The Dream Sequence Will Continue Til We Get a Coffee Machine
Why you should trust us
As a former lead barista with 10 years of experience in high-volume coffee shops in New York City and Boston, I know what is integral to making an ideal espresso and latte, and I understand the obstacles that can hinder even the most skilled barista from crafting the perfect cup. In those years, I also learned to identify subtle variations in coffee flavors and milk texture, skills that have come in handy throughout multiple iterations of this guide.
While researching this guide, I read articles, blog posts, and reviews by coffee experts, and watched product demo videos from sites such as Seattle Coffee Gear and Whole Latte Love (both of which also sell espresso machines and other coffee equipment). For our 2021 update, I interviewed ChiSum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh of Coffee Project NY in New York City. It started as a standalone coffee shop, but later expanded into a roastery and coffee-education company with three additional outposts—the Queens location is the state's only Specialty Coffee Association Premier Training Campus. In addition, I interviewed other lead baristas, as well as product experts for the beverage category at Breville, for previous updates. This guide also builds on earlier work by Cale Guthrie Weissman.
Who is a home espresso machine for?
Our picks are for people who have developed a taste for good espresso and want a reliable home setup that strikes a balance between automated convenience and moderate skill building. People who have learned about espresso by frequenting third-wave shops or reading a few coffee blogs will be able to develop their craft using our picks. And those who might be overwhelmed by coffee jargon should also be able to find their way on these machines. If you understand the basics of the grind, dose, and tamp, you're already practicing the core components of what baristas refer to as "dialing in your espresso." (More advanced users may start tinkering with brew time and boiler temperature, if their machines allow for those adjustments.) For further instruction, see our starter guide on how to make espresso at home.
Regardless of a particular model's sophistication and power, it takes a bit of time to get accustomed to a machine's process. Factors such as your kitchen's temperature, the roast date of your coffee, and your familiarity with different roasts will also impact your results. Making really great drinks at home requires some patience and discipline, which is worth knowing before you commit to buying a machine. But if you read the manual and take some time to assess how your shots are pulling, you can quickly become comfortable using any of our picks. If you're obsessed with coffee, attend cuppings, and already experiment with a variety of brewing methods, you may want to invest in a machine that is significantly more expensive than even our upgrade pick for enthusiasts.
How we picked
Our primary goal was to find approachable and affordable espresso machines, ones that could satisfy novices as well as intermediate users (or even an old hand like me). At a baseline level, an espresso machine works by forcing hot water through finely ground beans with pressure. The water must be the right temperature, about 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's much cooler, your espresso will be under-extracted and weak; much hotter, and it can be over-extracted and bitter. And the pressure must be constant so that water flows through the grounds evenly, for consistent extraction.
There are three different styles of machine (not counting capsule-based machines, like the Nespresso, which merely mimic espresso) that give you more or less control over this process:
- Manual espresso machines require you to create the pressure with your own force by pulling on a lever (this is why it's called "pulling a shot"). Inadequate pressure results in uneven extraction, which is why manual models are the hardest to control of all the styles. Since they're tricky to master and also uncommon, we decided not to test them.
- Semiautomatic machines use a pump to create the right amount of pressure. Most skilled baristas prefer semiautomatic models because the consistent pressure and boiler temperature allow them to settle on a grind setting, so they can make drink after drink on a busy morning without stopping to adjust. We stuck to testing semiautomatic machines in the interest of recommending models that enable you to learn without too much arduous trial and error.
- Super-automatic machines (also called fully automatic), like those made by Jura, do everything for you: measure and grind the beans, pull the shot, and froth the milk. But they don't offer much room for experimentation, and they're often quite pricey. So even though they're convenient, super-automatic models aren't the best choice if you're actually interested in learning how to make good espresso, rather than just drinking it. We chose not to test them.
In deciding which semiautomatic machines to test, we focused on models that would meet a beginner's needs and budget, but we also looked at a few that allowed some room for learning more advanced skills. (In the several years since we first started working on this guide, we've tested machines ranging in price from about $300 to over $1,200). We prioritized models with a quick setup, comfortable portafilters, smooth transitions between steps, potent steam wands, and a general sense of sturdiness and reliability. Ultimately, we looked for the following criteria in our research and testing:
Single-boiler espresso machines
We considered only single-boiler models, which use the same boiler to heat the water for both the espresso shot and the steam wand. This requires some transition time to reheat on lower-end models, but the technology has advanced enough that on two of our picks, there's almost no wait between steps. Though dual-boiler models allow you to pull the shot and steam milk simultaneously, we haven't seen one for less than $1,500. We think most beginners won't need that option, since it entails multitasking that's usually necessary only in a café setting.
Fast and consistent water heater
We placed emphasis on water heaters that offered consistency and speed, since these elements add a fun, easy rhythm to what promises to be a daily ritual. To that end, some machines (including all the Brevilles) have PID (proportional integral derivative) controllers, which help regulate the boiler temperature, allowing for more consistent shots back to back. (Seattle Coffee Gear—which sells espresso machines both with and without PID controllers—made a great video explaining how PID controllers help maintain more even temperatures than a basic thermostat.) Notably, the Breville models we recommend also have ThermoJet heaters, which make the machines surprisingly quick to heat and transition between pulling a shot and steaming milk; some drink preparations took barely over a minute from start to finish.
