It used to be difficult to make café-quality espresso drinks at home, but the best new models have made it much easier. Better still, you can get a machine capable of producing superb beverages for less than $1,000.
After over 120 hours of study and testing, we believe the Breville Bambino Plus is the perfect choice for both beginning and intermediate aficionados. It’s powerful and simple to use, capable of producing consistent, rich shots and steaming precisely textured milk. The Bambino Plus also boasts a sleek, compact design that makes it ideal for most kitchens.
Best Espresso Machines
- Breville Bambino Plus
- Gaggia Classic Pro
- Breville Barista Touch
Breville Bambino Plus
Capacity: 64 oz (1.9L) – Power: 110-120V – Material: Brushed stainless steel – Pressure: 15 bar Italian pump – Automatic Microfoam Milk Texturing: Yes – Manual Milk Texturing: Yes – Cup Warmer: Yes – Weight: 9.3lbs (4.2kg) – Dimensions: 19.6 x 32 x 31 cm
The Breville Bambino Plus is simple, fast, and enjoyable to use. It allows you to produce really nice espresso beverages at home. The user manual is simple to grasp, and with a little practice, you’ll be able to produce rich and consistent shots while still capturing some of the subtle nuances of premium roasts.
Perhaps most impressive is the Bambino Plus’s capacity to produce velvety milk froth comparable to that of your favorite barista—whether you select the super-quick auto-froth setting or manually steam the milk. The Bambino is also tiny, so it should fit into any kitchen.
Gaggia Classic Pro
Capacity: 72 oz (2.1L) – Power: 110-120V – Material: stainless steel housing – Pressure: 15 bar pump – Milk Texturing Capability: Capable of creating microfoam for latte art – Weight: 9.3lbs (4.2kg) – Dimensions: 24 x 20 x 36 cm
The Gaggia Classic Pro is an improved version of the Gaggia Classic, a popular entry-level machine for decades due to its simple, approachable design and ability to produce quality espresso shots. While the Classic Pro’s steam wand is slightly better over the Classic’s, it still lacks precision when compared to the Breville Bambino Plus. It also has difficulty producing silky milk froth (though it can do so after some practice).
The Pro isn’t as simple for beginners to handle as our top recommendation, but it can yield shots with more complexity and acidity—and frequently more intense crema (video). If you prefer straight espresso, the Gaggia’s advantages may exceed its disadvantages.
Breville Barista Touch
Capacity: 67 oz (2L) – Material: Brushed stainless steel – Pressure: 15 bar Italian pump – Milk Texturing: Yes – Built-in grinder: yes – Grinder Capacity: 8 oz (227 g) – Weight: 26.8lbs (12.2kg) – Dimensions: 32.5 x 39.4 x 40.6 cm
The Breville Barista Touch provides plenty of help in the form of a touchscreen control center with step-by-step lessons and different programs, making it ideal for novices. However, it also features complex controls and manual operation for more experienced users and those who wish to be creative. It includes a high-quality built-in grinder and an adjustable auto-froth setting for milk, allowing you to control the quantity of foam produced.
The Touch is an excellent choice if you want a machine that lets you jump right in and start creating nice beverages without having to watch a slew of how-to videos online. Even a guest could probably walk up and make a drink on this machine without too much difficulty. Those with greater experience, on the other hand, are unlikely to be bored; you may choose how much control you want over each phase of the drink-making process. The Barista Touch is equally as consistent as the smaller Breville Bambino Plus, but it has a bit more strength, extracting balanced shots and foaming milk with ease.