The 6 Best Coffee and Espresso Machines of 2025 Reviewed (Buying Guide)

Exploring Coffee and Espresso Machines: Your Ultimate Guide

Coffee and espresso machines have become essential for home baristas and coffee enthusiasts looking to replicate café-quality drinks. From drip coffee makers to advanced espresso machines, the market offers a variety of options catering to different skill levels, budgets, and preferences. This guide dives into the benefits, drawbacks, testing scenarios, buying tips, and top product recommendations to help you choose the perfect machine.

Benefits of Coffee and Espresso Machines

Convenience and Speed

• A Nespresso is the fastest, most effortless way to make an espresso-like drink—all you have to do is pop a capsule into the machine and press a button.
• The Nespresso Essenza Mini is our pick for the best Nespresso machine because it’s small and mighty, and it makes mellow, well-balanced espressos. It lives up to Nespresso’s overarching appeal of ease, speed, and consistency, and it can brew an espresso within a minute of powering on.
• Pod coffee makers work by using a compacted capsule of coffee and piercing a hole in the capsule. Hot water is then powered up through the machine and pushed through the capsule to create a coffee.

Quality and Consistency

• This stylish brewer makes consistently good coffee and has an effective thermal carafe. And you can program it to brew automatically before you wake up.
• The Profitec Go can pull deep, flavorful, and consistent shots, combining the capability of higher-priced machines with a basic interface.
• The Moccamaster KBGV Select is the best filter coffee maker we’ve tested thanks to its balance of style, simplicity, and performance. A drip coffee machine doesn’t have to be complicated, and this one isn’t, with just two buttons. In our tests it produced delicious and well extracted coffee every time, brewing a full carafe in just under six minutes.

Customization and Versatility

• The Jura J10 not only brews exceptional espresso and foams milk to perfection, it also creates the best cold brew of any machine I’ve tested, using high-pressure pulses of water to create an authentically smooth, well-rounded flavor profile.
• With a built-in grinder featuring Baratza burrs, automatic coffee portioning, automatic tamping, a touchscreen, and automatic milk steaming, this machine couldn’t be easier to use. It allows you to customize foam, milk, and temperature preferences and it times shots, alerting you if they’re too fast or slow and how to adjust the grind size accordingly.

Drawbacks of Coffee and Espresso Machines

Cost Considerations

• Nespresso pods are expensive compared with the components for other home-brewing methods, but their results can be pretty tasty—and they’re increasingly available in major grocery stores.
• More complicated machines require more durable materials and take longer to build, which is why any of the best espresso machines worth buying cost more money.
• Espresso machines tend to be expensive—the priciest one we tested was almost $2,000—but a few companies have entry-level models for around $100.

Learning Curve and Maintenance

• The steam wand on the Profitec Go is not as powerful as that on other machines we tested. But it can be adjusted to a comfortable angle for steaming, and it’s still perfectly capable of producing silky microfoam, with a little practice.
• The one real drawback of this machine was its milk steaming. It uses a thermometer built into the steam wand to let you know when the milk has hit the 140℉ you want, but when we measured milk temperature with our own thermometer we found that it heated unevenly.
• The cleanup is just as important as the setup. From emptying spent grounds to cleaning reservoirs to descaling the interior of the machine, some machines are a bit more complicated to keep clean than others.

Testing Scenarios for Coffee and Espresso Machines

Real-World Testing Conditions

• Over the years, we’ve tried nearly every method of making coffee, from cold-brew coffee makers and the Chemex to moka pots and Moccamasters.
• We tested 29 espresso machines to find which 12 pulled the best shots, steamed latte art-worthy microfoam, and were easy to use.
• When testing espresso machines, we evaluate how well they make a tasty cup of espresso and other performance aspects as well as how easy they are to use.
• We test coffee machines across a range of price points, from smaller, more affordable models to high-end, high-tech options with extra functionality.