Powerful pump and steam wand
An espresso machine's pump should be strong enough to properly extract espresso from a well-packed dose of finely ground coffee. And the steam wand should be powerful enough to produce a velvety milk foam free of any big bubbles.
Beginner-friendly milk frothing
It can be a challenge to steam milk properly using a home espresso machine, so having the option to froth milk either manually or automatically is a nice bonus feature for beginners (provided the machine can mimic a professional barista's standards). Automatic frothing that generates real distinctions in texture and temperature is great for those who might struggle to do this manually at first. However, the exact nuances that distinguish milk-based drinks are better achieved with an observant eye and your palm's sensitivity to the steam pitcher's angle and temperature, skills that are developed with manual use. So although both of our Breville picks offer good automatic-frothing programs, we didn't consider it a dealbreaker that our other picks do not.
Manual and programmable brewing options
Many machines come with programmed settings for pulling a single or double shot. But you may find that your favorite coffee takes shorter or longer to extract than the factory presets allow. It's better to use your judgment and stop extraction manually. But once you've dialed in your favorite espresso, it's nice to be able to reprogram the shot volume accordingly. This can help streamline your daily ritual, provided you continue to carefully monitor your grind, dose, and tamp routine. It's also important to be able to override a preset or a saved setting if your coffee is extracting differently, or if you're working with a different blend of beans. (This may be more than you want to worry about when you're just getting started, but you'll be able to tell pretty quickly just from repetition whether your shots are pulling faster or slower than usual.)
Multiple filter baskets
All of the models we tested came with a dual-wall filter basket (also called a pressurized basket), which is more forgiving of inconsistencies than a traditional, single-wall basket. The dual-wall filter forces espresso out through just a single hole in the center of the basket (rather than many perforations), ensuring adequate saturation of the espresso grounds during the first seconds they are infused with hot water. This helps prevent unbalanced extraction, which can happen if the coffee is unevenly ground, dosed, or tamped, causing the water to travel fastest to the weakest point in the espresso puck.
Many models we tested also come with a traditional, single-wall filter basket, which is trickier to master but yields more dynamic shots that better reflect the adjustments you make with your grind setting. For beginners interested in learning, we prefer machines that work with both dual- and single-wall filter baskets.
Based on these criteria, we've tested 13 models over the years, ranging in price from $300 to around $1,250.
How we tested
Because this guide is for beginners, we placed a premium on approachability and speed. I was less interested in whether I could pull an amazing, distinctive shot and more concerned with consistent extraction and intuitive ease of use. I tested all of the espresso machines with an understanding that whatever hiccups I encountered could be real sources of frustration for someone who is less experienced.
To get a better sense of each machine's abilities, I pulled well over 150 shots using Blue Bottle's Hayes Valley and Café Grumpy's Heartbreaker espresso blends for our 2021 update. (We also included Stumptown's Hair Bender in our 2019 update.) This helped us assess each machine's ability to brew different beans well, to brew a particular roast and grind consistently, and to produce shots that hinted at the more-distinctive flavor notes each roaster promises. For our 2021 tests we used the Baratza Sette 270 to grind our coffee; in previous sessions we used both the Baratza Encore and Baratza Vario, except when testing the two Brevilles that have built-in grinders (for more on grinders, see Choosing a grinder). I didn't expect any espresso machine to replicate the experience of working on a commercial Marzocco, the model you'll encounter in most high-end cafés. But if the shots were frequently acrid or sour, or if they had a watery mouthfeel, that was a problem.
We also noted how easily each machine transitioned from extraction to milk steaming. I steamed several gallons of whole milk in all, using both manual and automatic settings, and poured a multitude of cappuccinos (both dry and wet), flat whites, lattes, standard-proportion macchiatos, and cortados to see how easy it was to generate the intended level of milk froth. (Clive Coffee offers a good breakdown of how all these drinks differ.) In general, we looked for machines that produced silky froth, as opposed to large bubbles resembling a heap of soap suds on top of hot milk. What we heard mattered too: Steam wands that maintained a smooth sound rather than unpleasant sputtering had more power, frothed faster, and created better microfoam.
The best espresso machine
Our pick
Of all the models we tested, the Breville Bambino Plus was one of the easiest to use. And its consistent shots and capacity to efficiently steam finely textured milk froth made it the most powerful, dependable, and fun machine we tested under $1,000. It comes with a steam pitcher large enough for a latte, a comfortable tamper, and two dual-wall baskets for the portafilter. Setup was straightforward, and despite its small size, the Bambino Plus has a 1.9-liter water tank (not much smaller than the 2-liter tanks on Breville's larger machines) that can yield around a dozen shots before you need to refill it.
The beauty of the Bambino Plus is the combination of simplicity and unexpected power, enhanced by a rather elegant aesthetic. Thanks to its PID control (which helps regulate the water temperature) and Breville's speedy ThermoJet heater, the Bambino maintains a consistent temperature for multiple shots, and requires almost no wait time between pulling a shot and switching over to the steam wand. We were able to make a complete drink, from grinding to frothing milk, in barely over a minute, faster than with most other models we tested.
