Best Espresso Machines Of 2026: Tested And Ranked By A Real Java Lover

For years I've been writing about the art of making the perfect espresso shot. Here’s my personal ranking of the best countertop espresso machines.

Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing.

1. Breville - Best Espresso Machine with Grinder

KEY TAKEAWAY:

Built-in grinder and pressure gauge make dialing in espresso shots faster and easier.

HOME LATTES:

If you love lattes anywhere near as much as I do, this espresso machine is probably going to change your whole morning routine. I honestly can’t say enough good things about it. With the amount of coffee I drink, I figured the machine would basically pay for itself within a year, even factoring in beans, milk, and all those random cleaning bits and pieces.

DAILY MAINTENANCE:

A little honesty up front, keeping up with regular maintenance makes all the difference. Every single morning, after I make my coffee, I’ve gotten into the habit of wiping the steam wand, purging it, then wiping again. You really want to get around the tip, in those tiny spots, and if you keep up with it, you’ll never have to use the pin to poke out stuck milk. Once I’ve got my steamed milk poured, I like to run a shot of water through the showerhead, right into my empty mug. No coffee filter or grounds. Just flush out any leftover coffee debris. I swear, it keeps every cup tasting as clean as the first one.

WATER FILTERS:

This is one of those small things that makes a big difference. Change your water filters every couple of months or about every sixty uses, whichever comes first. Doing this really does cut down how often you need to descale, and it helps the machine last longer and makes the coffee taste better. You’ll still need to descale it now and then, but less often. I think the manual that comes with the machine is super helpful, not just for maintenance, but also for figuring out the best way to pull a shot or make a drink you saw online. And, if you ever lose the manual, you can always find the instructions on their website. I ended up using Gold Tone replacement filters for this machine. They’re pretty affordable and work just fine, at least in my experience.

WATER RESERVOIR:

Whatever you do, don’t let the water run out. Seriously. If it happens once or twice by accident, you’re probably fine, but if you make a habit of it, you could do some real damage to the machine. I check my water reservoir a couple times a week, just to be safe.

WEEKLY CLEANING:

So here’s my weekly cleaning routine, and it sounds like a big chore but it takes about five minutes. Empty and rinse the drip tray once or twice a week, depending on how much coffee you’re making. At least once a week, take the tray out and give it a proper hand wash. I do the same with the tools, the tool bin, and the portafilter filters, trust me, residue builds up in weird places. The spouts on the portafilter actually twist off, so you can really get in there and clean. It’s one of those little details that helps everything stay fresh.

GRINDER ROUTINE:

Don’t forget the grinder. Every time I switch to a new kind of bean, or after going through a couple pounds of coffee, I clean out the grinder and hopper. I just use the included brush and a dry paper towel, never water, because you don’t want things rusting or getting gunky. If you want to be really thorough, you could use a vacuum to get any leftover coffee out, but I hardly ever need to.

STAINLESS EXTERIOR:

The outside of the machine is technically stainless-plated, not solid stainless, so it’s smart to give it a quick wipe with a damp cloth every day and a more careful cleaning once a week. Always dry it with a clean towel so it stays shiny. I make sure to clean underneath the coffee and steam nozzles too, because milk and coffee splatter can build up without you noticing.

BUILT-IN FEATURES:

• Built-in grinder, Some people like a separate burr grinder, but I find this one works great and it’s easy to keep clean. I keep my beans in a separate container and scoop them in as needed.

• The frother is way better than the one on my old, cheaper machine.

• There’s a little clean me light, which is perfect for forgetful people like me. It keeps me on top of maintenance.

• Stainless finish looks gorgeous, though not every inch is metal.

• The pressure gauge is a game-changer. I would never go back to a machine without one. It makes it so much easier to dial in the right espresso shot.

• The tamper is just right, feels solid and balanced.

• It makes perfect pucks of coffee that pop right out.

• Hot water dispenser is a really handy touch.

• All-in-one, so you don’t need a separate grinder cluttering up the kitchen.

• Just makes consistently good coffee, which is what matters.

• Manual is full of genuinely helpful tips and info.

• Automated cleaning cycle for the grouphead, this is actually really helpful.

• There’s a copper dosing tool that looks great and feels fancy.

