The Best Home Espresso Machine

Superautomatic espresso machines are a great alternative for those who do not have barista experience but still would like to enjoy premium coffee at home. These machines are equipped with automatic features and are also digitally-controlled. They also heat up quickly and don't take up a lot of counter space.

This model comes with a programmable volumetric dose and an adjustable preinfusion. It also includes steam wand, commercial grade group head.

1. Breville Bambino Plus

The Bambino Plus, despite its cute name, is a serious machine. It's packed with features and makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to upgrade from the basic Breville espresso machines or need a more automated alternative than manual.

It is equipped with a PID controller to manage the temperature and pressure control, so it's ready to brew at the push of a button. It also uses a technology called Thermo Jet that lets it heat up in just 3 seconds, so you can enjoy your espresso quicker than other home espresso machines (which take 10 to 30 minutes to warm up).

The machine was built with simplicity in mind. There is just one button to manage everything. You can choose a single or double shot, and you can also set the brewing time, which is something you have to do manually with other espresso machines in this price range. The polished stainless finish gives it a classy appearance, and its compact dimensions are ideal for those with a small counter space or a tighter kitchen.

The Bambino Plus also comes with all of the accessories you need to start brewing, including a metal 54 mm tamper and the dose trimmer tool. This is the only machine of its kind to do this. It shows how Breville wants to make their products as foolproof and reliable as is possible. It also comes with built-in reminders for cleaning and descaling to keep it running smoothly.

If you're a novice to espresso and want to learn more, the Bambino Plus is arguably the best choice for an basic home espresso machine. It's simple to use, heats up quickly, and it automatically texts milk for you. The high cost of the product could be too expensive for some people.

2. De'Longhi Stilosa

The De'Longhi Stilosa manual espresso machine is an excellent, budget-friendly choice that's perfect for both novices and coffee lovers. It's simple to use, looks great on the counter, and makes excellent cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes. However, it has some drawbacks, which should be taken into consideration.

The Stilosa scored below average for its brew control and quality in our metrics for brewing. This was due to the small filter baskets and the absence of a temperature control. Both of these aspects restrict your ability to adjust the extraction. However, we did 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 model also comes with a water reservoir that can hold up to 34 ounces. It also has an integrated level indicator to let you know when to refill. It's removable, which is useful if you need to clean it or don't have access to a sink. Another feature new to this model is a removable drip tray that lets you put taller cups on the spout.

Stilosa was also a disappointment in our steaming measurements. This was mainly due to its insufficient control over steam temperature and the absence of a pre-infusion feature that are typical features on more expensive machines. Despite its 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 seen and will help you save money on cafe drinks.

3. Breville Barista Express Impress

The Breville Express Impress Barista (that's quite a mouthful, wouldn't you think?) is a machine designed specifically for those who are interested in learning about espresso. This single boiler, pumps-driven machine is designed to make it simple for anyone to take an espresso shot without sacrificing flavor or consistency in the brewing.

First of all it takes the guesswork out of adjusting the grinder, tamper and brew group settings using its easy-to-use controls. You can also choose between double or single shots and choose the temperature you prefer. The built-in thermocoil heater guarantees that your espresso will be ready to drink in just 30 seconds. This is a lot faster than the 30-minute wait most single boiler machines require to get to temperature.

The "impressive" dosing-andamping system that is integrated with the tamper adjusts the amount of ground coffee for each shot. This system uses a sensor to measure the depth of the basket and adjusts the amount of ground coffee that is dispensed. If you're less confident about your ability to control manually the size of the grind, water temperature and dosing, coffee machine espresso the machine offers several presets to aid you.

The Barista Express Impress also comes with the famous single hole steam wand, which can produce some pretty impressive latte artwork. It's the same wand you will find in Breville's more sophisticated, premium Barista Express models, and it's a great tool.

I'm not one who advocates for coffee shortcuts, fully automatic machines or even pods however, the Impress does what it's designed to do without becoming intimidating or taking away the enjoyment of making an excellent espresso. I'm glad to give it a thumbs-up for this!

4. Diletta Mio

The Diletta Mio is a great option for home baristas who prioritize quality design, aesthetics and user-friendliness. Its sleek design, professional-grade components, and consistently high-quality performance make it a stunning addition to your coffee area. It's also a great choice for beginners who want to master the basics of espresso and steaming without getting overwhelmed by programming and complexity.

The brew heater that is controlled by PID is one of its most striking features. It guarantees quick warming-up times and stable temperatures of water. This is important, especially for espresso, as even tiny variations in temperature of the water can affect the taste and quality.

Another notable feature is steaming thermoblock that is separate to the Diletta that allows you to brew espresso and steam your milk at the same time. This can be a major time saver, and also assists in ensuring that your milk is of the proper texture for your drinks. This saves energy as it only requires power when needed.

The machine has a pressure gauge on the group head. It's a nice addition because it lets you check the pressure of your extraction in real time. You can adjust the OPV to fine-tune the extraction, which gives you the ability to customize your extraction, something that is 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. The insulated wrap helps reduce heat loss, and its dual-temperature control system reduces static electricity. This means less waste and lower costs.

Some users have complained about the lengthy repair times and poor durability of this machine. Diletta has also been criticized for its poor customer service and difficulty in resolving warranty problems.

5. Jura E8

This high-end super-automatic machine is capable of offering many different specialty drinks that can be prepared with just a single button. It also makes macchiato, cappuccino and ristretto and flat whites as well as tea, hot chocolate and plain coffee. Its cutting-edge brewing technology and sleek color display are just some of the features that set this machine apart from the rest.

The E8 utilizes an Aroma G3 grinder to provide a quick and accurate grind of whole beans. It has eight grind settings that may appear to be a lot when contrasted with other super automatics that only have three or four. But the reality is that the higher setting gives you more control over the size and consistency of your grind and this is essential for creating a great cup of coffee.

In addition to the powerful burr grinder, the Jura E8 has an intelligent pre-infusion system and a pulse extraction process, both responsible for creating a high-quality cup of espresso each time. The PEP process pushes water through the ground coffee in short bursts, which allows the flavor to be fully extracted. The result is more full and more flavorful than instant coffee brewed with the Keurig.

The Jura E8 can make a variety of drinks and it does it extremely well. It makes a robust smooth cappuccino, as well as an excellent espresso. The only drawback is that it's not able to make the proper latte that requires the pressure from steam boilers to produce an extremely thick foam.

Like most super automatics however, this one does require a bit of maintenance however it is relatively easy to keep clean. It will automatically descale and clean itself after each use. It is easy to program it to perform an additional thorough cleaning once or twice a year. It will also remind you to change the filter every 80 drinks.