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Espresso shots and drinks feel like a delicacy compared with the average cup of coffee. They're wonderfully flavorful, thick and rich.
But if you're spending a fortune on Starbucks lattes and cappuccinos, it might make sense to give up that pricey convenience and invest in your own home espresso machine. We found one for every budget, from a simple-to-use Nespresso machine that makes creating lattes a snap to the Rolls Royce of espresso machines -- one that would make any barista in Italy jealous.
Top products in this article:
4.6-star-rated Nespresso capsule machine: Nespresso VertuoPlus, $150
Best espresso maker for smaller countertops: Breville Bambino espresso maker, $300
Top-rated self-frothing espresso machine: Philips 3200 series espresso machine and latte maker, $795
Brewing espresso can be more complicated than traditional drip coffee, and requires a powerful machine. Espresso makers use a small amount of scorching water, combined with 9 to 10 bars of pressure, to extract espresso from finely ground beans. Some even offer methods for steaming milk -- or, in the case of the Philips 3200 series espresso machine and latte maker, do all the milk frothing work for you.
Once prohibitively expensive for the masses, the market for high-quality espresso makers has expanded, and now you'll find and models at every price point, from budget to luxury. Whether you want a simple and easy-to-operate espresso capsule machine, a smart gadget that makes every espresso drink imaginable with the touch of a button, or a machine that lets you pull your own shots, we rounded up the top-rated espresso machines on the market.
The latest offering from Nespresso, the sleek and space-saving VertuoPlus brews rich, barista-quality espresso drinks and coffee from capsules in less than a minute. Simply drop in a capsule and the gadget adapts coffee size, temperature, pressure and brewing time with the touch of a button. Worried about excess waste? Nespresso offers a recycling program for all of its customers, so used aluminum capsules don't wind up in a landfill.
Those with little espresso experience might appreciate the Keurig version. It makes four sizes of hot and cold espresso drinks and even froths milk. However, keep in mind that it uses Keurig pods instead of beans, which tend to get costly for those who down multiple caffeinated beverages a day.
Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup coffee maker, latte maker and cappuccino maker, $190
The best-selling, highly rated and often hard-to-find Breville Bambino is an affordable, well-made espresso maker. More compact than the average espresso machine, it delivers one- and two-shot servings, extracting the maximum from grinds. It's also equipped with a steam wand and jug, which froths milk and heats water for lattes and Americanos, so barista-style drinks are easily achievable. Plus, its smaller size makes it a great choice for those without a lot of counter space.
This powerhouse espresso machine from Café impressively offers the option to customize flavor with 15 grind settings from coarse to fine. It also features a built-in, 180-degree rotatable steam wand. A huge extra perk? It looks gorgeous sitting in your kitchen with its sophisticated and sleek looks. It's available in white, matte black and stainless steel, all with copper accents.
Café Bellissimo semi-automatic espresso machine, $579 (reduced from $679)
Brew a latte, cappuccino, Americano or other barista-style coffee drink from whole beans with the touch of a button. Philips 3200 series espresso machine and grinder is feature-heavy, easy-to-operate, professional-worthy gadget. Equipped with a milk frother dubbed "LatteGo," it mixes milk and air at high speed in a round frothing chamber, then adds it to a brew for a one-stop, coffee shop-worthy drink. Amazon reviewers rave that it works better than models two to three times the price, and praise the easy-to-clean technology.
Philips 3200 series espresso machine and latte maker, $795
If you are looking to make a more serious investment in your lifelong espresso habit, order up the Breville Oracle Touch. Easy to operate with an automated, touch screen, the high-end gadget makes barista-worthy beverages. Similar to a commercial machine, an integrated conical burr grinder does all the work for you, grinding, dosing and tamping beans to maximize strength. Everything can be customized, from coffee strength to milk texture. Once you concoct the perfect cafe drink, it saves up to eight personalized recipes.
Think of the Jura Giga 6 as a robotic barista -- and the Rolls Royce of espresso machines. Powerful and fast enough for commercial use, the Swiss-made device boasts features dual grinders that automatically adjust for precision; a unique pulse-extraction process; a smart filter that removes chlorine, lead, aluminum and copper from tap water; and even a companion app for remote control. Choose from 10 strengths and brew 28 specialty drinks with the touch of a button, via two pumps and a state-of-the-art ThermoBlock heating system.
First published on April 1, 2022 / 8:00 AM
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