscreen sets it far above the competition. It walks beginners through the steps of making the perfect latte. For advanced brewers, it can save the specifications of your desired drinks. You can pre-program the weight of the ground coffee, the grind size, the brew time, the steam wand’s temperature, and even the texture of the steamed milk.

Overall, the Barista Touch was the easiest machine to dial in, regardless of your espresso fluency. Beginners can easily learn to adjust the ground weight and grind size. Intermediate enthusiasts can watch tutorials on the touchscreen and troubleshoot any problems that may occur. Professional drinkers’ creativity is empowered by the versatility and customization.

The Barista Touch has its limits compared to commercial machines. While it’s incredibly easy to use, the espresso’s taste may disappoint connoisseurs. The tasting profile and depth of single origin beans require a more professional device to extract. The automatic frothing system also isn’t consistent for users who appreciate their milk foam with uniform quality.

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly

  • Easy to clean

  • Produces high quality espresso

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Less customization

$999.95 from Amazon

$999.95 from Best Buy

$999.95 from Abt

$979.95 from Walmart
Product image of De'Longhi La Specialista EC9335M
De'Longhi La Specialista EC9335M
  • Dimensions: 15 x 14.48 x 17.5 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 67.6 ounces
  • Pressure: 19 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: Yes

De’Longhi’s La Specialista features a dual-boiling system that heats the coffee and milk separately, which makes the brewing process a lot quicker. That’s why high-end espresso machines at busy coffee shops almost always have at least a dual-coil heating system.

The De’Longhi includes as many luxurious features as possible. It includes a built-in conical grinder, a smart tamping station, and two separate boiling systems for coffee and milk. There’s also an analog pressure gauge, 19-bar pump pressure, and active temperature monitoring. However, not all of those features proved useful during testing.

The Specialista is the only machine we tested with a smart tamping station, which means zero mess. After filling the portafilter, we used the lever on the side of the machine to tamp down the coffee grounds and we were good to go.

This machine consistently pulled full-bodied espresso shots with clarity and flavor that scored high on our taste tests. For Americano drinkers, there’s a water spout next to the portafilter for easy dispensing.

Despite the coffee’s delicious taste, the Specialista has some unhelpful features. First, the 19-bar pump pressure is frivolous. No matter how powerful the machine’s water pump is, the grouphead’s output pressure will always be the 9-10 bars that espresso requires.

With a grinder and two boilers, the machine is the tallest, heaviest, and bulkiest in our roundup. If you live in a small apartment, we don’t suggest investing in this one.

Pros

  • Built-in grinder and tamper

  • Quick extraction

Cons

  • Not cost-efficient

  • Bulky

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Breville Barista Pro
Breville Barista Pro
  • Dimensions: 13.9 x 13.5 x 16 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 67 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: Yes

Unboxing the Barista Pro, we were immediately impressed by its brushed stainless steel appearance and heavy-duty build quality. The machine comes with a conical built-in burr grinder, an LCD screen, and an adjustable steam wand.

The burr grinder offers 30 grind sizes from coarse to fine. The portafilter can pack up to 19 grams of ground coffee. The built-in grinder has a smart sensor. Once it touches the grinder sensor, the ground coffee automatically starts to fill in the portafilter.

The pre-programmed brew presets guarantee the same shot every time you use the machine. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Barista Pro’s customization settings are easy to maneuver with the twist of a knob.

This model features a thermojet heating system and a digital temperature control system (PID), like the other Brevilles we tested. The PID primed the machine to be ready in just three seconds. The low-pressure, pre-infusion design evenly soaks the grounds in low-pressure water before the high-pressure pump kicks in. This gives the coffee consistency and smooth taste.

The Barista Pro had the potential to be a winner of our roundup. Sadly, its gigantic size makes it less appealing for counter space reasons. For beginners, this machine’s technicality may also make it intimidating to use. As its name suggests, it may be a better choice for the experienced home baristas with room to spare.

Pros

  • Built-in grinder

  • Smart touch screen

  • Strong frothing performance

Cons

  • The odd shape makes it difficult to fit

$849.95 from Best Buy

$849.95 from Abt

$829.00 from Walmart
Product image of De'Longhi Dedica EC680
De'Longhi Dedica EC680
  • Dimensions: 12.99 x 5.9 x 12.99 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 36 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

The Dedica was the slimmest espresso machine in our tests, and its set-up process was a breeze. It has all of the basics, including an adjustable steam wand and a sturdy portafilter. The 15-bar pump provides optimal 9-bar pressure on the grouphead. It comes with three dual-walled filter baskets, including one for ESE pods.

The steam wand can froth two types of foams: one for lattes and one for cappuccinos. The manual milk frothing wand lets you customize the texture of the foam, but not the temperature. Throughout testing, it frothed average quality foam but didn’t perform well at creating microfoam for latte art.

The other downside of the Dedica is the five minutes it takes to brew a double-shot of espresso. The Breville Barista Touch, by contrast, took two minutes. We also measured whether you could dial in a double-shot in under 30 seconds. It took us 5 tries to do so here.

