The 7 Best Espresso Machines for Making Café-Quality Brews at Home
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Ask any coffee lover and they’ll tell you there’s no better way to start the day than by drinking a warm cup of joe. But the true aficionados, the real javaphiles, know that if you really need to get going, a shot or two of espresso is what’s needed for that early-morning jolt.
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The popular Italian method of making coffee, in which pressurized water is shot through finely ground beans to produce a more condensed brew, has been around since the 1880s. But for much of that time, you had to go to a café to get a cup of high-quality espresso. This has changed in recent years, though, thanks to the widespread availability of relatively compact, electric-powered machines that allow you to take on the role of your most-trusted barista.
There’s never been a better time to get a device of your own. Here, a list of the best espresso machines, all of which will make your next neighborhood coffee run feel a little less urgent.
Lavazza Classy Pro Coffee & Espresso Machine
Lavazza offers a device that definitely lives up to its name. Called the Classy Pro, this coffee and espresso machine is as sleek and compact as it is effective. It can create café-quality beverages—from the standard espresso and coffee to cappuccinos, macchiatos, and lattes—with the simple touch of a button. All you need to do is attach it to the Setek milk fridge and sit back as all that frothy goodness fills your cup. In fact, this is essentially the only liquid container, as the Classy Pro features a plumbed-in option.
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Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine
While it’s unlikely the machine in your favorite coffee shop will fit on your countertop, you can still find one that looks and acts like the real deal. Enter Breville’s Oracle Touch, compact enough for your kitchen but has the style and flair of the ones you’ve watched your favorite barista use. But the celebrated item, beloved by coffee connoisseurs, doesn’t just look the part; it can also make a fine cup, able to turn your whole beans into a shot of espresso in under a minute.
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Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
As well as a style of coffee on its own, espresso is also a base for lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos. Philips’s 3200 Series machine can make each, along with a standard cup of coffee, at the touch of a button thanks to its easy-to-use and -clean LatteGo milk system. The appliance maker also knows there’s more to a good cup of coffee than just its taste. That’s why its espresso maker features the brand’s Aroma Extra system, which makes sure that each cup tastes and smells just right. Also included: a built-in, 12-step ceramic grinder.
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Jura E8 Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine
There are at-home coffee makers and then there is the Jura E8. The company’s smart coffee maker is about as advanced as they come, with an array of features that will take your coffee brewing abilities to the next level. Its six-level Aroma G3 grinder and innovative Pulse Extraction Process technology produce a cup of espresso that will make any coffee lover smile. And if you want something more, its Fine Foam technology means that it’s just as capable of producing specialty coffees like cappuccinos and latte macchiatos as your favorite neighborhood café.
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Calphalon Temp IQ Espresso Machine
Calphalon’s espresso machine is powerful, but its myriad high-tech features are what really put it over the top. Chief among these are its Thermoblock heating technology and PID temperature control, which help churn out optimally extracted espresso each time. There are also 30 adjustable grind settings so your beans turn out just right. Finally, the chic-looking machine has multiple pre-sets and easy-to-use controls for when you decide to go it alone.
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De’Longhi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine
Baristas are skilled, creating cups of espresso in no time flat. The same could be said of this De’Longhi device. Yes, the size is hulking and may take up considerable counter space, but the rate in which it produces a high-quality brew has to be seen to be believed—the result of the efficient built-in steel burr grinder. What’s more, it doesn’t just create things that are piping hot: The Dinamica is the first fully automatic machine that features iced coffee technology.
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Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine
When it comes to the overlook of Gaggia’s espresso machine, the device is pretty standard—certainly nothing to write home about. But it more than makes up for its unassuming appearance with its performance capabilities. In fact, this is the whole point: The design is meant to be unintimidating, featuring an interface that’s easy to understand and handle. It really doesn’t complicate the simple task of making java. Adding to the ease is the built-in ceramic grinder that can be removed for cleaning or maintenance.
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1. Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
As well as a style of coffee on its own, espresso is also a base for lattes, cappuccinos and Americanos. Philips’s 3200 Series machine can make each, along with a standard cup of coffee, at the touch of a button thanks to its easy-to-use and -clean LatteGo milk system. The appliance maker also knows there’s more to a good cup of coffee than just its taste. That’s why its espresso maker features the brand’s Aroma Extra system, which makes sure that each cup tastes and smells just right. Also included: a built-in, 12-step ceramic grinder.
Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
2. Calphalon Temp IQ Espresso Machine
Calphalon’s espresso machine is powerful, but its myriad of high-tech features are what really put it over the top. Chief among these are its Thermoblock heating technology and PID temperature control, which help churn out optimally extracted espresso each time. There are also 30 adjustable grind settings so your beans turn out just right. Finally, the chic-looking machine has multiple pre-sets and easy-to-use controls for when you decide to go it alone.
Calphalon Temp IQ Espresso Machine
3. Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine
There are at-home coffee makers and then there is the Jura E8. The company’s smart coffee maker is about as advanced as they come, with an array of features that will take your coffee brewing abilities to the next level. Its six-level Aroma G3 grinder and innovative Pulse Extraction Process technology produce a cup of espresso that will make any coffee lover smile. And if you want something more, its Fine Foam technology means that it’s just as capable of producing specialty coffees like cappuccinos and latte macchiatos as your favorite neighborhood café.
Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine
4. Breville the Barista Express Espresso Machine
While it’s unlikely that the machine in your favorite coffee shop will fit on your countertop, you can still find one that looks like the real deal. Breville’s is compact enough for your kitchen but has the style and flair of the machine you’ve watched your favorite barista use. But Barista Express doesn’t just look the part—it can also make a fine cup able to turn your whole beans into a shot of espresso in under a minute.
Breville the Barista Express Espresso Machine
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