Buying guide · Updated October 2026
Our top-rated espresso machines after weighing flavor or performance, quality, value, sourcing and what the community says.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Breville
A compact 54 mm machine that heats in 3 seconds and textures milk hands-free; just add a good grinder.
Breville
Auto grind, dose and tamp into a 58 mm portafilter plus hands-free milk and cold brew: barista-level results with little skill, at a price.
Gaggia
The tank-like Italian single boiler, now with a brass boiler: 58 mm, 9-bar and endlessly moddable, but no PID out of the box.
Flair Espresso
Direct-lever 58 mm espresso press with a built-in preheater and gauge: superb shots and full pressure control, with a steep learning curve.
Breville
The Barista Express with assisted dosing and a 22 lb auto-tamp lever: same cup potential, far fewer beginner mistakes.
Ninja
Espresso, drip-style coffee and cold brew with a built-in scale, grind guidance and hands-free froth; easy, if not perfectly consistent.
Breville
Breville's long-running all-in-one: built-in grinder, PID thermocoil and a forgiving steam wand, held back by a dated grinder.
Philips
A quiet, easy-clean super-automatic with tubeless LatteGo milk and six one-touch drinks; espresso is light and the foam thick.
At a glance
| Product | Score | Performance | Build | Ease | Value | Community |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino Plus | 8.4 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.9 |
| Breville Oracle Jet | 8.4 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| Gaggia Classic Pro E24 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 8.9 |
| Flair Espresso Flair 58 Plus 2 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 6.2 | 7.8 | 8.6 |
| Breville Barista Express Impress | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| Ninja Luxe Café Premier | 8.0 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Breville Barista Express | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 8.4 |
| Philips 3300 Series LatteGo | 7.6 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 8.0 | 7.6 |
Community
No discussions yet.
Own “The Best Espresso Machines”? Ask a question or share your recipe — you’ll be the first.