Simulated Testing Data

• Quality of coffee extraction: We wanted to see a good production of crema and an even, strong extraction of the coffee, with a consistent flow. In addition to tasting sweet, the resulting espresso should also be nice and hot.
• Quality of milk froth: The milk steamer should be able to produce silky, hot steamed milk for use in a latte or cappuccino. It got bonus points if it was capable of producing a microfoam.
• Heat-up time: How long it took to go from initial power-on to pull the first shot, or how long it took to switch between espresso shot mode and steam mode.
• Superautomatic performance: How long it took between pushing the button, milk steaming, dispensing and pouring the milk, grinding, tamping, brewing, extracting the shot into the cup and resetting for the next drink.

Buying Tips for Coffee and Espresso Machines

Key Considerations Before Purchase

• Read the full breakdown here: Top 15 things to look for when buying an espresso machine · Carefully compare machines side-by-side to ensure you are getting the most for the price. An espresso machine of similar price may have more desirable features than another.
• You will always brew better espresso when you can alter temperatures; look for a machine with a PID controller.
• Depending on your price range, heat exchangers will be the optimal single-boiler setup, while dual boilers are ideal for those without budget concerns.
• Look for boilers that are stainless steel at minimum, but lean toward ones built with copper and brass components like the Rocket Espresso Machines.
• Ensure the espresso machine you purchase has an adequate warranty and parts and servicing network.

Matching Machine to Skill Level

• Beginners may want to stick to fully automatic or semi-automatic machines that automate some steps, as these are easier to use and more convenient.
• Home baristas who like to try different coffees and experiment with their settings may want to choose a machine with more options, whereas those not looking to hone in their coffee settings may want a more automated machine.
• If you have more time on your hands a manual espresso machine will give you full control over the brewing process. It takes a little while to master the skill, but once you know how, you’ll be able to brew consistently delicious coffee at home.

Comparison of Top Coffee and Espresso Machines

Best Product Recommendations

Breville Bambino Plus

• The Bambino Plus is a longtime favorite. It’s quick to heat, comes in a compact package, pulls great espresso shots, and has an automatic steam wand that creates microfoam silky enough for latte art.
• Ideal for beginners and those with limited counter space.
• Shop on Amazon

Nespresso Essenza Mini

• The Essenza Mini brews balanced, consistent espressos that are a little more mellow than those from other Nespresso machines we tested. It’s an uncomplicated machine with a small footprint and a chic design.
• Perfect for those prioritizing convenience and speed.
• Shop on Amazon

Profitec Go

• The Profitec Go can pull deep, flavorful, and consistent shots, combining the capability of higher-priced machines with a basic interface. It’s simple for beginners to learn but has a build and power that will appeal to home espresso pros.
• Best for enthusiasts seeking café-quality espresso.
• Shop on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a coffee maker and an espresso machine?

A coffee maker typically brews drip or filter coffee, using gravity to pass hot water through ground coffee. Espresso machines use high pressure to force water through finely ground coffee, producing a concentrated shot with crema. Espresso machines often include steam wands for milk-based drinks, while coffee makers are simpler and suited for larger batches.

Are pod machines worth it?

Pod machines like Nespresso are ideal for convenience and consistency, especially for beginners or those with limited time. However, pods are more expensive per cup than beans or ground coffee, and customization is limited. They’re a good choice if speed and ease outweigh cost and flexibility.

How do I maintain my coffee or espresso machine?

Regular cleaning is crucial. For espresso machines, backflush with coffee detergent weekly and descale every 1-3 months, depending on water hardness. Drip coffee makers require monthly descaling with vinegar or a commercial solution. Always empty grounds and rinse removable parts after use to prevent buildup.

Can I make espresso with a drip coffee maker?

No, drip coffee makers lack the pressure needed to produce true espresso. They’re designed for larger volumes of less concentrated coffee. For espresso, you’ll need a dedicated espresso machine or a pod-based system like Nespresso.

What’s the best machine for a beginner?

For beginners, semi-automatic machines like the Breville Bambino Plus or pod machines like the Nespresso Essenza Mini are recommended. They balance ease of use with quality output, requiring minimal skill while allowing room to learn.

Additional Resources

• Serious Eats Coffee Guides – In-depth reviews and tips for coffee enthusiasts.
• Wirecutter Coffee Maker Reviews – Expert-tested recommendations for various budgets.
• Specialty Coffee Association – Resources for understanding coffee quality and brewing standards.