Do you want to know the best espresso machine for beginners in 2023? Whether you are a novice or an experienced coffee drinker, there is a machine out there that will meet your requirements. This article will examine some of the Best Beginner Espresso Machines and what makes them unique. So, whether you’re just getting started or looking to upgrade your current machine, keep reading for some useful tips!
Table of Contents
Our Recommendations Best Espresso Machine For Beginners
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
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Breville Bambino Espresso Machine – Best Budget | The size is small. Quick heat-up time Simple to use Affordable |
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Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine – Best Quality | Warming tray for cups Professional steam wand Portafilter 58mm 72-ounce water tank |
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Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine – Highly automatic | Conical burr grinder integrated with 30 settings Milk frothing can be done manually or automatically. Self-cleaning and automatic steam wand |
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De’Longhi ECP3420 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine – Best Value | Affordable Rapid brewing system for pulling shots quickly Minimalist footprint Disposable drip tray |
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Capresso 124.01 Ultima Pro Programmable Pump Espresso Machine – fast: | There are single and double-shot options. Quick heat-up time The pouring automatically stops. |
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GAGGIA Espresso Machine”BRERA” | Options for personalization There are two coffee spouts. Quick steam function Affordable automatic machine |
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Jura E8 Piano Black Automatic Coffee Machine | Patented, advanced brewing technology Strong grinder Automatic milk frothing Spouts with two holes |
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Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine | LatteGo milk frothing machine is automatic Grinders made of ceramic Front-loading mechanism |
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Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine | Preset brews provide consistency. Nespresso will recycle returnable pods. |
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Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker | The operation is extremely simple. Four coffee sizes are available, as well as hot and cold frothing options. |
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10 Best Espresso Machines for Beginners in 2023
1) Breville Bambino Espresso Machine – Best Budget:
The Breville Bambino is our pick for the best home espresso machine for beginners. It’s semi-automatic, so you’ll have to put in some effort, but nothing an espresso novice can’t handle.
Breville’s latest thermojet technology is used in the Bambino, which gets the machine ready to brew in three seconds. Furthermore, there is almost no downtime between brewing and steaming. The Bambino includes low-pressure pre-infusion, which primes the ground coffee before brewing for precise espresso extraction. The PID temperature controller ensures consistent shots at optimal water temperature.
Bambino comes with a manual steam wand capable of producing rich microfoam, allowing you to hone your latte art skills. The learning curve is steep, but the Bambino is convenient because it has a one-hole wand. This method is slower (about one minute to froth) but more forgiving because you have time to aerate and stretch the milk.
The brewing process is simple: select between single and double espresso shots. You can manually program each option to dial in the shot by holding the button to start brewing and releasing it to re-program the volume.
Bambino is small and takes up little kitchen counter space. The water tank pays the price for the machine’s small size: it holds 47 oz, which is less than most other machines. However, given the Bambino’s size, it’s still a good size.
The lack of a built-in grinder on the Bambino is understandable, given its low price. You’ll need to purchase a separate grinder, which means you’ll need to make more room in your kitchen.
2) Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine – Best Quality:
The Gaggia Classic Pro has a stainless steel body, a commercial steam wand, and a 58mm portafilter, as seen on commercial espresso machines. Whereas most machines have a 54mm basket, the Gaggia Classic has a 58mm basket, allowing you to add more freshly ground coffee and have a larger puck, allowing for more even extraction across a larger surface.
The Gaggia Classic Pro has a single boiler and is not the fastest espresso machine on the market. It takes up to five minutes to heat up, but once hot, and it steams in 30 seconds. You can also pull several shots at once, which is helpful if you’re making drinks for a group.
This device has three buttons that indicate when it is ready for use. The water tank is 72 oz, the largest on this list, and you can brew several drinks without needing to refill it.
The two holes on the tip of Gaggia’s steam wand allow it to achieve high pressure quickly. The wand produces adequate microfoam for latte art. Finally, a cup warmer plate can keep up to five cups warm and ready to use at all times.
The only thing I would have preferred is that there is no built-in grinder, so you will have to purchase one separately. Also, because the coffee dispenser isn’t adjustable, you’re limited to the cups and mugs that can fit beneath the spout.
3) Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine – Highly automatic:
The touchscreen display on which you can scroll through images of programmed drinks gives the Breville Barista Touch its name. You can quickly prepare your coffee by pressing a button. However, you can alter the settings and save your preferences for future use.
The machine comes with five pre-programmed drinks and allows you to save up to eight drink recipes. You can save your grind, brew, milk, strength, and drink temperature preferences. The Barista Touch combines the best of both worlds, as it is an excellent combination of an automatic and semi-automatic machine.
Another notable feature of the Barista Touch is the automatic steam wand. It’s simple: place the milk pitcher on a temperature sensor beneath the wand and select automatic or manual frothing. You can also select from a variety of temperatures and milk textures. The wand cleans itself when the milk is frothed using the auto-purge feature.
The Barista Touch, like the Bambino, uses thermojet technology and is ready to brew in three seconds. PID temperature control and pre-infusion are also available for consistent and yummy shots.
