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I am writing these lines around Christmas because I keep seeing a recurring question on Social Media. So many people are asking what equipment they should consider for getting started with espresso. Whether it is a present for the person in your life who wants to get started or for pampering yourself, it is hard to figure out: “what is the best value espresso machine to get started at home?”
There are so many options at so many price points. It is intimidating to know what machine will be a good beginner’s pick that will last for years to come. I will try to make it easy to propose several best value options to make a delicious cup of thick black liquor. But also a device that will offer you room to perfect your skills and make the best of the fantastic coffee beans you will find on your journey.
Which type of espresso machine is right for you?
First, you need to decide the type of machine that would work for you: pods (Nespresso), super-automatic (with the grinder integrated), semi-automatic, or manual? Each has its advantages and limitations. The right choice will depend on what you want to invest in time and money for your coffee and the results you want to achieve.
Before getting into details, let me clarify what an espresso machine does. Fundamentally, it forces pressurized hot water through finely-ground coffee to extract a concentrated shot of coffee. The result is a liquid more robust than regular coffee. It’s topped with a “crema,” a brown foam that forms when air bubbles combine with the ground coffee’s soluble oils. You know when you have a correctly pulled shot of espresso, you can see it and taste it!
Make espresso coffee with a Nespresso capsule machine
If you only want an occasional espresso shot at home without bothering with the process, this is the best option for you. You will have a decent result (not a great one) at an affordable equipment price. Extra point, the machine will not clutter your kitchen countertop. However, you will never have a great product since Nespresso pods contain too little coffee to pull a great shot. Also, the cost of these pods is outrageous for anyone who drinks several cups a day.
Super-automatic espresso machines, coffee drinks with the push of a button
Super-automatic espresso machines are fully automatic devices with a built-in grinder that makes coffee drinks with the push of a button. All you need to do is put fresh coffee beans in the machine, make sure there is water, press a button, and voilà! The device will grind the beans, tamp the ground coffee, brew and dispense your espresso shot in seconds. Some machines even feature an automatic milk frother, making it easy to make Cappuccinos or Lattes. Many devices allow you to choose your preferred coffee strength, volume, sometimes the temperature; then they take care of everything to deliver a good result.
Advantages and inconveniences of super-automatic espresso machines
The advantages of such machines are obvious: they are effortless to use and get you a decent result out of the box. Furthermore, because of the integrated grinder, you do not need to have a separate piece of equipment. Many of these machines let you adjust enough parameters to pull a nice and consistent shot. Their user-friendliness makes it an excellent choice to serve every family member. You cannot beat their convenience.
The downside is that super-automatic machines are pricey and bulky. More importantly, they remove you from the process by not offering the possibility to fine-tune some parameters to manage to pull the perfect shot. In essence, they offer less room to improve. Suppose you are like me and value the joy of the process as much as the outcome. In that case, a semi-automatic is a much better choice. However, if convenience and consistency are your priorities, super-automatic machines are the right choice for you.
Semi-automatic machines, for a more “traditional” home espresso experience
Semi-automatic machines are your traditional espresso machine. Unlike a super-automatic, you have to grind the coffee, dose, load the portafilter, tamp, start, and stop the shot yourself. They also allow you to steam milk to make cappuccinos and lattes. You can use pre-ground coffee, but you really want a good grinder (Consult my previous article for some good espresso grinder options).
With this type of machine, you are the one in charge. You can tweak every parameter: coffee dose, grind size, tamping pressure, time of the shot, and even the brew temperature or pressure if the device allows it. Admittedly, it can be intimidating (fear not, I will help you understand how to do that in my next article), but the process is fun and can get you fantastic results. The choice in that category is enormous; you can find machines under $100 and some well over $6,000.
As explained in my previous article, you should get a good grinder. You can pull fantastic shots with an inexpensive espresso machine with nicely ground coffee. But you can’t pull a good shot if your coffee grinder doesn’t grind fine and consistent enough, even with the best espresso machine.
My espresso machine is a Rocket Mozzafiato Type V. At $2,000; it was my dream machine. It brings me joy every time I use it. Naturally, you do not need to invest that amount of money for pulling great espresso shots. I managed to get epic shots with my old Francis Francis X3 that I purchased for $365 and used every day for 13 years. Unfortunately, they don’t make that model anymore, but if you find one on eBay in good condition, go for it.
Best value options for espresso machine under $600
Here is what I would recommend to a friend who wants an excellent machine to start. These are not the cheapest options, but they offer great value and will gratify you for many years.
- Solis Barista Perfetta Espresso. This very compact machine costs a little around $500 and fits in every kitchen. It has excellent reviews since it comes with all the needed accessories and brews a delicious espresso. It even has a pressure manometer to help you keep your coffee dialed in.
- Gaggia Classic Pro. For about $500, I often see it recommended in discussion groups and forums. Gaggia did a terrific job with the construction and materials of this machine. It uses quality components usually found on upscale machines. Concurrently, it comes with nice heavy chrome plated brass 58 mm portafilters like commercial equipment. Finally, it features a nice long commercial-style steam wand to make beautifully textured steamed milk.
- Breville BES 840 XL. Like many Breville products, it is a very well-designed machine. It offers a LOT of features that would allow a beginner to evolve. Like the built-in PID Temperature control that helps change the brew temperature (to optimize the taste of some coffee). It keeps the temperature very stable and offers low-pressure pre-infusion, which gets the most flavor and aroma out of the grinds as it gently moistens the grounds before extraction. The Breville BES 840XL also has a solid and well-designed steam wand. From comments on forums and reviews, it offers an outstanding value for the price. On a personal note, several of my friends own one and are very satisfied with it.
Manual espresso machines
A manual espresso machine has a lever that replaces the pump to press the water through the ground coffee, allowing the user to control the pressure at all times. Usually, manual espresso machines are high-end and require advanced skills, so I would not even talk about them in an article talking about the best equipment to start.
However, Flair Espresso introduced an inexpensive and easy-to-use manual espresso brewer a few years ago. It only costs $165 (Flair Classic), and you can extract a fantastic shot with it. One of my coworkers bought one when it came on the market and let me play with it. I was very impressed with the texture and the taste of the shots that I managed to pull. It is more demanding and will require a bit of a learning curve, but I cannot see anything else that offers this level of results for $165! They recently launched a cheaper version (Flair Neo Flex) that is easier to use with pre-ground coffee, but the design of the Classic would allow you to pull better shots once you master it. If you are on a budget and don’t mind the more involved process, this is undoubtedly your best choice. I am considering purchasing one to play with it and improve my skills. It is also a great travel option with a manual grinder.
The bottom line
Getting started with espresso at home is not cheap, but it does not have to break the bank. Selecting the correct equipment that will last many years will provide you great satisfaction every morning and allow you to explore all the fantastic coffee flavors out there. A semi-automatic machine (or a Flair Classic manual brewer) combined with a good espresso grinder is your best option to get great results and improve your skills. Once you have your equipment, check out my next article to walk you through all the details you need to know to make your first espresso shot. Stay tuned!