For at-home brewing on a tight budget, the Dedica is sufficient. However, you’ll need a good grinder to get the best coffee quality.

Pros

  • Easy to use

  • Can fit in any space

Cons

  • Takes too long to extract espresso

$209.00 from Amazon

$239.95 from Walmart
Product image of Breville Bambino Plus
Breville Bambino Plus
  • Dimensions: 12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 64 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

Like the other Breville machines, the Bambino Plus has an innovative thermojet heating system that reaches the optimal temperature for a nice shot of espresso faster than its competitors. It also features precise temperature control to ensure consistency.

Its compact size makes the Bambino Plus a perfect fit for small apartments with limited countertop space. The 54-millimeter-wide portafilter packs 19 grams of coffee, which is on the heavy side of the traditional espresso weight.

The frothing wand can adjust both the temperature and texture of the milk. That makes it easy to create microfoam for cappuccinos, lattes, and even latte art. The one downside is that the wand pulls towards the user, instead of to the side, making it difficult to visually monitor the milk foam.

Other accessories are simple: two dual-walled filter baskets, a tamper, a milk jug, and a razor.

What knocked the Bambino Plus down a few spots in our testing was its long dial-in time. It doesn’t offer any guidance on dialing in the perfect shot; you just eye-ball the weight of coffee grounds. Though it comes with the best heating and pressure system, pulling consistently smooth shots was still a struggle.

Pros

  • Compact

  • Pressurized portafilter

Cons

  • Not intuitive enough to dial in fast

$499.95 from Amazon

$499.95 from Abt

$569.97 from Walmart
Product image of Cuisinart EM-200
Cuisinart EM-200
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.25 x 10.63 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 69 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

My family can’t stop raving about this Cuisinart. But in testing, it never captured the full-bodied flavor of our beans.

It gives room for customization and creativity with the ability to brew both pods and ground coffee, but doesn’t pull high-quality espresso shots.

During testing, the machine pulled out relatively consistent shots with the same weight and amount of crema. However, the coffee lacked the clarity of high quality espresso. Overall, this machine is just mediocre.

Pros

  • Easy to use

  • Affordable

  • Settings for different coffee drinks

Cons

  • Produces low quality espresso

$224.49 from Amazon

$229.95 from Walmart
Product image of Mr. Coffee Café Barista
Mr. Coffee Café Barista
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.25 x 10.63 inches
  • Water tank capacity: 40 ounces
  • Pressure: 15 bar pump
  • Steam wand: Yes
  • Built-in grinder: No

Upon first impression, Mr. Coffee’s espresso and cappuccino maker seemed to cover the basic needs.

It has a 15-bar pressure pump, options for single- and double-shot espresso, and includes a plastic tamper and a scooper. It includes an automatic milk frother that takes the guesswork out of frothing. Unfortunately, not every feature impressed us.

The lid on the water tank doesn’t open or close at a convenient angle, and the automatic milk frother delivered disappointing foam that wasn’t suitable for lattes and cappuccinos. For a similar price, a pod-espresso maker can do a much better job than this model from Mr. Coffee.

Pros

  • Inexpensive

  • Options for coffee drinks

Cons

  • Hard to fill the water tank

  • Average coffee

$180.99 from Amazon

$199.99 from Best Buy

$180.99 from Walmart

How We Tested Espresso Machines

Two measuring cups filled with fresh espresso on a machine tray.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

We measured the volume and thickness of each espresso shot in our tests.

The Tester

I’m Monica Petrucci, Reviewed's Kitchen & Cooking Editor, and I’m a seriously devoted coffee drinker. My day hasn't officially started until I've enjoyed a double-shot from my trusty Moka pot or De'Longhi machine—and I'll usually go back for seconds or thirds throughout the day.

Before my role at Reviewed, I spent three years working as a barista in a coffee shop, where I learned the ins and outs of dialing in espresso, properly pulling shots, and frothing silky milk for latte art. I implemented all of that knowledge—along with science-baked testing procedures—when reviewing the products on this list.

The Tests

Finger pressing button on Breville Infuser machine.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

We spent 80 hours researching machines and drinking coffee.

We spent around 80 hours researching and testing popular espresso machines. We used Peets’ Major Dickerson coffee beans across each test. That standardization helped determine whether each machine could produce coffee with the same flavor profile.

We used one of our favorite coffee grinders, the Baratza Encore (available at Amazon), to dial in the espresso machines that don’t come with a built-in grinder. For the ones with built-in grinders, we evaluated the reliability and user-friendliness of the grinders, and measured by how long it took to dial in the best shot of espresso.

We evaluated the consistency of the temperature and taste. We also tested the wands’ ability to froth milk well enough to create microfoam for latte art. We pulled four shots and frothed two cups of milk from each machine. Then we taste-tested countless espresso drinks, bringing in other Reviewed staff to help.

What You Should Know About Espresso Machines

Hand touching an image of the LCD touchscreen on the Breville Barista Touch.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Here's everything you should know before investing in an espresso machine.

Venturing into the world of espresso machines is like learning a new language. To help you get started, here are some things to know about brewing espresso.