The Bambino Plus's pump was strong enough to pull shots with coffee that was ground moderately fine to very fine (not quite a powder, but certainly finer than granular particles that can be individually separated). By contrast, the models that didn't make the cut had fluctuations in pressure from one shot to the next that made it frustrating to settle on an ideal grinder setting.
The Bambino Plus has automatic presets for single and double shots, but you'll want to program them to your specifications. Figuring out the ideal grind size to use on this machine was relatively easy, requiring only a few minutes of tinkering. After pulling a couple of full-bodied shots at a grind I was comfortable with, I was able to reset the double-shot program to pull just under 2 ounces in 30 seconds—ideal parameters for a good shot of espresso. I was able to get the same volume repeatedly, even during subsequent test sessions. That's a good indication that the Bambino Plus can maintain the same amount of pressure every time you pull a shot, meaning you can count on pretty consistent results once you settle on the dose and fineness of your ground coffee. All three espresso blends we used pulled well on this machine, with the occasional shot offering a bit of nuance beyond a slightly earthy, dark-chocolate profile. At its best, the Bambino, like the Breville Barista Touch, yielded shots laced with notes of toffee, roasted almonds, and even a touch of dried fruit.
When it came to milk drinks, the Bambino Plus's steam wand created delicious, uniform froth with unexpected speed, thus ensuring that the milk didn't overheat. (Overheating milk robs it of its sweetness and can prevent it from frothing). The pump regulates aeration in such a way that ensures an even pace, so beginners won't have to worry about controlling the power manually. The steam wand is a clear step up from that of both the Breville Infuser, an older entry-level model, and the Gaggia Classic Pro. (Among the models we tested, only the Breville Barista Touch's wand offers noticeably more power, though the wand on the Ascaso Dream PID, which has a little more force when first engaged but then tapers off a bit, allows more movement to angle your milk pitcher.) The difference between the Bambino Plus's steam wand and the Gaggia Classic Pro's is especially pronounced; the Bambino Plus comes much closer to replicating the control and precision that professional baristas master on commercial models.
Those who have some experience should be able to manually steam milk nearly as well as a trained barista on a professional machine. But there's also an exceptionally good automatic steaming option, which allows you to adjust both milk temperature and froth to one of three levels. Although I prefer manual steaming for greater control, the automatic settings are surprisingly accurate, and they're useful for making a large number of drinks quickly or if you're a beginner looking to develop your latte-art skills.
The Bambino Plus's manual is easy to follow and well illustrated, and it features useful tips, with a page devoted to troubleshooting. It's a good, basic resource for both absolute beginners and anyone fearful of getting bogged down in mediocre espresso.
The Bambino also comes with some thoughtful design features, like a removable water tank and an indicator that bumps up when the drip tray is full so that you don't flood your counter. Especially noteworthy is the steam wand's auto-purge function, which flushes residual milk from the wand when you return it to its vertical standby position. The Bambino also comes with a two-year warranty.
Overall, the Bambino Plus is impressive for its size and price. During testing, I shared several results with my wife, who is also a former barista, and she was impressed by the balanced espresso shots and excellent milk texture. I was able to prepare cortados that tasted of pure milk chocolate, a rather elusive note captured through the synthesis of sweet microfoam and strong—but not overbearing—espresso crema.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The preprogrammed double-shot setting on the Bambino Plus cut off the extraction too quickly during our initial attempts. But it was easy to reprogram the shot volume using the timer on my phone, and I strongly recommend doing this early on—it will help expedite dialing in the espresso. In subsequent test sessions, I had to tinker with my grind setting only slightly to achieve desirable shots from the coffees we sampled.
I also pulled fewer complex shots on the Bambino Plus than on our other picks. Though the difference was relatively minor, it would be nice if this model included the traditional, non-pressurized portafilter basket that accompanies the Barista Touch, since that would allow you to better develop your palate, technique, and sensitivity to the dialing-in process. Though dual-wall baskets do ensure that your grounds are evenly extracted, they typically yield duller (or at least "safer"-tasting) espresso. That complex speckling you see in the crema of an espresso at a high-end café usually indicates that your drink has real vibrancy and depth, and the speckling will be more elusive when you use a dual-wall basket. It doesn't mean your shots will be bereft of character or undrinkable; they'll just be simpler, which is perhaps best if you're mostly keen on sipping cocoa-y, mildly nutty lattes. If you're eager to hone your skills, you can sometimes purchase a compatible traditional basket separately on Breville's website; unfortunately, it's often out of stock. Or you may be happier with one of our other picks, like the Gaggia Classic Pro or the Ascaso Dream PID, both of which come with single-wall baskets and produce more complex shots (the latter with more consistency than the former).
Finally, the Bambino Plus's compact size does lead to a couple of shortcomings. This machine is light enough that you may need to hold it with one hand while locking the portafilter in place (or unlocking it) with the other. The Bambino Plus also lacks the hot-water dispenser that's included with other Breville models. It's a useful feature if you like making Americanos, but we don't think it's essential, since you can always heat water separately in a kettle. Considering the Bambino Plus's incredibly compact size, we think sacrificing the hot-water dispenser is worth it.