Because this is a single boiler machine, you cannot brew and steam simultaneously, but there is a minimum wait time between the actions.
Finally, and most importantly, the Barista Touch includes a conical burr grinder with 30 settings. You have complete control over how acceptable the coffee grounds are.
4) De’Longhi ECP3420 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine – Best Value:
Because the DeLonghi ECP 3420 is a low-cost machine, it has a plastic body with stainless steel accents. The plastic is ABS and is long-lasting, so you won’t have to worry about the machine’s durability.
The ECP 3420 uses a boiler system and has a quick heating time — less than a minute from start to finish. It also has a rapid reheating system that allows you to pull multiple espresso drinks or switch to steaming in 30 seconds. However, because the boiler isn’t very powerful, you must use a pressurized basket and a coarser grind, limiting the flavor potential.
This machine features a 15-bar pressure pump, the industry standard for espresso machines, and a pressurized portafilter. You can change the pressure and extraction level to give your espresso more or less body.
The steam wand is operated manually. It heats the milk well, but it frequently runs out of steam (literally) and is the weakest link in this system.
I also didn’t like that the tamper and portafilter were plastic, which prevented me from getting a good puck in the filter. You’ll almost certainly need stainless steel parts as well as a grinder. Even though this is a low-cost machine, keep in mind that you’ll want to invest as your brewing skills improve.
5) Capresso 124.01 Ultima Pro Programmable Pump Espresso Machine – fast:
The Capresso is one of our favorite low-cost options. The self-tamping portafilter is a feature that all new baristas will appreciate. In most cases, you must measure the grounds, load the basket, tamp the coffee, and load the portafilter.
On the other hand, Capresso has a brew head shaped like a parabolic disc above the portafilter. This brew head tamps the ground coffee when you lock in the portafilter. This eliminates the need for a separate tamper. Furthermore, tamping is essential for a good espresso shot, and Capresso’s self-tamping portafilter reduces the possibility of mistakes during brewing.
The heating system used by Capresso is a stainless steel lined Thermoblock that heats the espresso maker in less than 10 seconds. This applies to steaming and pulling shots, resulting in a short delay between actions.
On a semi-automatic espresso machine, you usually have to stop the pouring. The Capresso is not one of them. Because it is a self-stopping machine, you will never have to wonder when to turn it off. You can also re-program the machine to stop at the desired water volume.
The removable 34 oz water tank makes refilling and cleaning a breeze. The water tank is small, but you can make several espressos before refilling it.
Capresso’s manual steam wand allows it to make single and double espresso shots and milk-based drinks. On the other hand, the Capresso’s steam wand is only adequate. It produces large bubbles rather than foam, so lattes have no fine foam.
6. GAGGIA Espresso Machine”BRERA”
Gaggia Brera is the best super-automatic espresso machine for beginners and our personal favorite from the brand. You can press a button in less than a minute and have a quality espresso ready. The interface simplifies machine operation and provides customization options.
You can select the number of beans you want, the cup size, and one of three coffee-strength options. It has two spouts, allowing you to brew two espressos simultaneously.
Brera has a rapid steam function that allows the machine to be ready to brew in less than 10 seconds.
There are five settings on the ceramic burr grinder. This is significantly less than Barista Touch, but Brera is also less expensive. There’s also a bypass doser for pre-ground coffee, which helps make decaf coffee drinks.
The steam wand is a manual stainless steel Pannarello, so you won’t be able to make milk-based drinks with the press of a button. Because you must steam the milk yourself, there is a learning curve. Brera’s wand can produce good foam but not the fine microfoam required for lattes and latte art.
Brera is designed to be quiet and compact, so its components (drip tray, bean hopper, and water reservoir) are small. The water tank holds 40 oz, which is sufficient for several shots. If you use the steam wand frequently, you will need to refill it frequently.
7) Jura E8 Piano Black Automatic Coffee Machine:
The Jura E8 espresso machine is a super-automatic espresso machine. It has an LED screen that guides you through the programming functions — you can adjust the grind size, drink temperature, shot volume, and frothing levels to get the exact drink you want.
The LED display also indicates when it is time to dispose of the used coffee puck container. If you don’t like the display, you can disable it using the six buttons next to it.
Jura is well known for its brewing innovations, beginning with the Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System, or IPBAS. The machine detects how much coffee you use and automatically adjusts the water to ensure optimal flavor and strength. The Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) forces water through the ground coffee in pulses (short bursts), resulting in a richer shot.
E8 has a six-setting Aroma G3 conical burr grinder. In one grind cycle, the machine can dose up to 16g of beans, comparable to commercial machines. After one grind cycle, you can have a double espresso or two cups of coffee.
Finally, the milk frother is fully automatic and equipped with Professional Fine Foam Technology. The milk texture can be selected using the dial on the milk nozzle.
The water tank is one disadvantage. The Jura E8 has a large 64 oz. Water tank. However, because its automatic cleaning system purges water after each shot, the tank quickly dries.
8) Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine:
If you want a super-automatic espresso machine but cannot afford a Jura, the Philips 3200 is an excellent choice. The front-loading system makes it simple to use — the water tank, drip tray, and coffee puck container are all easily accessible and maintainable from the front.
