The 12 Best Espresso Machines To Use For Your Morning Coffee

When Americans are asked to name their favorite beverage, coffee is usually the one to come out on top. In fact, in a 2022 survey conducted by the National Coffee Association (NCA), 66% of Americans responded to say they have at least one coffee-based drink per day (via Food & Beverage Insider). That makes it the most popular beverage in the U.S. — surpassing both bottled and tap water. In the past few years, consumption of espresso-based drinks has also been on the rise, with NCA reporting a 30% increase in people choosing lattes, americanos, and espressos over other coffee drinks.

Espresso — a distinct category of coffee originating from Italy — has long had its diehard fans, exalting the intense, pure flavor of a well-pulled shot. Roasty Coffee explains that espresso machines use high pressure to push hot water through your coffee grounds to pull a shot of espresso in under 30 seconds. This results in a thick, syrupy liquid filled with aromatic oils, and the distinctive foam — or "crema" — that floats atop the surface. 

If you prefer the bolder flavor of espresso but are reluctant to put on pants before getting your morning fix, then you may want to consider purchasing your own espresso machine — giving you that freshly-brewed flavor from the comfort of your own home. Here are 12 of the best espresso machines — ranging from simple no-brainer affairs to the latest gadgets for the coffee geek.

The De'Longhi Stilosa is a compact and affordable manual espresso machine for those wanting to dive a little deeper into learning to pull the perfect shot. Roasty Coffee explains that the Stilosa is "perfect for people who are just starting out, are wanting an inexpensive option, or don't have much counter space to work with."

Weighing less than 10 pounds, and at a retail price of under $100, the De'longhi Stilosa boasts features that promise to help produce quality espresso drinks at home. It comes with a portafilter with two filters — for single and double shots of espresso — a manual milk frother, and a durable stainless steel boiler. It also has a pump pressure of 15 bars, which ensures that a high enough pressure is used to extract your espresso. This is important, as Bean Ground explains that espresso pulled at lower pressure results in the hot water sitting in contact with your ground beans for a longer period — giving you a bitter, over-extracted shot. Additionally, if you are in a rush or are not in the mood to set up your machine but still need a jolt of caffeine, the Stilosa is also compatible with easy-serve espresso (ESE) pods.

The De'Longhi Stilosa is an affordably priced espresso machine that still provides the essential features required to produce a good espresso. At under three digits, you can experiment and learn the ins and outs of pulling espresso without breaking the bank.

If the process of choosing whole beans, grinding them, tamping them in the portafilter, pulling the shot, and cleaning your machine sounds exhausting, a Nespresso machine may be the ideal choice for you. The easy-to-use machines offer consistency, convenience, and a large variety of coffee capsules for you to choose from. Out of the range of machines available at Nespresso, the Essenza Mini is the most affordable and compact option but performs just as well as other models. The New York Times states: "We like the compact Nespresso Essenza Mini because it makes the same quality coffee as machines that cost hundreds more, without any extra frills."

The Essenza Mini makes espressos, ristrettos, and lungos — ristrettos having half the amount of water as a regular espresso, and lungos twice the amount — and can be bundled with the Aeroccino3 milk frother to make hot milk drinks. Even with the added cost of an Aeroccino3, the Essenza Mini is still more affordable than Nespresso's other machines with built-in steam wands or milk frothers. Additionally, as the smallest Nespresso machine available, its diminutive size ensures that it will fit into any kitchen, and is easy to operate and clean.

If you are looking to purchase a Nespresso machine for a convenient and reliable experience, consider ditching the bells and whistles of the more advanced models, and stick with the Nespresso Essenza Mini for a fraction of the price.

Coming in at 0.64 pounds and five inches in height, the Wacaco Minipresso NS2 is the smallest espresso machine on the list. It is a device that allows you to make espresso on the go, and Forbes names it one of the five best portable coffee makers for travel. With the only requirements to operate being access to hot water and your favorite Nespresso-compatible capsule, it's not hard to see why critics are raving about it.

Completely hand-powered, it does not rely on batteries or electricity, making it possible to bring the Minipresso NS2 on camping trips or to rural areas where power is not easily accessible. The instructions are simple to use — just fill the water tank with hot water, pop the capsule in its compartment, and pump the piston several times to create pressure to extract your espresso. There is little room for error, and cleaning it is a breeze.

Without the need to grind beans or seek out a power outlet, the Wacaco Minipresso NS2 is truly the most convenient option for the individual who wants their espresso anytime, anywhere.  

According to Espresso Outlet, a prosumer espresso machine is one that straddles the line between professional and consumer. The Lelit Anna is one such machine designed for use in the home kitchen but comes with commercial-grade features found in professional machines. If you were looking to upgrade from a more simple setup to an espresso machine that allows you to fine-tune your brewing process, the Lelit Anna is a good choice to enter the prosumer range. While reviewing the Lelit Anna and several other espresso machines in its price range, author and popular coffee authority James Hoffman said he was "a little bit impressed" by the Anna, and declared it to be good value for its price.

The Anna comes in two versions, one with a proportional integral derivative (PID) system, and one without. The one with a PID system, the Anna PL41TEM, allows the user to control the boiler temperature, which ensures a more consistent water temperature used to pull espresso shots. The machine also comes with a pressure gauge, which shows the number of bars of pressure that were used to extract the shot, with the optimal pressure range highlighted in green on the display. These features allow you to have more control and information on how to adjust your brewing process, resulting in better espresso shots and a greater learning experience.

The Breville Barista Pro comes with the brand's Smart Grinder Pro, a manual steam wand, and an LCD screen to display information about things such as grind size, water temperature, and brew time. If you are new to coffee, this makes your learning journey much easier, as you are able to accurately control the variables that can affect your espresso, and it eliminates the need to buy extra equipment. As Wired describes, the Baristo Pro is "a coffeehouse in a box."

There is much to like about the Baristo Pro — it comes with Breville's Thermojet heating system for rapid water heating and a PID system for accurate temperature control. The conical burr grinder has 30 grind settings, and the machine comes with pre-set calibrations that you can either use as is, or easily change to suit your beans. The LCD display makes the Barista Pro incredibly easy to use as well, and the dosing funnel is a nice touch to prevent your coffee grinds from spilling everywhere and causing a mess.

Breville has long been a reliable producer of espresso machines for the home kitchen. With the Barista Pro, the brand has brought its all-in-one model to a higher level with new technology that provides ease of use and a gentle learning experience. 

Launched in November 2022, the La Marzocco Linea Micra has the highest price on this list, beating out the Decent Espresso DE1 Pro. Its predecessor, the Linea Mini, was launched as a smaller version of the commercial-grade Linea Classic found in cafés around the world. However, La Marzocco decided to release the Micra as an espresso machine designed for the home kitchen, with a smaller footprint and a lower price. The brand invites users to "bring the café home" with the Linea Micra.

Featuring components found in its larger commercial siblings, the Linea Micra comes with a dual boiler system for seamless switching between steaming and pulling shots, a PID temperature control system, and a rotary vane pump to create even pressure. La Marzocco also introduced a convertible portafilter with the Linea Micra, which allows you to switch between single spout, double spout, and bottomless portafilters. This is important if you wish to switch to a bottomless portafilter to spot any issues with your espresso dosing, leveling, or tamping, or if you want to split your double shot with the double spout portafilter (via Sip Coffee House).

The La Marzocco Linea Micra is an attractive option with a hefty price tag. But with its undeniable aesthetic appeal, heritage, and high-quality components that promise professional-grade performance, it is no wonder that coffee aficionados are willing to splurge on what promises to be the best espresso machine for your morning coffee.