The Best Espresso/Cappuccino Machines Of 2022
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It's no secret that buying brews at your local coffee shop on a daily basis can get expensive. Americans paid close to $5 on average for a cup of coffee in the first six months of 2022, according to NPD Group data reported by The Wall Street Journal. This can add up, particularly if you indulge in multiple cups of Joe a day. Luckily, there's a way you can enjoy cafe-quality espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes at home for a fraction of the price.
While espresso/cappuccino machines usually come with a hefty price tag, they are bound to pay for themselves in no time with the money you'll be saving by pulling brews at home. Versatile and stylish, espresso/cappuccino machines come in various designs and sizes to suit any kitchen decor and style. Plus, most coffee makers are semi-automated, which means that they let users customize their coffee without being overly complicated to use.
Ready to enjoy quality espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes in the comfort of your own home? Take a look at our list of the best espresso/cappuccino machines of 2022.
How we selected products
With so many espresso/cappuccino machines on the market, finding one that's right for your home can be an overwhelming process. To make your job easier, we have looked at hundreds of gadgets from both leading and lesser-known brands, assessing them on their design and features. We have also sifted through hundreds of community and expert reviews to gather intel about each appliance's performance and value.
To cut through the clutter, we zeroed in on a number of factors. First, we looked at each espresso/cappuccino machine's size and aesthetics. Next, we took into account the ease of use and speed. Since most espresso/cappuccino machines are semi-automatic, they require some knowledge of the coffee-making process, from selecting water temperature and brew strength to pulling espresso shots and frothing milk. Electric coffee machines also vary when it comes to speed. While pulling a shot usually takes seconds, espresso/cappuccino machines can take a while to heat up. Last but not least, we factored in each appliance's price since we realize that value for money is an important consideration for our readers.
Best overall espresso/cappuccino machine
What makes the Breville Barista Express espresso machine stand out from the pack is its inbuilt conical burr grinder, which features 16 different settings. In fact, the coffee maker can turn beans into one or two shots of espresso in under a minute, depending on your choice of filter. And for those who enjoy lattes and cappuccinos, the coffee maker also comes with a milk frother that produces steam at 266 degrees Fahrenheit. The Breville Barista Express espresso machine features a powerful 15-bar pump and a 1600-watt thermocoil system that heats water precisely to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the Breville Barista Express espresso machine comes with a steep price tag, it does deliver professional results without the hoopla of a more complex coffee shop-style unit, as noted by Insider. CNET also gives the Breville Barista Express espresso machine top marks, rating it 8.6 out of 10. In fact, according to the website, the gadget isn't just relatively easy to use and clean, but it also pulls better espresso shots than its pricier counterparts. Standing testament to its quality, the Breville Barista Express has been rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by Amazon shoppers. And while most of the platform's reviewers praise the gadget, some do point out that learning how to use it to make the perfect cup of coffee does take a little time.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Breville Barista Express espresso machine from Amazon starting at $704.85.
Best budget espresso/cappuccino machine
At just under $200, the Mr. Coffee Café Barista machine is a quality investment for coffee lovers reluctant to spend a lot on a kitchen appliance. And while it may not have all the bells and whistles of pricier devices, the machine features a powerful 15-bar pump and an automatic milk frother. All you have to do to brew a cup of coffee is select a single or double shot of espresso, ensure that the unit's removable milk reservoir is full, and opt for an espresso, cappuccino, or latte.
According to Susan Rovniankova, who reviewed the Mr. Coffee Café Barista machine for Roasty Coffee, the gadget is ultra-easy to operate. However, while it suits a beginner, Rovniankova says, the appliance won't produce the caliber of coffee you buy from your local barista. "The inconsistent brewing temperature of the machine causes ... some of the resulting shots [to be] under-extracted while some of the other ones are over-extracted and it is not something that you can influence," she says.
Despite its shortcomings, the Mr. Coffee espresso and cappuccino machine has received a favorable rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from Amazon shoppers. One satisfied Amazon reviewer says that the machine makes delicious coffee, adding, "The espresso comes out dark and rich and even has that crema top to it."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Mr. Coffee espresso and cappuccino machine from Amazon starting at $199.99.
Best espresso/cappuccino machine for a splurge
A compact version of the La Marzocco Linea Classic, a workhorse that has proven a popular choice for professional settings, the aptly named La Marzocco Linea Mini makes a great — albeit very pricey — addition to any kitchen countertop. At almost $6,000, the Linea Mini offers ultimate control over temperature and pressure, making it perfect for seasoned coffee aficionados. That being said, the gadget might be overly complicated for novices looking for high-quality coffees at the push of a button (via Majesty Coffee).
So what sets the La Marzocco Linea Mini apart from cheaper coffee makers? The stainless steel coffee machine features a pre-infusion function, a built-in water temperature adjustment wheel, an integrated group-head for optimal temperature control, and dual boilers that let you make espressos and steam milk simultaneously. The stylish gadget also comes with built-in lighting, a hot water spigot, and an easy-to-use portafilter. Plus, it's available in numerous color options and can be controlled via a smartphone app. La Marzocco Linea Mini has fared reasonably well with testers, with Home Grounds awarding it 4.4 out of 5 stars. As per the website's review, the coffee machine is of high quality, makes exceptional espressos, and froths milk on par with pricier cafe machines. The only real downsides are the appliance's steep price and lack of flow rate profiling.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the La Marzocco Linea Mini from the brand's website starting at $5,900.
