How to Choose the Best Espresso Machines For Home

The best espresso machines at home must give you a consistently excellent cup of coffee. It requires a precise proportion of tightly packed, finely ground coffee and water at high pressure. It also requires a powerful wand of steam which can saturate the milk without creating large bubbles.

Certain models have an integrated mill, whereas others require you to supply one. Our top picks feature adjustable PID controllers for the stability of water temperatures, a shot timer to ensure proper extraction, and a dual boiler that allows you to pull shots and steam milk simultaneously.

Buying an Equipment

An espresso machine that is of high quality can be a worthwhile investment for people who drink coffee at home, or who want to serve lattes and cappuccino to customers in restaurants, cafes or wine bar salon. However, it is essential to weigh the amount of control you'd like over your espresso when deciding what kind of machine you want to purchase. A manual machine may be the best choice for those just getting started. They use the lever to create pressure during extraction and often come with an attached steam wand that is ideal for making milk drinks. These machines are challenging to operate and require an enormous amount of effort.


A semi-automatic machine can be a great choice if you want to take your coffee skills to the highest level. They are less hands-on however they still make a cup of espresso that is consistent and tastes great. Semi-automatic machines also have grinder built-in, saving the user money by not having to purchase and maintain a separate grinder.

Professional espresso machines are more expensive than the consumer models, but they can be difficult to use and require greater maintenance. They can be expensive and you need to consider your needs as well as how much time and effort you are willing to invest in maintenance and upkeep.

Certain models have a dual boiler that lets you make espresso and milk at the same time. Giorgio warns that these systems may not be more efficient than those using a single heating system because there is a delay in between the time the espresso is prepared and the milk is frozen.

It's important to consider your needs when buying the machine. If you're looking for a way to eliminate human error, think about a fully automatic or capsule machine. These models can reduce your time spent preparing espresso, and allow you to maintain an even taste by removing the necessity to grind beans, extract espresso, and steam milk.

Getting Started

A home espresso machine can transform the taste of your morning coffee, but it is important to keep in mind that making a good cup of espresso will require a significant commitment of time and skills. That's why you'll want to pick a machine that's simple enough for novices and will inspire you to study the craft.

A few of our top picks, like the Rancilio Silvia, offer a range of after-market customizations that will make your espresso machine more personal. Other espresso makers allow you to replace the handle for a better grip and aesthetic. You can pick from wood or a product made from recycled skateboards.

There are many basic espresso machines that make great drinks if not yet ready to purchase an entire professional machine. Many of these machines are based on the same principles used by professional machines, but reduced to make them suitable for home use. The Breville Barista Pro X for example, has a programmable PID control front and center which lets you set the water temperature to a specific level, a shot-timer that tracks the progress of your brewing as well as a powerful wand capable of texturing milk, and a gauge that tells you when you've reached the ideal brew pressure (between 8 and 10)

Dual boilers are a possibility for those looking to take their barista abilities to the next level. They allow you to make espresso and milk at the same time. This helps ensure consistency in your results, since both functions must be heated to the same temperature. It also lets you test different extraction ratios for a wide variety of drinks.

If you choose to purchase a machine with this feature, it's recommended to purchase additional accessories, like a Group Head Cleaner to clean the brew port, as well as a Descaling Kit. You can also make use of Espresso Machine Cleaner instead of water to remove old coffee residues that could alter the flavor of your coffee. These items will help keep your espresso maker in good working order and ensure that it's always ready to make great drinks for you and your family.

Making Great Drinks

Making espresso and coffee drinks can be a complicated process. It is essential to be precise throughout the entire process, from weighing out the grounds to tamping it right. The top espresso machines come with various features that make coffee making as easy and constant as it can be. This could include a fast warming time, automated coffee brewing, and a steam wand that is easy to control to texturize the milk.

Breville Bambino Plus is our top choice for those who are just starting out. This super-automatic machine uses whole beans and has five drink options that make it easy to make espresso shots or cappuccino, latte macchiato, or black coffee. The machine is simple to clean and comes with a built-in milk frother that makes rich, foamy cappuccinos and lattes.

Our test subjects were satisfied with the quality of the beverages produced by this machine. However it's worth noting that if you are committed to your coffee, it might be a good idea to purchase an espresso maker that comes with an integrated grinder and more customizable options. The Rancilio Silvia, for example is more expensive than the Bambino Plus but offers much more in the way of control over every aspect of brewing. It also includes two boilers that allow you to pull an espresso shot and steam milk simultaneously which can assist you in getting your drink to the right temperature.

If you are willing to invest more, think about an espresso machine that is professional grade, such as the Lelit MaraX. This model was voted the most efficient in our Best Prosumer espresso maker category. It's a smaller version of commercial espresso makers (think Vitamix blenders). This machine is worth the price if you're an absolute coffee nerd. Morocco and Sheese both emphasize that an espresso machine is only as good in the grinder it's paired with. There are some grinders within this price range and are great for espresso. (Morocco prefers the Fellow Opus). We recommend pairing your espresso machine with a top burr grinder, regardless of what type of machine you pick.

Maintenance

It's only fair that you do your best to maintain the espresso machine after you've worked hard to get it to produce great drinks and shots. This means that you need to incorporate regular cleaning and maintenance into your daily routine. It's important to do this since even the most efficient machines will develop virtually invisible blockages in internal mechanisms that hinder water and steam flow. This can result in a lower pressure or lack of function.

A few minutes a day, paired with a few minutes allotted for a thorough cleaning every month, will suffice to prevent the build-up of coffee residue, oils and scale that can ruin the flavor of your coffee and ultimately damage the expensive equipment. Cleaning an espresso machine isn't a difficult task.

For the majority of models, the brew group is easily accessible to clean. This includes the rubber gasket three-way solenoid, and dispersion screen. It's recommended to clean the portafilter and the basket after each use as they may contain rancid oils that affect the taste of your shots.

You'll need a portafilter a Coffetool or the smallest size brush and espresso machine cleaner before you begin. Before you scrub the portafilter, soak it in a solution of vinegar, hot water, and detergent. It is important to remove the brass dispersion plates and the stubby screws from the group head. This will allow you backflush your group head. espresso machine coffee is used to flush the system. This will not only flush out some calcification, but also help to remove any coffee oils that could hinder the three-way valve and hindering water from flowing properly through the system.

Follow the manufacturer's directions for cleaning products. Some may harm your equipment or cause mineral deposits. Use filtered, clean water to decrease the amount of calcium present in your boiler tank.