Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
A good first espresso machine should be forgiving enough to get you a decent drink quickly, while still teaching you something about how espresso works. The picks below cover the most common starting points: hands-free milk, a complete all-in-one, and a budget toe-in-the-water.
Whichever you choose, a separate burr grinder makes a bigger difference to taste than almost any machine upgrade — so factor that into the budget if the machine has no grinder.
- #1 · Espresso machine · Mid-range
Breville Bambino Plus
Fast to heat and forgiving thanks to automatic milk frothing, in a compact body.
A compact single-boiler espresso machine that uses Breville's fast ThermoJet heating system and an automatic steam wand to froth milk hands-free.
- #2 · All-in-one · Mid-range
Breville Barista Express
A complete grind-and-brew setup out of the box, with a manual wand to grow into.
An all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder, letting you grind, dose and brew from one unit.
- #3 · Espresso machine · Budget
De'Longhi Stilosa
The lowest-cost way to try real pump espresso before committing more.
An entry-level manual pump espresso machine aimed at people trying real espresso for the first time on a tight budget.
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