In this video we’re breaking down the five best espresso machines in 2021. I’ve included options for every type of consumer. If you’re looking for an espresso machine that uses capsules for ease of use or more feature-rich espresso machine that gives you a choice of automatic or manual operation for authentic cafe style results, all of the product for you.
The fifth product on our list is the De’Longhi 15 bar pump espresso and cappuccino maker. This is our best budget espresso machine. If you love starting off your mornings with a great shot of espresso or complimenting your meal afterward with a nice cappuccino then the De’Longhi 15 bar pump espresso and cappuccino maker lets you affordably enjoy barista quality beverages at home at a great budget price.
Priced around 100 the De’Longhi is a very capable espresso and cappuccino maker in a nice compact build, so it’ll fit comfortably on your kitchen countertop coffee bar or even at the office. What I find enticing as a coffee lover myself is the patented dual function filter holder so i have the option of using ese or easy serving espresso pods so I can get my caffeine shot quickly and really conveniently.
If you prefer cappuccinos or lattes the De’Longhi comes with an easy-to-use jet frother that swivels so you can top it with foamy steamed milk just like you get from your local coffee shop. I do find the frothing wand a little short for my personal liking. It’s only about three and one-quarter inches but others may not mind since it doesn’t really affect the quality of the cappuccinos and lattes.
Now if you’re just interested in the convenience of using pods or capsules for quick and easy espressos stay tuned for the Nespresso virtual plus coming up shortly in the video. The De’Longhi has some additional features that you’ll like including the self-priming operation that makes startup preparation easy.
The stainless-steel boiler is well made durable and comes with 15 bar pump pressure. You also get a 35 oz removable water tank with indicator light and a removable drip tray, and both are really easy to clean. And for those times when you can’t drink your espresso or cappuccino right away you get a bonus cup warmer that keeps your beverage warm. The De’Longhi 15 bar pump espresso and cappuccino maker is ideal for coffee lovers looking for an inexpensive semi-automatic espresso machine that also wants the option of using ESE pods.
The fourth product on our list is the Mr. Coffee Café Barista. This is our best espresso machine for the money. Mr. Coffee may be well known for their electric drip coffee machines, but the Café Barista espresso and cappuccino maker lets you enjoy much more than a simple cup of coffee with a simple press of a button.
Priced around 180 the cafe barista is a semi-automatic three-in-one coffee maker that does an impressive job of crafting cafe quality espresso lattes and cappuccinos. It looks quite sleek and modern, so you’ll find it fits in well with most appliances in your kitchen. One of the biggest appeals of this Mr. Coffee is really its ease of use, especially with the touch panel making it great for beginners that want to craft delicious coffee shop-like beverages at home.
I found the intelligent and intuitive design with one touch controls made me a novice barista in no time. I can choose between a single or double shot and the cafe barista even automatically froths the milk with an adjustable control knob so there’s really no finicky guesswork involved. It also features an electric 15 bar pump so you can create powerful pressure to extract bold rich flavors since it doesn’t use pods or capsules you can use any coffee beans that you prefer, and you can grind it fresh or just buy from the store.
Both the water and milk reservoirs are removable so it’s easy to fill in clean and even has a self-cleaning function, however having to continuously clean the frothing spout and coffee filter after every drink can get tedious over time but a small price to pay for delicious lattes. And if you have milk left over you can just store the milk reservoir. The Mr. Coffee Café Barista espresso and cappuccino maker is perfect for crafting barista quality coffee with a simple press of a button and beginners looking to craft their own creations at an affordable price making it one of the best espresso machines for the money.
The third product on our list is the Nespresso Vertuo Plus. This is our best single serve espresso machine. Now although the earlier De’Longhi 15 bar pump espresso and cappuccino maker can craft a mean espresso using ESE pods if you’re looking for the ultimate in simplicity for enjoying great espresso shots then the Nespresso Vertuo Plus by De’Longhi will give you that quick java fix in the morning without sacrificing quality for the added convenience.
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is priced around 180 and uses innovative single serve capsules in a simple to use elegant design with a motorized head and movable 40-ounce water tank that can swivel out or stay behind depending on how much counter space you have. You can open the lid with a one touch lever drop in the capsule and start brewing with the touch of a single button making it ideal for busy urbanites as well as those that want to take things a little slower to enjoy the little things in life.