• Comes with all the little tools you’ll need for cleaning the filters.

MINOR DRAWBACKS:

• The top and bottom sides of the machine are plastic, which isn’t as pretty as the metal parts.

• Water tank needs refilling pretty often and it’s also plastic.

• The bottom water tray fills up quicker than I’d like, but it’s easy enough to empty.

• The coffee grind separator could be better, but it does keep grinds out of the water tray, which helps with any weird smells.

• Not a cheap machine, but after looking at my old coffee shop bills, I’m convinced it’s worth it.

• Filters for the water tank can be a little pricey, so I usually use filtered water from my fridge.

• The lowest grind setting on double can be too much. Not a dealbreaker, just something to keep in mind.

LONG-TERM ISSUES:

Some parts wear out over time, especially the o-rings. The manual points out where to check. You’ll likely need to replace them every so often, especially around the portafilter. Sometimes the machine will start making a weird buzzing noise or might even leak water from the bottom. This usually happens because of a solenoid valve issue, often around the six month or one year mark.

WARRANTY SUPPORT:

If you’re still under warranty, take a quick video and reach out to customer service. They’ve been good about fixing or replacing things. If you’re out of warranty, there are repair services that can handle it for you. If you’re brave and good with DIY, you can find replacement parts online, but definitely don’t try that if you’re still under warranty.

BOTTOM LINE:

Overall, for the price, you’re getting a ton of features and a machine that feels like it belongs in a real coffee shop. I think that's the bottom line here, no?

Buy it on Amazon today for: $692.99 with FREE returns

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2. De'Longhi - Best Automatic Espresso Machine

KEY TAKEAWAY:

Just one button handles almost everything from grinding to brewing.

DAILY PERFORMANCE:

I’ve actually owned two of these espresso machines over the years, and just to give you a sense of reliability, my first one lasted more than nine years. Not bad for a machine you use daily. This thing is an Italian design but built in China, and it’s what they call a super-automatic. Basically, you hit a button and it grinds your beans, tamps them down, and shoots nearly boiling water through to give you fresh espresso. It’s kind of amazing how much work the machine does for you with almost no effort.

KITCHEN FIT:

If you’re like me, the first question is always, where the heck will I put this thing? I saw a lot of conflicting measurements online. Some places say it’s seventeen by thirteen by eighteen inches, others list it as fifteen point three by eleven by fourteen point four. So, I went ahead and measured my own machines, just to be sure. Here’s what I got: Width is eleven inches,Depth is about fourteen and three-quarters,Height is fourteen inches. You’ll want to leave another inch or two of wiggle room at the back for the power cord. Also, you’ll need some extra space above if you plan to open the bean compartment lid without moving the machine. I don’t have quite enough space to fully open the lid under my cabinets, so I just pull it forward when I need to add beans. No big deal, but something to know. The cup warmer and ground coffee chute on top will also need a few inches of extra height, but it’s easy enough to pull the machine forward for those moments.

PACKAGE CONTENTS:

What do you get in the box? You get the coffee machine and a one-time-use bottle of cleaning solution. My first machine came with an instruction DVD, but my newer one did not.

BUILD MATERIALS:

The body and drip tray are silver-gray plastic, and the slotted drip tray cover is shiny stainless steel. That metal part does scratch up pretty quickly from your cups, so it shows some wear after a while. Sometimes I wish there was an option for a tray that never scratches, but, you know, just one of those little things.

SOUND LEVEL:

Heads up, this machine is definitely not quiet. It makes plenty of noise grinding beans, brewing, and steaming milk. If you’re up before everyone else, just know you’ll probably wake up the whole house. To me, this is just part of the espresso machine experience.

MINERAL BUILDUP:

Do yourself a favor and stick to bottled water, unless you’re blessed with good soft water at home. I used regular tap water in my first machine, and even with regular descaling, mineral buildup was a real hassle. Now I just grab a few jugs of drinking water from the grocery store each week and the machine runs so much smoother.

WATER RESERVOIR:

The water tank is on the right and pulls out from the front. It’s only see-through on the side, so if you put the machine right up against a wall, you can’t check the water level unless you slide it out. You won’t get a warning until it’s totally empty, which means sometimes you push the two-cup button and end up with only half a cup. Been there more than once.