The best espresso machine for pure espresso lovers
Also great
The Gaggia Classic Pro, which usually costs a little less than the Breville Bambino Plus, will allow you (with some skill and practice) to pull more-complex shots. The steam wand is tricky to use, and the resulting milk foam won't easily match what you can get from Breville's machines. Overall, though, the shots we pulled on the Gaggia were consistent and full bodied. Some even captured the dynamic flavor profiles of each roast. Budding coffee geeks who prefer straight espresso will certainly be able to cultivate their palates with the Classic Pro. But it lacks some of the features—such as a PID temperature controller and automatic milk frothing—that make the Bambino Plus so easy to use.
The Gaggia Classic Pro was the only machine we tested in its price range that regularly yielded shots with dark, leopard-like speckling in the crema, which is a sign of depth and complexity. We sampled shots that, in addition to dark chocolate, had notes of bright citrus, almonds, tart berry, a light red wine, and licorice. Unlike the Bambino Plus, the Classic Pro comes with traditional, single-wall filter baskets—a bonus for those looking to advance their technique. But without a PID controller, shot consistency can be harder to sustain if you're pulling several back-to-back shots. And if you're experimenting with a more temperamental roast, be prepared to burn through some beans while dialing in.
Gaggia has made a few adjustments to the Classic Pro since we last tested it in 2019, including a slightly upgraded steam wand. But as before, the machine's biggest problem is that it still too often turns out underwhelming milk texture. Once primed, the steam wand's initial power declines fairly rapidly, making it harder to froth milk for drinks larger than a 4- to 5-ounce cappuccino. You'll run the risk of scalding your milk trying to froth a larger volume for a latte, which can not only make it taste bland or burnt but also prevent it from frothing. Proper milk foam will also highlight milk's intrinsic sweetness, but on the Classic Pro I tended to get foam that lacked silkiness and tasted a bit bland.
While on occasion I was able to texture the milk as I intended and pour nice latte art, the Classic Pro's steam wand is just nowhere near as easy to master as the steam wands on the Brevilles we recommend, nor does it compare favorably to the Ascaso Dream PID's more powerful wand.
After pulling a shot of espresso, we had to wait longer than we'd like to switch to steaming milk. In our tests, the Gaggia Classic Pro took around 45 seconds after extraction for the steam light to turn on, indicating there is enough pressure to steam at full power; by contrast, the transition time is just a few seconds on the Bambino Plus. Turning the steam wand's control knob also doesn't actually provide much incremental change in power.
The Gaggia Classic Pro lacks some of the nice accessories that come with Breville's machines. It doesn't come with a steam pitcher, and the accompanying tamper for the portafilter is a flimsy piece of plastic. If you're committed to buying beans from top roasters, you'll want a decent tamper to help ensure you're optimizing your shot performance. We like Rattleware's 58-millimeter round-handled tamper, which also comes in a tall-handled version. You'll also want a steam pitcher, preferably one with a volume of 12 ounces so as to reduce milk waste. There are many low-cost generic options, but we recommend a simple design like this one. (Throughout our 2021 testing, we used Breville's included steam pitcher, which is roughly 16 ounces and worked well, but unfortunately it's no longer sold separately.)
Unlike those of the other models we tested, the Classic Pro's water tank fits underneath the boiler, not behind it. The tank gets filled via a chamber at the top of the machine, but putting the tank back in place after cleaning it can be a touch hazardous—you have to place the plastic tubes that channel the water to the boiler back inside the tank properly. (Watch your hands if you do this right after pulling a shot, since you don't want to inadvertently brush them against the extremely hot group head!) Finally, the manual is a bit hard on the eyes. Compared with Breville's cleanly segmented instructions, the directions for setting up the Classic Pro feel like an afterthought.
Some online espresso forums discuss customizations for the Gaggia Classic Pro (such as installing PIDs or replacing the steam wand), which would address some of the machine's shortcomings. However, the accessories often come from third-party makers, and installing them would require tinkering with internal parts, which the manual advises against, saying it "may result in fire, electric shock or personal injury." Customization would also void the manufacturer's warranty, and potentially cost you substantially more time and money. Ultimately, if you're after the more-nuanced espresso the Gaggia offers—plus higher-powered milk steaming—you're probably better off considering one of our upgrade picks.
Nevertheless, the Gaggia Classic Pro is a straightforward machine, and its accessibility and price make it a good starter option. If you aren't ready to ponder the intricacies of each traditional milk-based drink but are keen to make good espresso at home, the Classic Pro does the job.
The best all-in-one espresso machine
Upgrade pick
If you want both technology-assisted convenience and the ability to hone your technique using manual settings, we recommend the Breville Barista Touch. The well-organized touchscreen menus—along with built-in tutorials, a quality built-in grinder, and uniquely nuanced, automatic milk frothing—allow you to finesse café-quality drinks with a beginner's knowledge. And if you don't need the guidance, you'll still appreciate this machine's powerful steam wand and consistent shots, as well as the ability to refine your results with the help of on-screen timers (to keep track of your grinding and shot duration) and custom settings.
The Barista Touch's touchscreen is no gimmick, which is a nice surprise—instead, it's sophisticated, visually appealing, and easy to use. The digital menu walks you through everything you need to know about making good espresso drinks, and it provides step-by-step troubleshooting, from grind to extraction to milk frothing. If you who want a lot of automation, there are factory presets for the major classic espresso drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, and so on), but you can also program and save your own drink specifications, or use the machine manually.
