Our Experts

For a novice barista who craves great home espresso but is nervous about getting the coffee ground and espresso-making technique down, the Breville Bambino Plus is the perfect choice. It’s dead simple to use and to keep clean, and it’s compact, and I found it pulled delicious shots of espresso second only to Breville’s Barista Express. I especially appreciate how easy it is to froth milk with the Breville Bambino. Just insert the steam wand into the stainless-steel milk pitcher that comes included with the Breville Bambino Plus, then press one button. Less than a minute later, you’ll have expertly steamed milk foam ready for lattes and cappuccinos.

It lacks its own coffee grinder, but the Cuisinart EM-100 has plenty going for it when it comes to making espresso, cappuccinos or lattes. This budget espresso machine has a compact design but is powerful enough to brew from fine coffee grounds. It also pulls flavorful espresso shots of good quality and strength. The machine features a long stainless-steel frother for steaming milk and a built-in cup warmer heating element too. A solid espresso machine at about a third of the price of the Breville.

My evaluation process for a home espresso machine is similar to how I test standard drip coffee makers. First, I hand-wash and dry all removable parts and accessories. For most espresso machines, that includes the filter basket, metal portafilter inserts, water tank and so on. Next, I run one brewing cycle with just hot water to flush away any residual material from the manufacturing process.

Most automatic espresso machines, save for fancy super-automatic models, lack an integrated coffee grinder, and I prefer testing espresso machines with freshly ground coffee, not preground coffee, so I supply my own grinder: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I chose this conical burr grinder for two reasons. First, it’s calibrated more for espresso than for drip or other brewing styles. That means it produces a coffee bean grind that’s quite fine. Second, its grind size is consistently uniform. Both factors are critical for a proper espresso brewing process.

To pull shots, I start with the suggested method outlined in a given machine’s product manual. Usually, that covers the amount of coffee grounds expected per shot, along with any guidelines regarding coarseness level. Likewise, I follow tamping instructions (light, medium or hard tamp) if the manual provides them.

Whenever possible, I brew double shots of espresso for all my test runs. I make sure to record the weight of the grounds I use, plus the weight of espresso for each shot I pull. This data, along with readings from a portable refractometer, allows me to calculate two important percentages: total dissolved solids and extraction percentage.

Just as for any coffee brew, the ideal extraction percentage for espresso is a range between 18% and 22%. This yields a balanced cup, assuming you perform an even and efficient extraction of coffee compounds from your grounds (both flavor and caffeine).

If you over-extract, you run the risk of leaching out unpleasant flavors (bitterness) after the good. On the opposite end of the scale, under-extracted brews tend to have undeveloped flavors. Lacking sugars and other caramelized organic chemicals, these shots will taste sour, weak and watery.

Unlike a cup of drip coffee, barista-quality espresso should be concentrated. Excellent drip typically has a TDS percentage of 1.3% or 1.4%, great espresso has a much higher percentage. The Breville Barista Express, for example, produced shots with TDS percentages as high as 12.4%.

The shots I pulled were balanced, with an extraction of 18.6%. The test coffee beans I use are the same variety I employ for standard coffee makers — Costco Kirkland Colombian. It’s a medium-dark roast suitable for brewing espresso as well.

Lastly, I try my hand at milk frothing with each coffee machine equipped with a steam wand. I record the overall experience with the steam wand, whether the process is a snap, a tricky chore or somewhere in between.

A good automatic espresso machine doesn’t come cheap and you can expect to pay at least $500 for something that whips up a legit cafe-caliber espresso drink (or just an espresso shot, if that’s your thing). When in doubt, try to remember how much you’ll be saving on all the cappuccinos, lattes and double shots from the specialty coffee shop. 

You can also drop as little as $100 if you’re willing to settle for a mediocre espresso, but I urge you not to pounce on an espresso maker that costs less — especially if you plan on drinking espresso regularly. Seemingly affordable espresso machines may look like a bargain at first but they’re often a waste of money and counter space.

For the coffee lover on a budget, “espresso brewers” (in the $30 to $50 price range) typically lack motorized pumps and are powered by steam pressure alone. What they produce is technically equal to moka pot coffee, the sort of drink made by simple stovetop brewers; it won’t taste quite like the espresso you’re used to from the barista at your local coffee shop or cafe. That’s not inherently bad… it’s just not espresso.

With holiday sales ramping up, you’ll spot deals on espresso machines across price ranges. You’ll want to look at deals that bundle accessories like a grinder or frothing pitcher since those add real value. Look for machines with strong temperature stability and a reliable steam wand as these two features make the biggest difference in everyday use.