If you’re shopping for an espresso machine, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. How can you be sure that the machine you buy will be well made and reliable? How can you be certain it will have all the brewing functions you need, but none that you’re not going to use? How can you be sure that it will be easy to use and maintain?
That’s where I come in. I test espresso machines for a living (lucky, I know!) and I’ve put together a super-short list of the best models I’ve used this year to save you time and effort. Whether you want something affordable and compact that you can tuck in a corner, or a premium super-automatic machine that can prepare drinks that would make a barista cry, I’ve got you covered. I’ve also provided an alternative to each of the three machines here, in case my number one choice isn’t quite right.
If you prefer filter coffee to espresso, take a moment to check out my roundup of the best drip coffee machines instead, which is packed with great quality and affordable options. Now, on with the espresso.
Best budget espresso machine
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De’Longhi Dedica Duo
De’Longhi makes many of the best espresso machines I’ve tested, and its latest model, the Dedica Duo, is no exception. This tiny machine is super affordable, costing less than $300 / £300 (sadly it’s not available in Australia yet), but is as solidly-made as any of the company’s pricier coffee makers, and performs just as well.
Espresso machines in this price bracket are often disappointing, with cheap-feeling accessories, boilers that are slow to heat, and pumps that can’t sustain consistent pressure. It’s very frustrating when your drink can suddenly be over- or under-extracted, even when every other variable is the same, and it’s impossible to troubleshoot.
This isn’t the case with the Dedica Duo, which heats quickly and performs reliably. Once you have your grinder dialled in, it won’t let you down, despite its bargain price tag.
As a bonus, you can also choose to bypass the boiler and extract a shot of cold espresso using water straight from the tank. This takes about two minutes for a single shot, or four minutes for a double (the compounds in ground coffee don’t dissolve in cold water as easily as hot), but it’s still much faster than preparing a jug of cold brew the old-fashioned way overnight, and the flavor profile is similar with a more mellow taste than the same espresso made hot.
It’s a great-looking little machine as well, with some nice updates from its predecessor, the De’Longhi Dedica Style. For example, the drip tray is now wider, making it easier to fit two espresso cups on top, and the Duo comes in a range of fun gelato-inspired colors including pink, green, and white (shown here).
Read our full De’Longhi Dedica Duo review
Also consider
Best mid-range espresso machine
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De’Longhi La Specialista Touch
If you want to get into making coffee manually, the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch is the best espresso machine for you. It’s semi-automatic, which means it can handle some parts of the espresso-making process for you, or let you take manual control.
For first-timers, De’Longhi’s Bean Adapt tech will adjust brew settings and help you choose the optimum grind size for your beans. The machine will provide a helping hand with dosing and tamping, too, with a rubber mat on which to rest the portafilter handle to help you achieve even pressure, a calibrated tamper that helps you see if you have the right amount of ground coffee, and a trimming tool in case your filter basket is overfilled.
Once you’re confident pulling the shots, you can take the reins and adjust settings such as brewing temperature, water volume, and pre-infusion time yourself.
The automated steam wand is one of the best I’ve used, and you can switch to manual mode if you prefer by raising it a few degrees.
The La Specialista Touch is smaller than you might expect, but still drew lots of admiring glances and comments in TechRadar‘s shared test kitchen. It won’t dominate your space, but it’s a good-looking espresso maker that will certainly turn heads.
Read our full De’Longhi La Specialista Touch review
Also consider
Best premium espresso machine
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Jura J10
I enjoyed testing the Jura J10 so much, it was a wrench to return the review sample when I was done. It doesn’t just brew some of the finest espresso I’ve had from a fully automatic machine (our reviews editor was impressed, too), it can also handle the kind of coffee orders that would bring your local coffee shop’s barista out in a cold sweat.
The J10 can brew both hot and cold, which isn’t uncommon for coffee machines these days, but it doesn’t just push some tepid water through the grounds and call it a day. After pre-infusing your freshly ground beans, the J10 sends high-pressure pulses of water through to extract your shot. The result is a smooth, mellow taste that’s strikingly similar to a cold brew made in the traditional way, and it’s noticeably richer than the watery offerings of some lesser machines.
The J10 also excels when it comes to milk (whether plant-based or dairy) and makes one of the best latte macchiatos I’ve tasted. It can handle both hot and cold milk, and has a system called SweetFoam that infuses it with your choice of syrup as it’s dispensed. Just fill a small container with any syrup you like, screw the attachment onto the milk wand, and it will be evenly incorporated into the milk, which means you only need a little to get full flavor in every sip.
It’s not the machine for espresso purists, but if you want to have fun with your coffee and you have the cash, it’s a joy to use.
Read our full Jura J10 review
Also consider
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The post I test coffee makers for a living, and these are the 3 best espresso machines I’ve used this year first appeared on TechToday.
This post originally appeared on TechToday.