The Best Home Espresso Machine
A superautomatic espresso machine is the perfect option for those who don't have barista skills but still would like to enjoy a quality cup of coffee at home. These machines come with automatic features and digital convenience. They are quick to heat up and don't take up any counter space.
This model features programmable volumetric dosing and an adjustable pre-infusion. It includes a steaming wand and a commercial-grade grouphead.
1. Breville Bambino Plus
The Bambino Plus, despite its cute name is an actual machine. It is packed with features and makes it a great option for those looking to upgrade from the standard Breville espresso machines or wants a more automated alternative than manual.
It uses a PID controller to manage the temperature and pressure control, so it's ready for brewing when you press the button. It uses a technology known as Thermo jet that allows it to to heat up in just 3 seconds. This means you can get your coffee faster than other espresso machines at home.
The machine was created with simplicity in mind. There is just one button to manage everything. You can select one shot or a double shot, and set the brewing time which is something you can't do with other espresso machines at this price point. The polished stainless steel finish gives it a premium look, and its compact dimensions make it ideal for those with little countertop space or a tight kitchen.
The Bambino Plus comes with everything you require to get started with brewing. It comes with a metal 54mm tamper as well as a dose trimming tool. This is the only machine of its kind to do this. It shows how Breville wants to ensure that their products are as secure and reliable as they can. It is equipped with reminders to descale and clean it, ensuring it can run smoothly.
If you're new to espresso and want to learn more, the Bambino Plus is arguably the ideal affordable home espresso machine. It's easy to use and has a quick heat-up time and does a decent job of automatically blending milk for you. Its price is out of reach for many people.
2. De'Longhi Stilosa
The De'Longhi Stilosa manual espresso machine is an affordable, well-rounded option that is ideal for novices and coffee lovers. It's simple to use, looks great on the counter, and produces fantastic cappuccinos, great espresso and lattes. However, it does have some drawbacks that need to be considered.
In our brewing metrics, the Stilosa scored between average and below average for its quality of brewing and its control. This was due to the small size of the filter baskets and the absence of temperature control, which both make it difficult to alter the extraction process. We did however like the fact that it takes only a few minutes for the machine to heat up and it has a nice amount of adjustability on the spout height.
The unit also has a convenient water reservoir that can hold up to 34 ounces. It comes with an inbuilt indicator for level that lets you know when to refill. It's removable, which is helpful if you want to clean the tank or when you don't have a sink in the vicinity. It also has a removable drip pan that allows you to use taller cups under the spout.
In our steaming metrics, the Stilosa also came up short. This resulted from its lack of control of the temperature of the steam and the absence of pre-infusion features. Both of these are standard features in machines that cost much more. Despite these shortcomings we liked its ease of maintain and comes with a 1 year warranty. The De'Longhi Stilosa is a great addition to a home coffee bar. It's much easier to use than other models we've tested and can save money on cafe drinks.
3. Breville Barista Express Impress
The Breville Express Impress Barista (that's quite a mouthful, wouldn't you agree?) This machine is aimed at beginners who are interested in coffee. This single boiler, pumps-driven machine is designed to make it easy for anyone to make an espresso shot without sacrificing flavor or brewing consistency.
The simple controls make it easy to adjust the settings of the grinder, tamper and brew groups. You can select between single and double shots, and the temperature you prefer. espresso machine with grinder heating feature built-in makes sure that your espresso is ready to drink in about 30 seconds which is much quicker than the half-hour the majority of traditional single boiler machines need to get to temperature.
Another feature that is important is the "impressive" dosing and tamping system that works with the tamper in order to dial in the right dose of ground coffee per shot. This system makes use of an integrated sensor to gauge basket depth and adjusts the amount of ground coffee dispersed. If you're a little less confident in the ability to control the size of the grind, water temperature and dosing, the machine comes with a variety of presets to aid you.
The Barista Express Impress also comes with the well-known single hole steam wand, which can create stunning latte art. This is the same wand you'll find in Breville’s high-end Barista Express machines, and it's great.
I'm not one to advocate for coffee shortcuts, fully automated machines or even pods, however the Impress does what it sets out to do without being too difficult or removing the fun of preparing a good shot of espresso. I'm glad to give it a thumbs-up for this!
4. Diletta Mio
The Diletta Mio makes a great choice for home baristas who focus on design, quality and convenience. Its sleek aesthetic, professional-grade components, and consistently high-quality performance make it an ideal conversation piece for your coffee bar. Beginners will also benefit from this machine as it allows them to learn about steaming and espresso without having to think about programming or the complexity.
The brew heater controlled by PID is one of its most impressive features. It ensures rapid warm-up time and stable temperature water. This is crucial, particularly for espresso, because even small changes in the temperature of water can impact the taste and quality.
Another noteworthy feature is steaming thermoblock that is separate to the Diletta that allows you to make espresso and steam milk simultaneously. This is a huge time-saver and assists in ensuring that your milk is of the proper texture for your beverages. This helps conserve energy as it only draws energy only when it is required.
This machine also features a pressure gauge on the group head, which is a nice addition that lets you check the pressure of your extraction in real time. You can adjust the OPV to fine-tune the extraction, which provides you with an option of personalization that's typically reserved for much more expensive machines.
The Diletta also has an accessible side-by-side, easy-to-clean water tank, and an optional energy-saving mode that can be set in increments of 10 minutes up to two hours. Its insulated boiler wrap further reduces heat loss and its dual-temperature technology reduces static electricity, which results in less waste and lower energy costs.
Some users have complained about the lengthy repair time and the poor quality of this machine. In addition, some have had poor customer service from Diletta and have had trouble resolving warranty issues.
5. Jura E8
This premium super-automatic espresso machine has a dazzling array of pre-programmed specialty drinks that can be accessed by pressing the button. It also makes macchiato, cappuccino, ristretto and flat whites as well as tea, hot chocolate, and plain coffee. Its modern brewing technology and elegant color display are only some of the features that distinguish this machine from other machines.
The E8 makes use of the Aroma G3 grinder to grind whole beans quickly and accurately. It comes with eight grind settings which may appear to be a lot when you compare it to other super-automatics that only have three or four. But the fact is, the higher range gives you greater control over the size and consistency of your grind and this is crucial to make a great cup of coffee.
In addition to the powerful burr grinder, the Jura E8 has an intelligent pre-infusion system and pulse extraction process that are both responsible for delivering a premium cup of espresso each time. The PEP process utilizes short bursts in water to force the coffee through the grinder, allowing full flavor extraction. The cup produced is fuller and richer than instant coffee brewed with Keurig. Keurig.
The Jura E8 can make a variety of drinks and does it exceptionally well. It makes an excellent, strong espresso and a smooth and silky cappuccino. The only drawback is that it's not able to make a proper latte, which requires high pressure of steam boilers to produce the thick foam.
As with most super-automatics however, this one does require a bit of maintenance however, it is quite easy to keep clean. It will automatically clean and descale after each use. It can also be easily programmed to do an additional cleaning once or twice per year. It will also remind to change the filter every 80 drinks.