The road to being an artist begins with appreciation. If you’re a connoisseur of good espresso beverages and are ready to make some of that magic for yourself and loved ones, we can help.
We’ve compiled a list of the top 6 espresso machines that can cover it all, with Nespresso New Vertuo 1 Cup Black Espresso Machine being our #1 pick.
From the best espresso machine for beginners to the best espresso machine for whatever your tastes and budget are, we’ll get into the details to help make your dream come true.
| Rank | Product | Award |
| 1. | Nespresso New Vertuo 1 Cup Black Espresso Machine | Best espresso machine overall |
| 2. | Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine | Best espresso machine with smart dosing |
| 3. | Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series ES601 | Best espresso machine with grinder |
| 4. | Rancilio Silvia M V6 Espresso Machine | Best manual espresso machine |
| 5. | CasaBrews 3700 Essential Espresso Machine | Best budget espresso machine |
| 6. | CasaBrews CM5418 Espresso Machine | Best espresso machine under $200 |
In the following sections, we take a closer look at our top picks, exploring their unique features, prices, and how to get support.
Established in 1986 as a subsidiary of the Nestlé company, although the initial concept was developed by Éric Favre, an engineer at Nestlé. Nespresso was an attempt to bring international coffee culture into the homes and offices of America at an affordable price.
If you would like to make signature coffees and espressos at home, the Vertuo Next machine offers 6 sizes, including 5, 8, and 12-ounce coffees, as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. It’s also slim (just 55 inches wide), and made of partially recycled materials, so it’s sustainable.
Plus, its precision brewing process will give you a perfect cup of full-bodied coffee topped with a perfect layer of foam every time. Nespresso has over 40 blends and flavors to choose from.
>>Learn the benefits of Nespresso New Vertuo 1 Cup Black Espresso Machine here
Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1932, the Breville company’s name is a combination of the surnames of its founders, Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville. Over the last 93 years, the Breville brand has expanded into over 70 countries with its well-designed and innovative kitchen products.
Unlike many other coffee makers, this espresso machine features an impressive puck system for manual espresso making, along with intelligent dosing that calculates the perfect amount of fresh coffee for a flawless shot every time.
The machine also has a unique assisted tamping method that features the 7-degree barista twist. This replicates the work of a professional barista for a polished puck surface and clean tampa with every cup. There are also 25 different grind settings, so you’ll get the perfect grind every time.
>>Buy the Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine here
The Ninja Luxe Brand was founded by SharkNinja in 2024, with the Premier Series being launched later that year as the company’s first foray into luxury espresso machines.
This is the ultimate triple threat espresso machine featuring espresso, drip, and rapid cold brew capabilities. The Barista assist technology will help you with customized grind size capabilities, weight-based dosing, and active brew adjustments so you can have quality brews with no guesswork.
In addition, assisted tamping will always deliver the perfect puck, ensuring even water distribution for bold, high-quality shots time and again.
>>Get the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series ES601
The Rancilio Silvia was first launched in 1997, but the brand itself was established in 1927 by Roberto Rancilio in Parabiago, Italy. In the years since then, it has become a legendary favorite among home espresso baristas.
If you’re looking for a home espresso machine that looks like something out of a coffee bar in heaven, the Rancilio Sivia will both blind you with its stainless steel finish and seduce you with its mystical brew.
With a small, space-saving footprint, this machine is an all-manual classic. It’s a top pick for the serious barista who wants not only good coffee, but easy access inside for repairs and periodic maintenance, like a race driver who also likes to get in under the hood.
>>Get Rancilio Silvia M V6 Espresso Machine from Walmart
Created by Martin Huang and a group of young coffee enthusiasts and do-it-yourself baristas, CasaBrews was founded in 2020 to provide budget-friendly well well-designed espresso machines.
If you love espresso, but you’re new to making your own, this affordable espresso machine is perfect for home or office. The user-friendly design gives you single and double shot options.