The shots I pulled on the Barista Touch had the same degree of balance and depth as those from the Bambino Plus. This machine comes with both dual- and single-wall baskets (the Bambino Plus includes only the former). We spent the bulk of testing using the traditional (single-wall) basket to make sure the Barista Touch could capture some of the nuance that can be lost with dual-wall filters (it could). As with the Bambino Plus, the majority of shots pulled with the Touch emphasized a cocoa-y mid-tone, sometimes with a slight, pleasant tartness. Depending on the blend, some shots sang with a bit more citrus or even blackberry (although the Ascaso Dream PID, by comparison, often did better at capturing the more bracing acidity prized by baristas, as well as a variety of fruitier notes).
Among the machines we tested, the Touch has a steam wand that is without equal. As with the Bambino Plus, with the Touch you can place the steam pitcher on a temperature sensor under the wand for automatic frothing, or you can choose to froth your milk manually. The steam wand also has that handy auto-purge feature, which helps keep it clean after you steam your milk. Though it's not much faster than wands on other machines we tested, the Touch's wand is a bit more powerful. And it has an edge on the Bambino Plus's, thanks to the greater range of textures and temperatures the automatic setting offers. Even if you personally abhor a super-dry cappuccino, it's impressive that the Barista Touch can effortlessly yield extra-thick foam with no unsightly bubbles. And should you want the opposite, you can also get the wettest latte, with foam no thicker than a postcard. Similarly, the temperature scale gives you the option to steam cooler cortados and toddler-friendly hot chocolates, or extra-hot lattes. Of course, the onus of learning how to pour latte art remains on you.
Even though we approached the Barista Touch's built-in grinder with some skepticism, it's a handy feature that allowed us to dial in about as well as we did with the Baratza Encore and Sette 30 grinders (though the higher-end espresso grinders we tested were better). A wheel on the side of the machine adjusts the grind, and I was able to settle on a very fine grind that was consistent on the whole. ChiSum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh of Coffee Project NY agreed that a built-in grinder can be a worthwhile building block for true beginners, but if you're already attached to a particular grinder, the Barista Touch's built-in one may not dazzle. In our testing, we noticed it had a tendency to generate clumpy grounds on the finer settings. However, this did not impede our ability to dial in the espresso and make good drinks, and it may be less of an issue on newer models—a Breville representative told us that since we first tested the Touch, the company has made a slight change to its grinder burrs, to improve performance and longevity. We saw less clumping from the grinder on the Breville Barista Pro, which uses those newer burrs too.
We're also always a little wary of two-in-one machines, since they have more points of possible failure. And there's the issue of what you do if the touchscreen malfunctions. As with a smartphone, if the machine develops a glitchy response to finger swiping, it's effectively toast. But Breville does sell replacement burrs for the grinder, and the Barista Touch comes with a two-year warranty. In customer reviews of the Touch, we also haven't seen complaints about durability crop up with enough frequency to cause us concern—although the machine has been around for just a few years. And while the Touch isn't cheap, the built-in grinder does save you from having to shell out several hundred dollars more for a separate grinder. (You may be able to save a little money if you can find a Breville Certified Remanufactured machine, but a refurbished Breville gets you a warranty of just six months.)
The best professional-grade espresso machine for home
Upgrade pick
If you want to hone your craft on a great-looking, hands-on machine—but also the confidence that you'll be able to pull great espresso with relative ease—we recommend the Ascaso Dream PID. Many of the shots we pulled on the Ascaso Dream surpassed those we pulled on our other picks. And when compared with the competition, shots pulled from the same batch of roasted beans would often taste markedly different, with the Ascaso Dream yielding espresso that had far more balance and depth, with no ashy or sour aftertaste. The steam wand is surprisingly powerful. too. Handling it required more attention and care compared with the wands on the other machines we recommend, but I was able to get exquisitely textured microfoam equal to that of the Breville models. I also noticed that I could better stretch the milk to get a fluffier cappuccino, so with some practice you can master the range between ultrathin microfoam and dry (but still silky) foam. Though the programming is limited, I was impressed that my preferred shot volume held up over multiple test sessions with only sight adjustments to my grind and dose. Aesthetically, the Ascaso Dream's retro design is very charming.
Getting into the groove on the Ascaso posed no challenges. You insert a single tube into the water tank, which easily slides into the back of the Dream PID from the side. (When you turn on the machine, a light illuminates the tank—a handy feature when you're making coffee before sunrise, not to mention a neat trick.) Dialing in espresso with the Baratza Sette 270 grinder was also pretty quick. As with the other machines we tested, I stuck with manually controlled shots, rather than using the preprogrammed setting, to get a sense of the consistency in my tamp and grind setting. I noticed right away that the extraction on the Ascaso was much more reminiscent of a commercial-grade machine: On the whole, the streams came at a steady pace, and the espresso crema had plenty of speckling and striping without being too foamy—a problem I sometimes encountered on other models we decided not to recommend, such as the Breville Barista Pro. I also found that I disposed of cohesive espresso pucks, as opposed to mushy coffee grounds, more frequently after pulling shots, a sign of more even, thorough coffee extraction.
