Both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus come in cheaper, with the former retailing at $300 and the latter at $500. The infuser is on the lower end of the spectrum for Breville, but not the absolute lowest. So Breville it is: all-around well-performing espresso machines with a generally wide range of capabilities in a wide range of price points (that’s why you’ll see multiple Breville models on this list). While truly serious coffee people (like the experts themselves) might invest in the higher-end items on this list, the average person making espresso at home isn’t likely to be so hyperaware of espresso nuances. Nearly every other expert I talked to seem to agree. “Breville home machines are some of the best you can get in terms of user experience and customer service,” says Ramage. And perhaps most notable of all, it’s shorter than any of the other electric machines on this list - key if you have low cabinets.Ĭomponents: No dual boiler, no built-in grinder | Size: 12.3” x 10.1” x 13.1” | Price: $$ Mody also says that while all espresso makers generate noise, this one is on the quieter side. It has a flat tray at the very top to store mugs and glasses, and the bottom plate is very easy to slide off and clean thoroughly. After a few days, I was able to consistently produce a smooth latte.Įven for a newbie like myself, there are some immediately noticeable appealing features. I finally nailed it by applying the right amount of pressure to my tamping and playing around with the angle and pressure of the steam wand to froth my oat milk. While there was a bit of a learning curve for me (my first five or six tries yielded espresso that was too dark and bitter), I attribute that more to my inexperience and less to the machine itself. I watched an instructional video when I unpacked it and then understood how to use each one without needing to revisit any directions. The machine is straightforward with three settings (for hot water, to pull shots, and to activate the steam wand). But it ended up so popular that they decided to release it to the consumer market.” Mody and McCarthy even go so far as to specifically say they prefer the Rancilio Silvia over Breville, the only other company that came up as making good at-home espresso makers at middle-of-the-road price points (much more on Breville below). “They created this one to send to their distributors and give away at trade fairs. “Rancilio used to make commercial machines,” Mody says. The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine comes enthusiastically recommended by Cary Wong, a member of the Partners Coffee education team, as well as Suyog Mody and James McCarthy, founder and coffee educator, respectively, at Brooklyn’s Driftaway Coffee. And finally, there are a couple of budget picks that were less talked about but may be exactly what you’re looking for.Ĭomponents: No dual boiler, no built-in grinder | Size: 9.2” x 11.4” x 13.3” | Price: $$ There are several options in the hundreds-of-dollars price range that pretty much all the pros I talked to said make for totally solid home setups, however. The most lauded option - the one that will truly give you café-grade shots and beautifully frothed milk - is well over $5,000. But the reality is, if you’re not willing or able to spend a decent amount, you’re not going to get equipment worth owning.” The market for espresso equipment simply isn’t as widely populated or impressive as that for standard coffee makers, but while Ramage’s view is, to my mind, too unconditional, it serves as a bit of a disclaimer for the list below. “The most common answer I get is to save money. “My first question when people tell me they want to make espresso at home is ‘Why?’” says Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina. And if you care about how good your espresso tastes, you’ll likely have to invest some real money into its production. It’s not that it isn’t worth doing it’s just that if you have enough of an espresso habit to warrant a home setup, you probably care about how good your espresso tastes. As I researched this article, one thing became crystal clear to me: Making quality espresso at home can be tough.
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