The 6 Best Affordable Espresso Machines, Tested and Reviewed by Our Editors
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You can save a bundle by making your daily latte at home instead of trekking to the nearest fancy café…but will you need to invest in a pricy appliance to do it? Not necessarily, friend. There are tons of reasonably priced espresso machines on the market—including some models that cost less than $100. Before you add the top search result to your cart and hope for the best, read on for PureWow editors’ reviews of six of the best affordable espresso machines, including models by popular brands like Breville, De’Longhi and Mr. Coffee. (Spoiler: One of them will only set you back $60.)
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The Best Affordable Espresso Machines, at a Glance
How We Tested the Best Affordable Espresso Machines
After scouring the internet for brands and models that are popular and well-reviewed, I gathered a team of editors to test the top machines that cost $300 or less. Our editors assembled their machines according to manufacturer instructions and prepared both plain espresso shots and milk-based drinks to properly review them. After completing those tests, the editors rated their machines based on the following five factors:
The Wirsh Espresso Machine
TOTAL: 95/100
PureWow Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak found this 20-bar espresso maker, complete with a steamer and removable water tank, a breeze. “It’s a super simple, easy-to-use machine that is great if you’re looking for one that only makes espresso,” she says.
Not only is the Wirsh appliance painless to set up, but it’s also pretty intuitive, even for beginners. “I ended up being able to use most of it without even looking at the instructions,” Dubyak said, “though when I did look at them, they streamlined the process. It came nearly fully assembled…I love that it only has four buttons and a knob, especially when all I want is a little espresso. There’s no guessing what you need to do in order to get it.” The machine does require preheating, but it does it automatically, not manually. It’s a solid pick for kitchens with limited counterspace, as Dubyak says it’s notably slim.
As for the espresso, she felt it was tasty every time, but not the best she’s ever tried. “I’ve definitely had richer espressos before, but for the price and the effectiveness of the machine, it makes a damn good shot of espresso. The espresso by itself was a little under-extracted, so it’s honestly a great pick for someone who doesn’t love anything too deep or rich. But it still tastes smooth without any shocking bitterness.” The steamer also expertly foams milk (although the results vary by how you prepare it), making for a great texture that she describes as “marshmallow-y.”
The main downside? “The machine is a little lightweight, so you have to hold it when you add the portafilter, or it will tip. You have to pull the handle very tightly,” claims Dubyak. She also wishes the ledge was higher up, so the espresso didn’t splash when it hits the cup. But all in all, it’s a dependable steal that’s worth the buy.
The Hamilton Beach Slide & Lock Espresso Maker
TOTAL: 94/100
If you’re looking for a basic espresso machine that doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, PureWow Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay recommends this Hamilton Beach one. “I do think it’s worth it if you want a no-frills espresso machine that’s a compact size, easy on the eyes and (bonus!) can also froth milk,” she explains, “but I deducted two points for value because $150 is edging toward a steep price for a one-trick pony.”
It requires minimal assembly and is button-operated for convenience. “Once you add water and grounds and get the portafilter locked in place, all you do is press a button. The lock can be finicky though, so be sure to not go above the max fill line in the portafilter; if it’s overfilled, it won’t lock, and I almost broke it trying to jam it closed—whoops!”
If you’re new to the espresso game, this appliance will show you the difference between standard drip and a fresh shot. “The taste is bold and aromatic but not bitter or overpowering. The mouthfeel is a little thin, but it doesn’t taste watered down,” asserts Yohay. She was also surprised by how consistent the machine is: “The brewing time is up to the user, as opposed to an automatic shut-off, but I tried both the short- and long-time frames and both came out tasting great. Just don’t walk away after hitting brew!”
Yohay was also charmed by its retro design. “It looks like a miniaturized version of an old school espresso machine you’d see in an Italian cafe, complete with a pressure dial that lets you track pressure levels while brewing. It’s not the most high-end espresso machine I’ve seen, but the black and stainless-steel colorway fits in perfectly with my other appliances, and the small compact size is an apartment-dweller’s dream.”
The De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine
TOTAL: 93/100
“I think this machine makes a pretty great espresso overall,” explains PureWow Assistant Editor Delia Curtis, “but I do feel like there are times that a lot of liquid comes out of the machine into the portafilter, so when you make your espresso, there can be overflow. When you open the portafilter to get rid of the grounds, sometimes it’s quite liquid-y. This leads me to believe that it’s not pulling in as much water as it could, or that the grounds’ compactness needs to be adjusted.”
That said, this De’Longhi gem is so easy to use (and basically requires no assembly) that newbies will feel like total naturals once they fire up some shots. “There are only knobs—as opposed to buttons—and when you turn it on, there’s a little green light that turns on when the water is done heating up indicating that it’s time to start brewing. The water has to preheat, but it doesn’t take longer than a couple minutes,” they say.