Like a nice double espresso or any of their wide range of coffees with luxurious crema. Or if you’re like me that just wants a great espresso without any fuss plus you’ll feel better knowing that Nespresso has a free recycling program for their aluminum capsules. You don’t have to worry about different settings, different timings or even what type of coffee beans to buy.
I love how I can just pick my favorite Nespresso compatible coffee capsules, fill the water reserve, load the capsule and be enjoying my fresh espresso in no time, especially with its 20 second fast heat up time. It even scans the barcode on the rim of the capsule, so it automatically adjusts the brewing settings to each capsule for the best results. If you want high quality espresso fast and conveniently without worrying about settings timings and messy cleanups, then the Nespresso Vertuo Plus gives you barista quality at the touch of a button. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.
The second product on our list is the De’Longhi ESAM3300. This is our best super automatic espresso machine. Now for coffee aficionados that want fresh espresso for every cup without the hassle the 550-super automatic De’Longhi ESAM3300 is almost as easy to use as a pod machine.
You’ll get high quality espresso and specialty drinks that practically brew themselves with its direct to brew system. You won’t have to worry about using a portafilter or hand tamper, just load your beans, select the grind size and the amount of water you want and the ESAM3300 does the rest. It’ll grind and measure the beans for you so you can enjoy a consistent brew every time at the perfect temperature, richness and density.
If you want a little more control with customizable settings, then stay tuned for the breville the barista express coming up next. The ESAM3300 is quite hefty at about 23 pounds and very well built overall but the 8.8-ounce coffee bean container is a little less durable compared to the rest of the machine. The professional built-in bur grinder has 13 adjustable settings you can choose from to grind fresh beans every time to ensure maximum freshness.
There’s also a second chamber giving you the option of using pre-ground coffee too. The grinder is surprisingly quiet and does an impressive drop although it can get stuck occasionally. The easy-to-use control panel makes it simple to adjust various menu settings for temperature, coffee strength and cup size according to your preferences including customized espresso drinks.
What I really like is how thick the foam on my cappuccino gets with the manual frother which mixes the steam and milk making the foam rich and creamy. The De’Longhi ESAM3300 can serve you fresh espresso specialty drinks and even decaf with its built-in grinder that will measure the right amount of beans for you, so you get a consistent brew every time making it ideal for anyone that enjoys artisan and cafe style coffees all in the comfort of your own home.
The first product on our list is the Breville The Barista Express. This is our best overall espresso machine. Now if you’re an aspiring barista that wants an espresso machine with more customizable settings, professional level features and a built-in grinder while still having the conveniences of being semi-automatic, the Breville The Barista Express is the machine for you.
It lets you create great lasting espresso from fresh bean to cup in less than a minute for about 700. You’ll be able to grind the beans right before extraction and its smart technology gives you perfect doses directly into its portafilter basket. It’s almost a science with Breville’s precise espresso extraction technology which stabilizes the water temperature for a well-balanced extraction giving you authentic cafe style results every time.
You may feel a little intimidated when you first look at the control panel, but the learning curve is pretty quick, and you’ll be making perfect shots like your local barista in no time. The customizable settings let you adjust the grind size, grind them out and tamp so you can get the perfect espresso shot. The 15-bar pressure machine comes with standard shot sizes, but you can also set it for custom amounts.
The powerful steam wand impressively lets you hand texture microfoam milk with pressure that creates thousands of tiny bubbles to enhance the flavor as well as enabling you to create latte art, so your latte not only tastes like it came from the local coffee shop, but it looks like it too. The built-in conical burr grinder has a half pound sealed bean hopper that gives you perfect doses directly into the portafilter basket and an eight and a half cup water reservoir is also built right in.
The Breville The Barista Express lets you create great tasting espresso from fresh bean to cup with rich full flavor and comes with professional level features to give you that perfectly balanced taste with precise control over water temperature for perfect coffee extraction and finishes off with microfoam milk texturing from its steam wand. If you’re a budding barista or espresso aficionado and can afford it this espresso machine is well worth the investment.