BEAN STORAGE:

You open the top left lid to add beans. It isn’t airtight, so I never fill it to the top, I just pour in what I’ll use from a separate airtight container. If you go through a ton of coffee, you might not care about beans sitting out. There’s a grind size knob in there too. I leave mine alone, but you can adjust it if you really want. Once the beans are in, there’s no easy way to get them out, so keep that in mind. If you want decaf in the evening and regular in the morning, you can use the ground coffee compartment up top for one of those.

BREW OPTIONS:

This is one of those machines that only does espresso-style coffee. That’s normal to me, but if you want classic American drip, this isn’t going to do that. You can choose one or two cups at a time, and it uses steam through fine, tamped grounds. For bigger cups, you can use the two-cup button, or hit the single-cup button and then press and hold again for more. The size and strength are easy to adjust with two knobs: one for water amount, one for coffee strength. I always crank up the strength.

TWO-CUP BREWING:

If you want to share, you can put a cup under each of the two nozzles. I almost never do this because, let’s be honest, I want the whole thing for myself. The nozzles move up and down, so you can fit different mugs.

AMERICANO OPTIONS:

You can make an americano by adding hot water from the steam wand first, then brewing your espresso on top. You can also just run more water through your grounds using the beverage size dial and the single-cup button, holding it down to make a bigger, milder cup. The machine makes it easy to play with.

ESPRESSO CREMA:

This machine can pull a nice long shot with good crema on top. The amount of crema you get depends on your beans, but I’ve had really tasty results with all kinds.

BEAN COMPATIBILITY:

You don’t have to buy special espresso beans. I’ve run everything from oily to non-oily, and the machine handles them both. Personally, I like a medium roast from Guatemala, but everyone’s got their favorite.

MILK FROTHING:

The frothing wand swings out on the right. Just a heads up, if you put the machine next to a wall on the right, it can be awkward to use. There’s no built-in milk container; you use your own cup or pitcher. I just grab a glass measuring cup. Cold milk works best for frothing, and for some reason, two percent milk gives the nicest texture. The first few seconds, the wand shoots out water before turning to steam, so let that go before sticking it in your milk. I’ve never managed any fancy latte art, but I did once make a face that kind of looked like Kramer from Seinfeld.

HOT WATER:

It can make hot water, but it’s mostly steam, so it isn’t the best for tea. Still works in a pinch.

MACHINE CLEANING:

This machine needs a bit more attention than your basic drip coffee maker, but it’s worth it. Used grounds get pushed into a container on the left, and when it fills up, a light comes on and you have to empty it before making more coffee. The machine counts pucks based on when you last opened the door, so don’t just open the front without emptying the grounds, or you’ll end up with a mess. The infuser needs a rinse every week or so. Just turn off the machine, open the front, and pull out the drip tray and infuser. Give it a rinse, dry it off, and put it back. Super easy once you’ve done it a few times. Descaling is important too. The machine will let you know when it’s time. I use bottled water now, but I still follow the descaling routine with EcoDecalk solution. It keeps everything running smoothly.

BOTTOM LINE:

Overall, it's not cheap, but I think it's worth it. At some point it might pay for itself, but if the reason you're considering it is to save money, look elsewhere. By the way, my husband was so surprised by the engineering inside this machine, he took pictures to show off the heavy-duty insides and all the tubing. Bottom line is, it makes good coffee.

Buy it on Amazon today for: $899.95 with FREE returns

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3. CASABREWS - Best Budget Espresso Machine

KEY TAKEAWAY:

Pulls surprisingly good espresso for the price.

HOME ESPRESSO:

I run a coffee shop, so I’m around big pro machines all day, La Marzocco, Mahlkonig grinders, the works. At home, I wanted something simple and affordable that could actually make a solid espresso. That’s how I ended up with the Casabrew, and honestly, for the price, this thing really surprised me in the best way. Right out of the gate, it pulls a really good espresso shot. The steamer, it’s not nearly as powerful as what I’m used to at the café, but it still gets the job done. You just have to be patient since it takes quite a bit longer to steam milk. That’s not a dealbreaker, just something you’ll get used to after a couple of tries.

