The Best Espresso Machines of 2026

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Dimensions: 12.7 x 13.7 x 16.1 inches
• Water tank capacity: 95 ounces
• Pressure: 15 bar pump
• Steam wand: Yes
• Built-in grinder: Yes

Just like many other Café appliances, a major allure of this espresso machine is its design.

And there's a lot to like beyond just its looks; it boasts a spacious 95-ounce water tank, a built-in grinder with 15 adjustable grind sizes, and a helpful accompanying app to customize drinks and keep track of regular descaling.

However, we ran into some hiccups during testing. Certain grind settings quickly clogged the machine, and we had a hard time cleaning and re-adjusting to achieve normally pulled espresso shots. The grinder was also inconsistent, dispensing a different volume of grounds despite our keeping the settings the same—which often resulted in a mess throughout and around the machine.

We also weren't impressed with the crema levels that topped the espresso shots from the machine, or the fact that the steam wand doesn't seem powerful enough to produce a decidedly hot latte or cappuccino. Plus, multiple reviewers have called out frequent issues with water leakage and labels on the buttons wearing off quickly.

All that is to say: Beauty is valued over brains with this espresso machine.

• 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.

• 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.