Beginner-friendly espresso machines for lattes and shots at home, from all-in-one machines with built-in grinders to budget picks.
| Award | Product | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall for beginners | Breville Bambino PlusLattes and flat whites, fast | See on Amazon for Breville Bambino Plus (opens Amazon) |
| Best all-in-one | Breville Barista ExpressOne machine, built-in grinder | See on Amazon for Breville Barista Express (opens Amazon) |
| Best upgrade all-in-one | Breville Barista ProAll-in-one with faster heat-up | See on Amazon for Breville Barista Pro (opens Amazon) |
| Best for learning espresso | Gaggia Classic Evo ProHobbyists who want café-style shots | See on Amazon for Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (opens Amazon) |
| Best budget | De'Longhi StilosaTrying espresso-style drinks for less | See on Amazon for De'Longhi Stilosa (opens Amazon) |
| Best for small kitchens | De'Longhi Dedica ArteTight counters | See on Amazon for De'Longhi Dedica Arte (opens Amazon) |
Home espresso has never been easier to get into, but it's also easy to buy the wrong machine. The biggest decision isn't the machine itself. It's whether you want a built-in grinder or a separate one.
All-in-one machines save money and counter space. A separate machine and grinder costs a little more but gives better shots and lets you upgrade one piece at a time.
Best for: Lattes and flat whites, fast
Our favorite way into espresso. It heats up in seconds, and the automatic steam wand textures milk for you, so lattes come out well from week one.
Best for: One machine, built-in grinder
Everything in one box: a built-in grinder, a pressure gauge and a manual steam wand. The most popular all-in-one for a reason.
Best for: All-in-one with faster heat-up
The Barista Express, refined. Faster heat-up, a clearer display and more grind settings make it the all-in-one to get if you can stretch.
Best for: Hobbyists who want café-style shots
For people who want to learn espresso properly. A commercial-size 58mm portafilter, a powerful steam wand, and a machine that lasts for years.
Best for: Trying espresso-style drinks for less
The lowest-cost way to make espresso-style drinks and lattes at home. Pressurized baskets are forgiving with pre-ground coffee.
Best for: Tight counters
A slim machine for small kitchens. It fits where nothing else will and still has a proper steam wand for latte art.
Our picks are based on research, not sponsorships. We compare manufacturer specifications, read long-term owner feedback, and weigh what experienced home baristas and coffee professionals consistently recommend. We favor gear that's easy to use, built to last and repairable. No brand pays to be included, and we update this guide as products change.
Espresso needs a fine, precise grind. If your machine doesn't include a grinder, pair it with one that can do espresso, like the Baratza Encore ESP or 1Zpresso JX-Pro.
If you mostly drink lattes, a good steam wand matters more than anything else. Automatic frothing, like on the Bambino Plus, makes great milk with no practice.
Pressurized baskets are forgiving with pre-ground coffee but limit quality. Standard baskets taste better but need fresh, properly ground beans.
Machines that heat in seconds get used more. Some traditional machines need several minutes to come to temperature.
Not with an all-in-one like the Breville Barista Express. For any other machine, yes, and the grinder must be able to grind fine enough for espresso.
With pressurized baskets, yes. With standard baskets, results are poor because pre-ground coffee goes stale quickly and is usually too coarse.
A milk pitcher if you make lattes, a tamper if your machine's included one is flimsy, and a scale to weigh your shots.
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