Another feature that makes the Philips 3200 easy to use is the AquaClean water filter. If you brew two cups of espresso daily, you’ll need to descale the espresso machine after 5,000 cups, or about seven years.
This machine can produce up to five different espresso beverages and hot water. The touchscreen display allows you to select which drink you want. There are also some customization options, including choosing your preferred strength and volume.
The LatteGo milk system inspired the name Phillips 3200. This is a system for automatically frothing milk. You fill a carafe with milk and attach it to the machine.
Choose your desired froth level, press a button, and the machine will froth the milk and automatically pour it into your cup. There are no tubes that need to be removed and cleaned. The frother, on the other hand, only produces dense foam. Latte art does not use microfoam.
The Philips 3200 includes a ceramic flat burr grinder in 12 sizes. The grinder is of high quality and will last for a long time.
9) Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine:
First and foremost, we appreciate how simple the Nespresso VertuoPlus is to use. The lid opens and closes with a light press of the lever, and brewing begins with a single button press.
It’s also reasonably foolproof: the capsule machine detects the barcode on the capsule and then brews the drink precisely as it should be brewed. There are five different drink options: espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, and alto (perfect for your travel mugs).
Every cup of espresso and coffee we tested came out hot, well-rounded, and with a luxurious crema. We also like how the water tank’s position can be adjusted to fit your counter space.
Another notable benefit is that Nespresso recycles used pods if returned to the company, and the brand’s newest Vertuo machine is made with 54% recycled plastic. Finally, the price is unbeatable, and it requires minimal cleanup.
10) Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker:
If you’re looking for a Keurig upgrade, a unique gift, or the ability to froth milk with a capsule machine, the Keurig K-Cafe is the way to go.
Four coffee size options (6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz) and a “strong” option make it simple to enjoy your favorite K-cup just the way you like it. Choose an Espresso Roast K-cup capsule and the “shot” size option for a delicious cup of espresso.
While the Espresso Roast K-cup lacks crema, a built-in frother (with lid, which aids in storage) allows you to quickly and easily froth milk for cappuccinos (less milk) and lattes (more milk); there’s also a “cold” option if you prefer your frothy milk drink over ice.
This capsule machine performed admirably in terms of preheat time, brew time, coffee temperature, and volume in our tests. Before the next brew, the used pod must be manually removed, and the milk frothing container is simple to clean.
Buying Guide: what to consider when looking for the best espresso machines for beginner?
Before you decide which machine to buy (and believe me, I have some strong feelings about specific models), you should know what to look for. There are great semi-automatic and fully automatic espresso machines and good and sub-par ones, and price only sometimes implies quality.
Budget:
Espresso machines range in price from a few hundred dollars to $1,000. As a general rule, you get what you pay for. A super-automatic espresso machine contains a lot of technology (heating system, pressure pumps, steam wand, built-in grinder), making it one of the most expensive.
However, even a simple espresso machine can be expensive if it is built with high-end components (think a heat exchanger).
This article focuses on budget options, assuming you’re a beginner without a mortgage and want to try making espresso at home. You can find better options, but I recommend you first climb the learning curve.
Pressure:
The right amount of pressure is essential for the success of your espresso. The best espresso machines use a pump to create pressure. Choose a machine that can produce between nine and fifteen bars of pressure to produce espresso with good texture and crema.
Everything under nine and over 15 bars will be under or over-extracted, resulting in a poor espresso flavor. Some machines include a pressure gauge that provides real-time feedback on the amount of pressure generated by the machine.
Milk Frothing:
Home espresso machines for beginners can have two milk frothing options: manually or automatically steaming the milk. Automatic frothers are typically in the form of a carafe connected to the machine as needed. These are more prevalent in super-automatic machines.
The machine will automatically pour the appropriate amount of frothed milk into your cup. Automatic milk frothers are ideal if you’ve never used a steam wand before and want to avoid going through the learning process.
A manual milk frother is typically shaped like a steam wand. Steam jets are shot into the milk through holes on the tip of the wand. When frothing milk, the steam wand gives you more control.
You can experiment with different milk-based drinks and work on latte art. However, this requires a learning process that includes having an observant eye, using different pitcher angles, training your palm to be temperature sensitive, and more.
Bottom Line:
The best espresso machine is the Breville Bambino. It is highly user-friendly, inexpensive, compact, and, most importantly, produces high-quality espresso. It also has a good steam wand to practice your latte art. This machine has everything you need to improve your barista skills at a low cost.
FAQS:
What is the most important part of the espresso machine?
How significant is steam? It is critical because most drinks contain espresso and steamed milk. The strength of the steam is critical. A machine with insufficient steam power will not produce perfectly steamed and textured milk.
What is the best espresso machine for beginners?
The Breville Bambino is our pick for the best home espresso machine for beginners. It’s semi-automatic, so you’ll have to put in some effort, but nothing an espresso novice can’t handle.
Breville’s latest thermojet technology is used in the Bambino, which gets the machine ready to brew in three seconds. Furthermore, there is almost no downtime between brewing and steaming.
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