Note that there are no fancy accoutrements with this machine—just the water tank and frother— although it’s sure to look chic on your countertop. “I love the black and silver combo,” says Curtis. “I feel like it would fit into just about everyone’s kitchen. It has a very modern design and it’s small enough to live on my counter without taking up too much space.” As for the shots themselves, Curtis describes them as “nice and strong with a creamy, frothy full body.”
The Breville Bambino
TOTAL: 95/100
It’s the most expensive model on our list, but PureWow VP of News and Entertainment Phil Mutz asserts that Breville’s most affordable espresso machine is worth the spend. “I love how quickly and easily I can whip up a cappuccino! Given how much I spend buying coffee drinks from Starbucks or Dunkin’, the machine is going to pay for itself pretty fast,” he says.
Mutz believes the espresso machine can be mastered by anyone on the first try, and that it’s a breeze to fire up. “You just run it once with water to clean it, and it doesn’t take up a ton of space on my counter, meaning I don’t have to store it away between uses. I just fill the tank in the back with tap water, add the coffee grounds and push a few buttons,” he says.
The fussiest factor is cleaning the steaming wand: “Removing the residual milk can require a bit of elbow grease,” he explains. (He also notes a brief delay when you press the water or steam button to turn it off, so he advises hitting the button a few seconds before you want the hot water or steam to stop coming out of the wand.) That said, the wand is also Mutz’s favorite part of the machine. “I love that I can steam my own milk at home so quickly and easily. I’ve had a Nespresso machine for years, but that only gave me espresso or coffee. I love that I can make myself a frothy cappuccino or a milky latte with a fair amount of ease.”
Once you nail your brewing method, creamy, full-bodied shots await—and they’re virtually impossible to mess up. “I find the espresso to be a bit bitter, which I don’t mind since I just toss in some sugar to sweeten things up,” Mutz explains. “I also love that the Bambino makes a hot espresso shot or latte, but it isn’t so hot that it’s undrinkable or will burn my mouth. I’m a particular fan of the Bambino’s cappuccino, which delivers a great, creamy froth with the steam wand.”
The Capresso Café Espresso Machine
TOTAL: 92/100
PureWow Editorial Assistant Courtney Mason had never used an espresso maker before trying the Capresso, but she caught on instantly. “I think this is a good quality machine, perfect for any newbie,” she raves. “It produces quality coffee and is very user-friendly. The assembling and cleaning process is also very simple. My only gripe is there’s a long reheating process every time you replug in the machine.”
With a sleek black body, silver accents and a touchscreen, it’s decidedly sleek and modern in looks. The machine consistently produces shots that Mason describes as “bitter but sweet. They also have lots of crema, and the body was dense but not too thick. Another bonus with this machine is that there’s a timer that starts while the shots pour. It takes 25 seconds for a double and 15 seconds for a single.”
One fancy feature Mason loves is the mug warmer. “All you have to do is place your cup atop the machine and it stays warm while you brew,” she explains. It also includes a scoop that doubles as a tamper, which helps newbies properly pack the grounds into the portafilter (and feel like genuine baristas). It may take a bit of troubleshooting (“when I first started using this machine, the portafilter would jam a bit and was somewhat difficult to lock in; however, it doesn’t give me this problem anymore,” Mason asserts) but it’ll be well worth the practice.
The Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Maker
TOTAL: 92/100
The cheapest espresso machine on our list, the Mr. Coffee maker won PureWow Associate Editor Chelsea Candelario over at first brew. “This espresso machine is the most affordable from what I’ve seen,” she says, “and it gets the job of creating drinks done. However, I know there are probably more luxurious machines that are lot less manual.”
If you’re willing to sacrifice some automatic features in favor of price, look no further. Despite requiring more manual effort, the machine is easy to use. “The instructions were so clear, and I didn’t have to configure too many buttons to make an espresso, cappuccino or latte. It’s so simple to refill the water and pour the grounds in the portafilter. The cleanup is also pretty quick and easy without having to do too much,” says Candelario.
If you like a bitter, bold shot, you may appreciate this machine even more. “The espresso alone was a bit bitter, but I did enjoy it with milk and sugar. It provided a nice blend of both that made the cappuccino or latte worth it.” There are a few quirks that may take some getting used to. “The instructions are laid out perfectly and even if I forget, the most important rule (which is to release the steam after each use) is written on the machine. The only annoying part is locking in the portafilter. It takes all my strength to pull it, but I can imagine some people (like my grandmother) would have a hard time doing that over and over again. That said, I love how simple it was to make drinks. There’s only a dial (brew or steam) to worry about. All the tools are given to you (a measuring spoon, frother and water pitcher).” It’s practically foolproof.
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