Best compact espresso/cappuccino machine
With a width of just 7.7 inches, the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine isn't going to take up too much space on your kitchen countertop. However, don't let its compact size fool you. Despite its small footprint, the unit delivers consistent cups of flavorful coffee with minimal fuss. Heating up within three seconds, the coffee machine features a low-pressure pre-infusion followed by a high-pressure, 9-bar extraction process to ensure a rich and balanced brew. It also comes with an automatic milk wand that can produce three different froth textures. The sleek unit is available in brushed stainless steel or black truffle to fit your kitchen decor (via Amazon).
Calling the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine the perfect coffee maker for beginners, The Coffee Chronicler praises the gadget for pulling outstanding shots without being overly complicated to use. More specifically, Gear Patrol highlights that the Breville Bambino Plus has just five buttons: one for pulling single shots, another for pulling double shots, one for starting the steam wand, one for setting the milk temperature, and one for selecting foam texture.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine from Amazon starting at $499.95.
Best espresso/cappuccino machine with dual heating
The De'Longhi La Specialista espresso machine features a dual-heating system — one that produces the optimal temperature for brewing coffee and the other for frothing milk. This means that unlike most other electric coffee makers, the De'Longhi La Specialista lets you pull espressos and froth milk simultaneously. Simply select foam for frothing milk for cappuccinos or flat for steaming milk for lattes, as per Coffee Affection. But the appeal of this semi-automatic machine doesn't stop here. The De'Longhi La Specialista comes with an integrated grinder, a hot water spout for making Americanos, and a portafilter with baskets for making single and double espresso shots.
The De'Longhi La Specialista espresso machine has received a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from Amazon shoppers, who have given the gadget mixed reviews. One Amazon reviewer praises the machine for its foam/flat milk setting, saying, "I was skeptical out of the box that it would make a difference, but it does. In particular, for lattes, it's really easy to steam consistent milk and because of the double boiler there's virtually no heat-up time." However, on the downside, some Amazon reviewers complain about the machine's grind size, with one saying that "the grind is not fine enough to be considered an espresso ground fine powder that baristas would consider a good grind."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the De'Longhi La Specialista espresso machine from Amazon starting at $899.95.
Best espresso/cappuccino machine set
The EspressoWorks espresso machine and cappuccino maker is a one-stop barista bundle bound to have you brewing coffee like a pro in record time. More specifically, the machine comes with a built-in electric coffee grinder, a measuring spoon and tamper, a portafilter with single- and double-shot baskets, a milk-frothing jug, and ceramic cups. Some other notable features of this affordable coffee maker include an advanced thermoblock system that has the machine fired up and ready to go within 45 seconds of being switched on, an integrated milk frother, and a cup-warming tray.
Rated 9.4 out of 10 on Best Views Reviews and 8.8 out of 10 on Don't Waste Your Money, the EspressoWorks espresso machine and cappuccino maker has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from users. Real Homes has praised it for including absolutely everything a caffeine-lover needs to start brewing perfect cups of coffee. Calling it "simplicity at its best," the platform highlights the gadget's great price, handsome stainless steel design, and ease of use.
Meanwhile, the website Coffee Sultan recommends the EspressoWorks espresso machine and cappuccino maker to those who enjoy milk-based brews. However, it also points out that the gadget isn't the perfect choice for espresso drinkers since its blade grinder sometimes produces an uneven grind that's not optimal for espressos.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the EspressoWorks espresso machine and cappuccino maker from the brand's website starting at $236.99.
Best retro espresso/cappuccino machine
Inspired by the rounded appliance style of the 1950s, the Smeg espresso coffee machine is the brainchild of an Italian company that dates way back to 1948. Available in multiple colors, the sleek machine is also highly functional. Featuring just three buttons — single shot, double shot, and steam operation — it's very easy to use, per The Coffee Folk. Plus, it comes with a frothing wand, a removable cup tray, and a thermoblock system, which means that it takes only two minutes to heat up (via The Coffee Folk)
According to The Coffee Folk, the Smeg espresso coffee machine is ideal for novice home baristas eager to have a little control over their brews. The platform also points out that the gadget produces decent cups of coffee and creamy foam. While the writers at Bean to Cup Machines agree that the machine makes high-quality coffee, they disagree that it's easy to use, pointing out that "it will take time, practice, and multiple consultations of the user manual to master." Both platforms also highlight that the Smeg espresso coffee machine's relatively high price tag reflects its aesthetics rather than variety of functions.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Smeg espresso coffee machine from Amazon starting at $509.95.
Best pod-compatible espresso/cappuccino machine
The De'Longhi Dedica 5-bar Pump espresso machine comes with a portafilter that can hold coffee grounds for either one or two shots as well as espresso pods. Stylish and slim, the machine heats up in 40 seconds and automatically switches off 20 minutes after your coffee has been brewed to conserve energy. It also comes with a frothing wand for making cappuccinos and lattes and a double drip tray for short and tall glasses.
Rating the De'Longhi Dedica 7.1 out of 10, CNET praises the machine for its sleek design, delicious espressos, steaming wand, and cup warmer. On the other hand, the website also notes that the gadget costs more than other entry-level coffee makers, can clog up, and isn't ideal for light roasts.
The De'Longhi Dedica has received a solid 4.3 out of 5 stars from Amazon shoppers, with 73% of reviewers awarding the gadget 5 out of 5 stars. One satisfied Amazon customer seems very impressed with the gadget, saying, "It is easy to program and customize. It makes great espresso with a nice crema. It foams milk really well creating a thick foam. [...] It heats up quickly both for making espresso and steaming/foaming milk."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the De'Longhi Dedica 5-bar pump espresso machine from Amazon starting at $290.