We updated this article in July 2022 to ensure all products tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab were in stock and correctly priced.
The best home espresso machines can help you get your espresso, Americano, latte or cappuccino fix right in the comfort of your own kitchen. Traditional coffee shop machines can seem like huge, unknowable beasts, but home espresso machines can have you pulling a shot with a good "crema" (the creamy, light-colored surface of an espresso) in no time. Some espresso makers will grind beans for you, pack the grounds and make your cup with just the push of a button, while others will require you to learn to fill a hopper (known as a portafilter) with grounds and tamp them (which means to compress the grounds into a puck so the hot, pressurized water can extract a lot of flavor as it passes through quickly).
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has a century-plus history of testing kitchen appliances and all types of coffee makers, including pour over coffee makers, single-cup brewers, French presses, drip coffee makers, portable coffee makers for camping, cold brew coffee makers and so much more. To find the best home espresso machine, we tested a mix of super-automatic, automatic, semi-automatic and capsule machines, selected based on popular brands, best-selling machines and attributes like built-in milk frothers and/or coffee bean grinders.
Our top picks:
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1
Best Overall Espresso Machine
La Specialista De'Longhi
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2
Best Value Espresso Machine
VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine by De'Longhi Nespresso
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3
Best Professional Espresso Machine for Home
Barista Pro Breville
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4
Best Automatic Espresso Machine
Bambino Plus Breville
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5
Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker Keurig
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Read on for notes on how we test espresso machines. We also share our Kitchen Lab's top tips on what to consider when shopping for an espresso machine as well as a guide to the different types, so you can figure out which is right for you.
1
Best Overall Espresso Machine
La Specialista
2
Best Value Espresso Machine
VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine by De'Longhi
3
Best Professional Espresso Machine for Home
Barista Pro
4
Best Automatic Espresso Machine
Bambino Plus
5
Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker
6
BEST SEMIAUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINE
Carezza Deluxe Espresso Machine
7
Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine
8
Easiest Espresso Machine to Make Lattes and Cappucinos at Home
3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
Philips Kitchen Appliances
9
Best Compact Capsule Espresso Machine
Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso Machine
How we test espresso machines
We evaluate each espresso maker for ease of use, time to brew, consistency, taste, temperature and noise level. In our most recent test, we rounded up well over 20 espresso machines in the Lab, brewing more than 60 cups of espresso. To find the top performers, we test the timing and temperature of multiple straight espressos and note the quality of the crema. We also rate the flavor and smoothness of each drink. If the machine includes a milk frother, we test it with both skim and oat milks. Where applicable, we use the machine's preset options to make cappuccinos and lattes to compare the milk ratio of each and to assess the quality of the frothing.
Our favorite machines are easy to set up, simple to use without a user manual, quick to heat up and reasonably fast to brew. The best machines produced a hot, smooth cup of espresso that had depth and wasn't too bitter or acidic, with crema that was smooth without any noticeable air bubbles.
How to shop for the best espresso machine
✔️ Type: When shopping for espresso machines, the first thing to consider is type. Do you want a traditional hands-on machine that uses grounds and a portafilter or one that's more hands-off with a built-in grinder or even one that uses capsules. Each have their pros and cons. (More on each type below.)
✔️ Size: Consider how much space you have to allocate to your espresso maker. The more customizable ones are usually bigger while the smaller ones are typically more straight forward with fewer brewing options.
✔️ Price: A good espresso maker with features like a built-in grinder and multiple drink options, can be expensive; a simple machine is usually more affordable. However, some espresso makers that seem straightforward but make a good and balanced cup can be costly due to higher-quality materials and more effective heaters, milk frothers or technology.
✔️ Clean-up: In our experience, espresso makers are easy to clean. Typically just the milk frother needs to be cleaned after each use, and the drip tray can be emptied and washed as needed. Some have milk containers that connect to the machine with a straw, which can be tricky to clean, and large drip trays can be clunkier.
What is the best type of espresso machine?
An espresso machine is an investment — especially if you want one with all the bells and whistles. There are several ways to make espresso, with manual, semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic and pod machines all available to the home barista, so it's important to consider the type that fits your needs.
✔️ Manual machines require finely ground beans that are scooped into a portafilter and tamped down. The filter is attached to the brew head and a lever is used to manually pull water through the grounds. It is the most customizable method but arguably the most difficult to master.
✔️ Semi-automatic machines are similar to manual machines in terms of preparation, but they operate with a button or dial that automates the water flow instead of a lever, and the size of the brew is controllable.
✔️ Automatic machines use a button instead of a lever to brew espresso. The size of the espresso or coffee-drink is automated and often programmable. This method offers more consistency than a manual or semi-automatic machine, making them super easy to use and nabbing top scores in Lab tests.
✔️ Super-automatic machines are a step above automatic machines. In addition to automated and programmable coffee sizes, they can also grind beans, measure them out and often tamp them. These tended to be our favorite in Lab testing for their do-it-all performance.
✔️ Capsule machines use capsules or pods filled with pre-measured coffee to make espresso or other coffee drinks. They offer the most consistency and hands-off ease of use.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she oversees all testing and content related to cooking and making drinks. She conducted the last side-by-side test of espresso machines and uses at least one daily. Her favorites are easy to use and clean and — most importantly — deliver a rich and balanced cup of espresso.
Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping Institute Director, Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab Nicole runs the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab where she oversees the content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear; she's an experienced product tester and developer, as well as recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition.
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