VALUE:

I’ve tried plenty of other home espresso machines, including Breville. Those are nice but also way pricier, three times more, easily. The Casabrew can hang with them, and I like it better in a few ways. The look is really classic and simple, so it doesn’t have all those odd shapes and extra gadgets that clutter up the counter. It’s more like using a classic wine key instead of some robo wine opener your parents bought as a gag.

PRESSURE GAUGE:

The pressure gauge is actually useful here. It helps you make sure you don’t tamp too hard or overload the portafilter, so your espresso comes out right.

PERFORMANCE:

Every single home espresso machine I’ve tried has its own quirks. None of them can compete with the ten thousand dollar machines at the shop. They just don’t have that kind of power or speed, but if you learn the ins and outs, you can still pull a great shot. Mess it up and your espresso ends up weak or bitter, and your milk won’t have the microfoam you want. This Casabrew is more of a pony than a stallion, but it’s reliable once you get to know it. I use it every day and the whole process, start to finish, only takes a few minutes.

ESPRESSO ACCESSORIES:

If you get one of these, grab both a small and a medium stainless steel steam pitcher. That way you’re set for everything from cortados to cappuccinos and lattes. A scale makes a huge difference too, I use a Hario V60. Weigh your grounds and you’ll notice your espresso gets a lot more consistent. I also like to preheat my cups with water from my electric kettle, so the drink stays hot. If you’re not super fast at first, don’t stress, just warm up your drink in the microwave until you get the hang of it. Honestly, no one’s judging but maybe your dog, and even then, you’re safe.

ESPRESSO ROUTINE:

• Power on the machine to let it preheat,

• Grind fresh coffee for espresso only. Good grinders aren’t cheap, but they last. I use a Mahlkonig,

• Pop a dry portafilter on your scale, zero it out, and add about ten to twelve grams of grounds. Tap the side gently to level them, then tamp lightly with the included tamper. Go too hard and you’ll end up with a bitter shot, so just keep it gentle.

• Heat your cup with hot water, dump the water, then hit the double pull button.

• Most café drinks start with a double shot, so that’s what I do. I usually cut the pull a little short for espresso shots, but let it run longer if I’m adding milk.

LATTE ROUTINE:

• Get your coffee prepped first, but don’t pull it just yet. Preheat your cup if you want a hot drink. Line up all your milk stuff, so you’re not rushing around.

• Fill your pitcher about halfway with whole milk,

• Turn on the steamer and let it build pressure,

• Put a mug under the wand and turn the knob to clear out water until you see steam,

• Rest the tip just below the surface to add air, then drop it a bit deeper so the milk swirls and gets nice and silky. The Casabrew takes longer to steam, so just give it a minute,

• When the pitcher’s too hot to hold, it’s done. Set the milk aside and cover it to keep it warm,

• Wipe down the steam wand right away with a damp cloth, then give it a quick blast of steam to clean it out.

• Now dump the water from your cup, set it under the portafilter, and pull your double shot. Pour in the milk, try your best at some latte art, hey, maybe today’s the day, and enjoy.

TUMBLER USE:

I usually pull my shots into a double walled stainless tumbler. It holds the heat, has a lid, and gives me a minute to clean up before I even drink. This way, my espresso stays hot, even after I’ve wiped down everything.

MISTAKES TO AVOID:

If the pressure gauge drops into the black, you probably tamped too hard or overfilled the basket. You’ll get bitter, undrinkable coffee. Don’t tamp at all and your shot will be weak with no crema. Never use stale pre ground coffee meant for drip, or you’ll wonder what went wrong. It just doesn’t work for espresso.

LEARNING CURVE:

There’s a learning curve. Making good espresso at home is easy once you’ve practiced a bit, but a lot of folks give up too fast and blame the machine, or the beans, or even their spouse. Stick with it, and your drinks will be as good as what you get at a lot of coffee bars, maybe even better, though I’m still a little biased about ours at the café.

DAILY RITUAL:

I love a good cup at my favorite café, especially when the whole ritual makes you feel part of something. But making coffee at home has its own rewards, saves money, feels cozy, and it’s pretty satisfying when you nail it. People who love coffee should do both, in my opinion. You get the best of both worlds.

Buy it on Amazon today for: $139.99 with FREE returns