These Are The Best Automatic Espresso Machines, According to Our Caffeine-Fueled Tests

Our Favorite Automatic Espresso Machine 

The Breville Barista Express Impress is our pick for best overall automatic espresso machine thanks to its intuitive controls and consistent quality. The Express Impress offers strong value for coffee enthusiasts who want to craft espresso beverages at home and don’t mind a little trial and error to get the machine dialed in to personal preferences. 

How We Tested Automatic Espresso Machines

To find the best automatic espresso machines, we chose 20 promising candidates and put them through their paces. We tested each machine on its ease of set-up, how consistently it pulled espresso shots, and how well it steamed milk. To determine the reliability of espresso pulls, we used a stopwatch to time the pull, and weighed the resulting espresso volume in grams. 

We also noted how easy the machines were to clean after use, and for those that had a built-in coffee grinder, we assessed how consistently they dispensed espresso grounds. 

Factors to Consider

Automatic vs. Super-Automatic

Both automatic and super-automatic espresso machines will take care of most of the work for you. The main difference is that a super-automatic does the grinding and tamping internally, so the only functions you’ll actually see are the dispensing of the espresso and the wand as it steams milk. This means that clearing the espresso grounds also takes place internally, so there’s potentially less mess—though you will need to empty the dump box from time to time; consult your machine’s owner’s manual for frequency.

Drink Versatility

Because automatic espresso machines tend to be pricey, you can (and should!) expect versatility. Whether you’re looking for an intense ristretto or a frothy cappuccino, the machines that made it to our list offer versatility in grind and intensity. Some, like the Breville Barista Touch Impress, have a steam wand that can be operated either manually or automatically.  

Ease of Use and Cleaning

A harsh truth about small kitchen appliances is that if they’re a hassle to use, most of us will abandon them as soon as the novelty wears off. If you’re going to invest in an automatic espresso machine, you’ll want to be sure it’s one you’ll enjoy using. Choose one with features and versatility that meets your preferences, and steer clear of any machines that have a reputation for being difficult to clean. 

Price

You don’t necessarily have to pay top-end prices approaching $2,000, but do expect to pay a few hundred dollars (at minimum) for a quality automatic espresso machine. For something simpler, a Nespresso machine may be just the thing, or you might find another machine we tested, the Breville Barista Touch, more your speed.

Other Automatic Espresso Machines We Tested

De’Longhi Magnifica Evo with Milk Frother ($400 at Amazon)
This machine was easy to set up and reliable in producing crema-rich espresso shots. It’s mostly easy to clean (other than the bean hopper) and was enjoyable to use, though we wish the milk frother had a manual option for more control. 

Breville The Dual Boiler ($1,600 at Breville)
This Breville is for discerning espresso enthusiasts. Once you get it figured out, it pulls wonderful espresso and is a pleasure to use (and clean). Our biggest gripe is that it doesn’t have an internal grinder, and at this price point, it seems like we shouldn’t have to buy one separately.

Miele CM 5310 Silence Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine ($1,610 at Amazon)
For a super-automatic machine, we were impressed by the Miele’s versatility. It’s expensive but performs well and has the ability to store three different user profiles — a nifty feature if you’ll be sharing the machine with someone who takes their coffee differently from yours.

Capresso Cafe Touchscreen Espresso Machine ($171 at Amazon)
This is one of the lowest-priced automatic espresso machines that made our list, and it’s a great choice for a beginner. There is no grinder and we found the steam wand to be on the lackluster side, but for a compact, affordable machine that sets up easily and pulls fairly consistent shots, it’s worth a closer look.

De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Espresso Machine ($555 at Amazon)
We think this model is a great compromise if you’re looking for an all-in-one automatic espresso machine without dropping hundreds more on a Breville. It produces great-tasting espresso and doesn’t come with a steep learning curve. We wouldn’t mind seeing a few more settings on the burr grinder, but that’s not a dealbreaker for us. 

Cafe Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine & Frother ($630 at Williams Sonoma)
An eye-catching super-automatic, this espresso machine costs a bit more than we’d prefer given its middle-of-the-road performance, but it is easy to use. We had a tough time producing espresso that was pleasant to drink without milk or sugar, but, again, taste is subjective. The compact size is a plus, and the Affetto can be controlled with an app if you like to mix tech with your coffee.

Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse + Espresso ($295 at Amazon)
If you can grab this machine on sale, it’s a decent value for small households that just want a basic coffee and espresso machine. We weren’t blown away by its performance or the flavor of its resulting espresso, but the Mr. Coffee has a small footprint and easy set-up.

What Didn’t Make the List

We tested 20 automatic espresso machines, and those we can’t recommend generally fell short on build quality, user-friendliness, or both. If we found ourselves dealing with milk-caked steam wands, watery espresso shots, or plasticky construction that felt cheap, we struck the machine from our list. 

Our Expertise

This article was written by Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. She compiled these results based on data from hands-on testing of automatic espresso machines conducted by Food & Wine.