What Does 'Dialing In' Mean?

Dialing in refers to the adjustments you make before brewing to get the perfect shot. This includes getting the right grind setting, brewing time, and brewing ratio. Different varieties of beans have different density and oiliness, so baristas have to constantly re-dial in machines to make sure the coffee has been appropriately extracted.

Over-extracted coffee can be bitter, and under-extracted coffee can taste sour. To draw out the perfect flavors, it’s crucial to understand dialing in. That’s why the first thing we looked for in each machine is a straightforward dialing-in process.

What’s a Brewing Ratio?

Espresso being brewed into two glass mugs from a stainless steel machine.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

We calculated the brewing ratio for our tests.

The next thing to understand is the brewing ratio. This is the weight of ground coffee to the weight of liquid espresso in the cup. By adjusting the ratio of a shot, we can change the taste and mouthfeel of the espresso.

Generally, a 1:1 to 1:2 ratio is a ristretto espresso, a 1:2 to 1:3 ratio is a normale espresso, and a 1:3 to 1:4 ratio is a lungo espresso. Smaller ratios give more full-bodied textures, but larger ratios give more clarity in the shot. For context, a typical cup of brewed coffee is around a 1:15 ratio.

To achieve the most precise shot of espresso, we recommend measuring the coffee grounds with a digital scale before you start brewing the espresso. Every country (or even region) has different brewing ratios, as barometric pressure and climate changes the humidity of the coffee grounds. We carefully measured the ratio during our tests to eliminate any chance of unfair judgment on a cup of coffee.

What’s a Portafilter?

Two portafilters on a striped kitchen towel, shot from above.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Gaggia portafilter (left) is wider than the Breville one (right).

A portafilter is a spoon-like device that houses the coffee grounds. It attaches to the grouphead (brewing head) while the brewing process takes place. It has a handle, a spout, a filter basket, and a spring clip.

Typically, an espresso machine offers two sizes of filter baskets. More advanced machines might have four filter baskets, including two single-walled filter baskets. The single-walled baskets are for experienced users, who are more comfortable creating espresso shots to their personal preferences.

To securely attach the portafilter to the brewing head, insert the notches (on the edge of the filter) under the grouphead and give it a slight twist. Although the mechanism is almost always the same, different types of portafilters can suit different needs.

For beginners, it’s wise to start with a pressurized portafilter, which gives the ground coffee additional pressure to ensure consistency. It greatly reduces small mistakes that newbies might make in terms of tamping and grind size. As your skills improve, you can move on to more advanced portafilters and baskets, including bottomless options.

How Much Pressure is Enough?

By forcing hot water under high pressure through finely-ground coffee beans, espresso machines produce gorgeously syrupy, dense coffee. In 1884, Italian inventor Angelo Moriondo patented the first known steam-driven espresso machine. Today’s electric machines generate even more pressure.

The optimal output pressure on the grouphead is between 9 to 10 bars. To reach that, the water pump must achieve 15 bars. You can buy machines with more powerful pressure pumps, if you want. But for at-home use, anything beyond 15 bars won’t do much, except maybe raise your utility bill.

What Difference Does a Steam Wand Make?

The steaming wand on Breville Infuser in a mug of milk, shot from above.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The steam wand on the Breville Infuser can froth different types of foam.

To create the most nuanced latte, an espresso machine should produce silky, velvety microfoam without large bubbles. The quality of the steam wand can change the whole value of a machine. Lower-grade wands tend to create milk foam that’d be called a “latte-cino,” which is a barista’s nightmare.

What’s the Verdict on Built-In Grinders?

A close-up of the Barista Touch's built-in burr grinder filled with coffee beans.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Breville Barista Touch has a built-in burr grinder.

In our roundup, we tested four machines with built-in burr grinders. The big issue with a built-in grinder is longevity, and it’s hard to gauge that during a testing period. Although Breville sells the burr replacements on Amazon, it may still be a hassle to have to fix a broken grinder.

If you’re determined to buy a machine with a built-in grinder, avoid oily coffee beans. The oil makes cleaning and maintenance more difficult.

For coffee drinkers with a tight budget, we advise dividing the budget in half, and getting a high-quality grinder along with your espresso machine. Low-end grinders don’t micromanage the size of the grind, making it impossible to get the espresso you want.

Meet the testers

Valerie Li Stack

Valerie Li Stack

Senior Staff Writer

@

Valerie Li Stack is a senior staff writer for Kitchen & Cooking. She is an experienced home cook with a passion for experimenting with the cuisines of countries she's visited. Driven by an interest in food science, Valerie approaches the culinary scene with a firm grasp of cooking processes and extensive knowledge of ingredients. She believes food speaks to all people regardless of language and cultural background.

See all of Valerie Li Stack's reviews
Monica Petrucci

Monica Petrucci

Editor, Kitchen & Cooking

@monicatpetrucci

Monica is Reviewed's Kitchen & Cooking editor and an avid home cook; she's been testing a wide range of kitchen products at Reviewed for two years. Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine (and a former barista), she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.

See all of Monica Petrucci's reviews

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