This level of consistency over multiple shots reflects the Ascaso's quick recovery time, which is impressive for a home machine. (ChiSum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh of Coffee Project NY noted that commercial machines tend to have more reliable recovery times.) This means you can practice on it for somewhat longer periods of time, and make more drinks in a row. In comparison, with a machine like the Gaggia, for example, you'll have to walk away after a while and let it rest. Even the Breville Bambino Plus, which transitions quickly between pulling shots and steaming milk, requires you to adjust your grind more frequently, or give the machine some cooldown time to account for the buildup of heat when you're pulling a bunch of shots in a row.
On the Ascaso Dream, we were able to get all the requisite espresso flavors—typically dark chocolate, almond, and hints of berry or citrus—and even some notes of spicy Malbec and liqueur. Many times, the espresso simply looked and tasted more like what I'd expect from a high-end café. Pulling a complex but balanced shot that still has a relatively clean mouthfeel is not particularly easy, and I was able to do this more often on this machine than on the other models we tested. While it's still important to explore your grind settings, I ended up making only very minor adjustments over the course of multiple test sessions. This is one of the Ascaso Dream's selling points for beginners who are debating whether to buy a pricier model. If you've spent a reasonable amount of time reading up on (or watching videos about) the basics of pulling rich, café-quality espresso, there won't be too much of a learning curve.
Accessories include a steel tamper and both pod and single-shot filter baskets, but you're better off developing your skills with the (also included) traditional, double-shot basket. Though the portafilter is a bit on the heavier side, its wooden handle is the most ergonomic we've experienced, and the heavy-duty tamper packs your espresso dose reliably. Locking the portafilter into the group head, where water comes out, is straightforward—given its compact size, the Ascaso Dream is impressively sturdy, and you don't need to steady the machine with your other hand, like you do with the Breville Bambino Plus.
Programming on the Ascaso Dream is fairly limited but useful for experimentation. The digital PID controller allows you to adjust the boiler temperature for your shots and program pre-infusion for up to five seconds. You can also program your extraction time down to a tenth of a second, by holding down the coffee toggle and lifting it up when the meter reads your preferred time. I found that after I'd dialed in my ideal shot, the saved time would hold up remarkably well, often deviating by only a few tenths of a second. For example, if shots tasted really optimal at 30.5 seconds, programming would ensure most subsequent shots came in between 30 and 31 seconds. No other machine we tested provided comparable accuracy even when I carefully monitored my dose, grind, and tamp pressure; at best, the programmed time varied by 5 to 7 seconds. However, you'll probably want to consult a short video or two to learn how to program the Ascaso Dream, as the instruction manual isn't as clear as it could be.
The Ascaso Dream's steam wand froths milk very well, providing the broadest range in textures except for the Breville Barista Touch (the Ascaso doesn't have any automatic settings like those of the Touch, though). Its initial burst of aeration took a little more time to get used to, and I sometimes ended up with fluffier milk than I intended. However, the milk was still silky and sweet, and once I became acquainted with the steam wand's power and control wheel, I was able to froth milk more specifically tailored to the drink I was making. One major perk is that the steam wand rotates horizontally and vertically, which provides a lot of room to angle the wand's tip into your milk comfortably and roll the milk correctly while frothing.
One drawback to the Ascaso Dream is the total time it takes to make a drink. In our testing, it took almost 75 seconds after pulling a shot before the steam wand was ready for use. Also, the wand gradually declines in power despite its initial force, although nowhere near as noticeably as that of the Gaggia Classic Pro. In a side-by-side comparison with the Breville Bambino Plus, I found that the Ascaso Dream frothed milk faster but the Bambino Plus steamed at a steadier pace; if you really want your latte milk piping hot, it might be easier to do that on the Bambino Plus without over-frothing. A more minor issue is the limited amount of space between the grate the cup sits on and the portafilter's spout; unless you have unusually short coffee mugs, you'll have to commit to a set of traditional cappuccino cups, cortado glasses, or whatever low-profile drinkware best matches the drinks you prefer. Some people may also dislike the water tank's limited volume of 48 ounces (about 1.4 liters), but unless you're showing off your new-fangled latte skills to friends, we think this isn't an issue—it's better to change your tank water regularly anyway.
In the past, we've tried to keep the machines we tested and picked under $1,000. But we've seen more and more machines hovering just above that range, and we wanted to understand what the difference in price can get you. At $1,250, the Ascaso Dream is a much bigger investment than our other picks, especially considering that you'll need to pair it with a good grinder if you don't own one already. (Keep in mind that our other upgrade pick, the Breville Barista Touch, includes a built-in grinder, though it's not as precise as the Sette 270, our upgrade recommendation for espresso grinders.) The Ascaso Dream doesn't come with a steam pitcher, either, so you'll have to purchase that separately too (at a much lower price than the grinder, though). We feel that the Ascaso Dream's unparalleled consistency and the quality of espresso it produces makes it a worthwhile option for coffee lovers who are interested in working toward honing their skills to near-professional levels. Like the Breville Bambino Plus, the Ascaso can be seamlessly integrated into your morning routine without too much difficulty, but as you get more comfortable with it, you'll be drawing even closer to the quality you expect from your favorite coffee shop. The retro design is also very appealing—given its look, compact size, and performance, we can imagine a cozy corner bistro using it to serve evening espressos and cappuccinos.