The 20-bar pressure ensures perfect espresso every time, and there’s a powerful steam wand so you’ll consistently get the creamiest latte macchiato and cappuccino froth. Plus, it’s compact, and the 43.9-ounce removable water tank makes it perfect for any space and lets you brew plenty of coffee for refills.
>>Get CasaBrews 3700 Essential Espresso Machine on the official website
Like its counterpart, the 3700 Essential Espresso Machine, the CasaBrews CM5418 Espresso Machine was crafted by a group of young coffee enthusiasts and DIY baristas. The brand itself was founded in 2020.
This compact and cool-looking machine comes with a professional 20-bar Italian pump and a 1350-watt boiler that allows you to make a latte, cappuccino, or flat white at home like a pro.
The milk frothing system has a powerful steam wand that will let you create amazing milk foam art like a professional barista. Plus, the 34 oz. The water tank will make sure you have multiple refills.
In addition, there’s a built-in cup warmer to keep your coffee hot from first to last sip, as well as a removable dip tray and filters.
>>You can get the best CasaBrews CM5418 Espresso Machine deals here
Espresso machines come in a variety of designs, each offering different levels of control, convenience, and features for brewing the perfect shot. Understanding the various types can help you choose the best coffee machine depending on your preferences and skill level.
This is the type of machine preferred by espresso enthusiasts who enjoy the process as much as the reward. Manual machines demand considerable skill as they require the user to control every step of the process, from the water pressure to grinding, tamping, and shot timing.
The best semi-automatic espresso machine will offer a good balance between control and convenience. Some aspects of the process will be automatic, like water temperature and pressure, yet users can still grind, tamp, and determine shot timing.
Except for grinding and tamping, automatic machines control the entire brewing process with programmed and volumetric settings that produce quick, consistent results.
This type of machine is for those who want nothing more than their cup of espresso done for them in the most convenient way possible. Super-automatic machines control the entire brewing process, including grinding and tamping, and run on totally automated pre-programmed settings.
Capsule/pod espresso machines are made to produce single cups of espresso using pre-packaged capsules or pods containing already dosed, tamped, and ground coffee. You simply insert the pod in the machine, where hot water is added to produce your beverage, and drain it into a cup.
>>Get the Nespresso New Vertuo Espresso Machine here
Beyond just brewing coffee, several key factors should guide your decision when purchasing an espresso machine. They include:
Just like every other home appliance, from a washing machine to a refrigerator, espresso machines come in a wide range of prices. The entries in our top 7 range in cost from $99 to $995. After deciding on the features you want to prioritize, decide what you can spend.
Depending on whether this will be a home or office machine, you need to consider how much espresso you will be brewing and for how many people. A home machine may only be used for a leisurely cup or 2 a day, while an office machine will get considerably more use under busier circumstances.
High-end espresso machines are usually made of durable materials like stainless steel, brass, and copper, while affordable machines may use cheaper materials like plastic. In addition, high-end machines will also likely have more durable internal components and more sophisticated automation programs.
No one wants to spend too much time cleaning. We recommend choosing something with removable parts or self-cleaning features. If your espresso machine has parts that are easy to wash, or even safe to put in the dishwasher, you’re more likely to use it often without stress.
Quality coffee beans and a good grinder are essential for good espresso. Some machines have built-in grinders, while others do not and will require buying a grinder separately.
If you want to make milk-based drinks like lattes or cappuccinos, your machine will need to have a steam wand, aka milk steamer, though using it is a skill to be learned. Some machines will provide automatic frothers for ease of use.
If you live in a small space, having adequate counter space for your espresso machine could pose a problem. Make sure to pre-measure the area you can dedicate to an espresso maker and then look for a machine that will fit. That’s why a French press is a great choice for many people—it takes up minimal space while still brewing a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee.
Here, we list proper maintenance techniques that are essential for ensuring your espresso machine continues to deliver delicious coffee and enjoys a long lifespan.
Maintaining your espresso machine is crucial to getting good results and avoiding costly repairs. You should remove any grounds and wipe down the components with a damp cloth after each use, purge and clean the steam wand, and regularly empty the dip tray.