Choosing a grinder for espresso
To get the most out of your coffee and espresso machine, you'll need a decent burr grinder. It should grind uniformly at a steady pace and allow you to adjust the fineness of the grounds in precise increments. The more control you have, the better, because an inadequate grinder could cause you to waste a good deal of coffee in the pursuit of a merely passable shot.
That said, you don't need a fancy grinder to get palatable—or even great-tasting—espresso at home. It certainly helps, particularly if you're in pursuit of some refined flavor notes. But for a beginner, there is plenty of fine-tuning and experimentation you can do with an under-$500 grinder. And even an excellent grinder would not have saved the espresso machines that didn't make the cut.
We've spent time testing coffee grinders, including some espresso-specific ones, and there are a few we recommend, depending on your budget and skill level:
- The Baratza Encore is the top pick in our guide to the best coffee grinder, and if you're a beginner on a budget, it'll do the job until you're ready to become more acquainted with the subtler characteristics of great espresso. It's also cheaper than an espresso grinder, and we were able to dial it in without much fuss. But unlike the other grinders on this list, the Encore isn't meant primarily for espresso, so it has fewer fine gradients, and there's less capability for fine-tuning shots. However, ultrafine grounds proved a bit problematic on the less-expensive espresso machines we tested anyway, producing slow extractions that resulted in muddy, incomplete shots.
- If you want a dedicated espresso grinder, we recommend that you start with the elegantly designed Baratza Sette 30. Like commercial-grade espresso grinders, the Sette 30 grinds very quickly and with excellent precision, fills the portafilter cleanly, and allows you to set the grind time to the hundredth of a second (which gives you greater control over how much coffee you dose at a given grind setting). In turn, you can explore nuances in your coffee beans more carefully. The Sette 30 has 31 grind settings that are adjustable in single increments, and when testing it with the Breville Bambino Plus we were able to dial in quickly. One drawback is that the Sette 30's detachable arms are kind of flimsy and don't hold a portafilter securely on their own. But we think this grinder is a better deal than the Rancilio Rocky, another entry-level espresso grinder we've tested in the past.
- One of the benefits of a more advanced grinder is that it allows for further experimentation with lighter roasts and single-origin beans, since these coffees are extra sensitive to small grind adjustments and offer distinctive, often fruitier flavors. If you're looking for that kind of precision, the Baratza Sette 270 is an ideal upgrade to the Sette 30. It's almost identical in look, feel, and functionality. But the Sette 270 has the great added feature of a second, stepless grind-adjustment wheel (meaning you can make smaller tweaks to the grind size in between grind settings, for a total of 270 individual grind settings), as well as memory to save three grind-duration settings. Importantly, the Sette 270's arms also hold the portafilter securely, so you can step away if need be. Compared with the Baratza Vario, a grinder we used extensively for our espresso-machine test sessions in 2016 and 2019, we found the Sette 270's stepless wheel to be more seamless than the Vario's grind-adjustment levers. The Sette 270 is also faster and less messy to use than the Vario, and its timer is more precise. And interestingly, the Sette 270 is $80 less than the Vario (at this writing).
How and when you upgrade your grinder should depend on your skill level, the frequency with which you brew espresso at home, and your willingness to become a veritable coffee geek. If you're completely new to making espresso and want a decent grinder that works for other brewing methods, the Encore is the way to go. Upgrading to something fancier will help you cultivate your palate as you explore different bean origins. Note that if you're interested in the Breville Barista Touch, its built-in grinder is more than sufficient for beginners and intermediate users, and it will yield complex, expressive shots the more you practice.
The competition
The Breville Barista Pro is the best of Breville's all-in-one models after the Barista Touch, and we previously recommended it as an upgrade machine for those who want a more hands-on experience. In subsequent testing, we found that the shots didn't hold up quite as consistently as we remembered, and we had some trouble dialing in with the built-in grinder. Though the Barista Touch basically has the same grinder, we prefer it over the Barista Pro because it comes with more features and customizable options for people who want to either experiment or have it perform nearly every step for them. For the cost of the Barista Pro, we felt that most people would simply be better off with the Bambino Plus and one of the nicer grinders we recommend. If you want a higher-end model, the Barista Touch is more full service, while the Ascaso Dream PID is a more hands-on machine that produces the best espresso of all the models we've tried.
The Breville Bambino is a simpler, less-expensive take on the Bambino Plus' basic design. It is slightly more compact, with a smaller tank, and it comes with a lighter portafilter and a lighter tamper. While it made decent espresso, the shots weren't quite as flavorful or consistent as ones from the Plus. The steam wand is also slightly less powerful, and seems similar to the one featured on older Breville models like the Infuser and Barista Express. The Bambino also lacks temperature settings and the auto-froth/auto-purge options for the steam wand that make the Bambino Plus so fun and accessible. While the Bambino's low $300 price tag was attractive at first, we felt that the $500 Bambino Plus was just a much better value.
The Solis Barista Perfetta intrigued us as a possible middle ground between the Gaggia Classic Pro and the Bambino Plus, but we experienced a few recurring issues. Despite its featuring three temperature settings, we found the espresso it made to be noticeably cooler than shots from other machines, even on the hottest option. The machine also cut off manual extraction multiple times due to the manometer exceeding the ideal pressure. In our tests it took a lot of adjustments (and a lot of coffee beans) to get reliable, steady extraction. And, while the steam wands on the other models we've tried would drip once or twice during the course of our test sessions, the Solis's steam wand frequently leaked in between pulling shots and frothing milk.
The Lelit Anna PL41TEM is fairly similar in design and feel to the Gaggia Classic Pro, its closest competitor, but features a PID temperature controller that you can adjust and program manually. It also features an ergonomic portafilter and comes with a backflush basket to clean the boiler head. While the espresso it made was often well-balanced and capable of hitting different flavor notes, we struggled to produce finely textured milk froth with the Anna's steam wand, which notably lacked power. Considering its higher price, we felt the Lelit Anna simply didn't improve upon what the Gaggia Classic Pro can reliably do.
The Breville Infuser, our previous pick, doesn't froth milk as quickly as the Breville Bambino Plus, and it's also harder to achieve a really creamy texture. It was also more difficult to dial in the espresso using the Infuser, and its best shots were less robust than those from our picks. This machine features a pressure gauge, which illustrates whether you're under-extracting or over-extracting your espresso (an indication that your grind, dose, and tamp process needs adjustment). But we didn't find it difficult to make adjustments without one when we used the Bambino.
The Breville Barista Express is basically the Infuser plus the built-in grinder. The grinder is adequate, but you're missing some of the key selling points of the Barista Touch while opting for less power and precision than the Bambino affords. Ultimately, we think beginners would be happier with the Bambino Plus and a decent, inexpensive grinder.
The De'Longhi Dedica tended to yield muddy, under-extracted shots from doses that would pull better on more technically advanced models. Though we managed to finesse a few above-average cappuccinos, lack of consistency and a tendency to cut off extraction with a full portafilter basket made it difficult to settle into any kind of groove. The steam wand also features an awkward "hot milk/cappuccino" switch that was easily bumped into the wrong froth mode.
The Gaggia Carezza Deluxe costs less than the Gaggia Classic Pro, perhaps because of its plastic-oriented design, but the Carezza is simply not a great investment. As with the De'Longhi Dedica, with the Carezza it wasn't feasible to texture milk with precision, and the results were always too bubbly. Although the shots extracted with more consistency than when we used the Dedica, they were generally unremarkable and tended to be a little sour. During extraction, water occasionally leaked from the portafilter.
The Breville Duo-Temp Pro, which we tested in 2016, lacks programmable buttons, so you have to start and stop pulling a shot manually. We also found that the pump wasn't as strong as the one on the Infuser. As a result, we had to use coffee that was ground a bit more coarsely than for other machines, resulting in a duller-tasting shot.
The Rancilio Silvia made the best shot we were able to get from any of the machines we tested in 2016. But it's a lot harder for a beginner to master. At over $700, it also costs much more than either the Gaggia Classic Pro or the Breville Bambino Plus. It's a good machine for someone who has more experience, but we wouldn't recommend it for someone who's just starting out.
What to look forward to
As we wrapped testing for the 2021 update, we learned Ascaso had just released the Steel Uno. At $1,350, it's only $100 more than the Dream PID, and it offers more opportunities to experiment with the density, mouthfeel, and flavor of your espresso via volumetric shot programming. We look forward to testing the Uno for the next update and exploring how much worthwhile variation this feature in particular allows.
Frequently asked questions
Why are espresso machines so expensive?
The things needed to make espresso—heat, water, and pressure—are tough on a machine's parts. As a result, all of the components of the espresso machine must be well designed and durable, which can be pricey.
Making espresso also requires precise temperature and pressure control, and those features can be costly too.
Are cheap espresso machines worth it?
Probably not. We've tested a few espresso machines in the $300 range (although that hardly qualifies as cheap) and found the experience frustrating. We struggled to pull good (or even consistent) shots, and could make only overly frothy steamed milk.
If you'd rather not spend $500 or more on an espresso machine, consider trying other coffee-brewing gear that can yield similarly concentrated shots of coffee, such as the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker, a moka pot, or a Nespresso machine.
Can I make coffee with an espresso machine?
The closest thing to regular drip coffee you can make with an espresso machine is an Americano, which you get by adding two parts hot water to one part espresso. Almost all of our picks include a hot-water spout that makes this easy, but you can also heat water separately and add it to your shot of espresso.
Sources
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Seattle Coffee Gear, Breville Barista Touch Crew Review, YouTube , December 28, 2017
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Whole Latte Love, Top 5 Best Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines of 2018, YouTube , October 10, 2018
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Kat, Ask the Experts: What's the Difference Between Pressurized and Non-Pressurized Filter Baskets?, Seattle Coffee Gear , December 30, 2008
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James Hoffmann, The Best Espresso Machine Under £500, YouTube , September 18, 2020
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Malarie Gokey and Owen Burke, The best espresso machines, Business Insider , August 21, 2020
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Alison Nowak, barista at George Howell Coffee, email interview , January 24, 2019
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Phil McKnight, global business manager for the beverage category at Breville , email interview , January 22, 2019
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Matthew Davis, product expert for the toast and beverage category at Breville , email interview, August 2020
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ChiSum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh, owners of Coffee Project NY, email interview, April 2021
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-espresso-machine-grinder-and-accessories-for-beginners/
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