It is also important to backflush the machine and clean the portafilter, baskets, and water tank weekly, as well as descaling the machine and cleaning the group head monthly.
Getting the right cleaning products for your espresso machine is also an important step in extending the lifespan of your espresso machine. Something like Urnex Cafiza cleaning tablets is good for backflushing and cleaning group heads, while Urnex Rinza is a good dedicated milk frother cleanser.
The most common mistake you can make in maintaining your espresso machine is to forget to clean it regularly. If you are drinking coffee every day, you also need to be cleaning your machine every time you use it.
It is also important to maintain a regular descaling routine and make sure you’re using the proper cleaning products like the ones we mentioned earlier.
>>Get the Nespresso New Vertuo Espresso Machine here
Here, we share real-world feedback from people who have used the espresso machines on our list, highlighting both their positive and negative experiences.
One Walmart customer was so impressed with their Nespresso New Vertuo 1 Cup Black Espresso Machine, they say they’re never going back to their old Keurig machine. Nespresso makes a much better cup of coffee. Another customer said their Nespresso machine made great coffee, the only failing is that it’s never hot enough [1].
According to this customer on the products Walmart page, the Breville espresso machine was easy to set up. They’re still figuring out the right doses, but the coffee tastes great and the machine was worth every cent. But another user found the machine to be a bit too noisy for them; however, they admitted the quality of the milk froth and cream was very good [2].
Mark said in his review on Walmart that the Ninja Luxe is like having a Starbucks in his home, with one minor drawback. The water tank for the machine is difficult to access. Meanwhile, Mike says his machine isn’t perfect, but for the price point, it’s pretty good. It’s easy to use, well-built, and the milk-based drinks are generally of acceptable quality [3].
On the product’s Walmart page, Benelee was happy with Rancilio Silvia’s fast, free delivery and its great look. But it all pales in significance to the heavenly coffee this machine produces. Dale was also satisfied so far with the espresso maker, but they’re holding off on a 5-star review until they’ve had it a while and see how it wears [4].
On Amazon, Dan said he has been using the CasaBrews 3700 Espresso machine regularly for more than a year, and has no reason to complain. But Grace Christie, however, had one complaint: the portafilter sometimes “won’t lock in,” a sporadic issue that occurred even on her first use [5] [6].
>>Get the Nespresso New Vertuo Espresso Machine here
Here are some questions that interested readers have been asking about the best espresso machine.
Some important features to look for in a high-quality espresso machine are temperature control (PID), a good boiler, a 58 mm portafilter, and a good steam wand. Other features like a built-in grinder, shot timer, and a hot water dispenser are also helpful.
A manual espresso maker requires the user to learn to do every step of the process and actually develop some real barista skills. A semi-automatic machine will control some processes and leave others to the operator, while a fully automatic machine is entirely automated and will do everything for you.
The top options under $500 on our list are CasaBrews 3700 Essential Espresso Machine ( $99.99), CasaBrews CM5418 Espresso Machine ($139.99), and Nespresso New Vertuo 1 Cup Black Espresso Machine ($126.25).
Yes, the Breville company manufactures a pair of quality espresso machines with built-in grinders. For instance, the Breville Barista Express Impress is known for its integrated burr grinder, temperature control, and easy user interface, making it one of the best commercial espresso machines.
The #1 option on our list is the 2-Cup Residential Drip Coffee Maker by Zulay Kitchen. It allows you to pick from different coffee recipes like lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos, flat whites, and more—all with just a tap.
Hopefully, our picks for the best espresso machine for 2025 have provided you with some ideas of the possibilities out there for trading your daily trip to Starbucks for a daily trip to your kitchen. We went with the Nespresso New Vertuo Espresso Machine as our number 1 choice.
The machines we’ve shown range from $99 to $995, so there’s something for every budget. Plus, they’re all quality machines, depending on what you’re looking for and how fancy you want to get.
The rest is up to you, but with some luck and our research, we hope you’ll be relaxing with a smooth espresso, latte, or cappuccino by day’s end.
>>Get the Nespresso New Vertuo Espresso Machine here
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