10 best espresso machines for making quality coffee at home

Score: 98/100

This machine stood out straight away for its high quality, elegant design; it’s compact yet still has everything you need to make a great cup of coffee, including accessories such as a milk jug, tamper and dosing spoon.

Espressos were consistent throughout testing, and our experts liked that you can switch between standard baskets or pressurised filter baskets depending on your grounds and skill level. The Auto LatteArt system was simple to use too – there are three temperature profiles for texturing milk and our testers achieved their desired, foamy finish with both cow’s and plant-based milks.

We would have liked more information around target yield and extraction rates, and (if we’re being picky) front-facing controls, as they may be tricky to see on top of the machine depending on your height and how tall your countertop is. But those are minor niggles – this is a fantastic home espresso machine that won’t disappoint.

Score: 96/100

Sage is another big name in the coffee game, and our testers raved about the fully automatic function on this machine, which makes it easy to use even if you’re a complete coffee novice.

It took just 60 seconds to preheat and delivered top quality, consistent espressos at a good temperature, complete with an inviting layer of crema.

Swapping the filter baskets wasn’t the easiest – our tester struggled to pull it out of the portafilter – but this didn’t affect our overall experience much, especially when texturing milk was so simple. The wand heated in a matter of seconds and delivered frothy, foamy milk – ideal for cappuccino-devotees.

Score: 93/100

Gaggia’s espresso machine heated up in just 20 seconds and has a clear indicator light so you can tamp as soon as possible – just what you need first thing in the morning.

While our double shots were a success every time, the single espressos were less consistent, weighing an average of 3.4 grams below the target yield. There was a good crema on all the shots though and our testers found making the coffee easy on the whole, despite this machine’s manual controls.

An angled steam wand would have made frothing milk easier, but that didn’t stop this machine scoring full marks for its texturing prowess, producing good microfoam in a reasonable timeframe.

Score: 92/100

Our experts only had to wait 60 seconds for this coffee machine to heat up on test and were pleased with the lovely layer of crema on each shot. The espressos were consistent too, so you’ll get a perfect cup every time.

Testers appreciated the simple control panel – there’s an on/off button, one for extraction, and another for steaming. In fact, the whole coffee-making journey was easy – indicator lights tell you when it's heated and everything wiped clean without much fuss. The instructions provide detail on the descaling process too.

While we loved the unique Nordic design of the machine, it felt lightweight and more basic than other espresso makers on the list. But if you’re on a lower budget, it still delivers where it counts.

Score: 91/100

We’d expect nothing less from KitchenAid, but this espresso machine is a sleek, sophisticated model with a speedy preheat time that proved even faster than its 45 second claim in testing.

While there’s PID temperature control (which is meant to ensure consistent temperature for every use), there was a little variation in temperature between our single and double shots. The extraction weight, however, was incredibly accurate, and all the shots had a good layer of crema.

You can’t steam milk and brew your coffee at the same time, but the manual wand was ready to use in just 18 seconds, and we were able to produce the right volume (with microfoam present) for each milky drink.

Score: 87/100

With one-touch controls and a speedy 90-second preheat time, this sleek espresso machine was super easy to use. There are three automatic settings for espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, and a built-in milk frother and cup warmer to make your perfect cuppa.

But what about the drinks themselves? Well, it scored full marks for consistent espresso shots, but we suggest manually frothing your milk if you’re particular about your latte as our testers found that the automatic setting injected too much volume, causing their mug to overflow. Don’t let this put you off though – the detailed instructions provide information on how to adjust the frothing dial, so you can prep your milk like a pro.

Score: 86/100

You only need one dial to switch between coffee extraction and milk steaming with Dualit’s espresso machine – in other words, it couldn't be simpler. It preheated in under 60 seconds, there’s a clear indicator light that shows you when it’s ready, and our experts had no issues fitting the portafilter in place.

It scored full marks for its single espresso shots, but there was a four-gram variation in the double shots. The machine produced three shots in a row without needing to reheat though, so it could be a good pick if there are several coffee lovers in your household.

Results for frothing milk were mixed. It took 48 seconds to heat the steam wand, but unlike with the espresso shots, the machine had to reheat before our experts had prepared three drinks’ worth. It didn’t always produce microfoam either, so one cappuccino had larger bubbles on the top. All in all, though, it's a snip for under £100.

Score: 85/100

Beginners, this one’s for you; the simple, one-touch espresso machine brewed consistent single and double espressos time after time (although they were slightly under the target yield).

The built-in milk frother impressed too, creating two distinct foam volumes suitable for lattes or cappuccinos. Testers spotted some microfoam and said it kept its form for two minutes. After frothing, the milk compartment can go in the fridge and it’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Score: 81/100

There’s a cup warmer on top of this machine with space for four mugs, so you don’t need to worry about a cold mug cooling your drink too quickly. Testers appreciated the quick 60 second pre-heat time too and found the display icons clear.

It was better at producing double shots than singles though, so it’s best suited to fans of a long coffee. The steam wand easily glided in at the right angle, so making microfoam was relatively straightforward. Plus, the foam was stable on our latte and cappuccino for at least five minutes – plenty of time to savour it.

You can’t adjust the height of the platform, so it won’t fit all mugs, but that’s a good excuse to upgrade your collection, right?

Score: 79/100

If you’re looking to explore speciality coffee for the first time, this affordable stainless-steel design is a good pick. There are four fuss-free buttons, a handy recipe booklet featuring everything from an affogato to an Irish coffee, and the instructions are full of tips, especially regarding how to froth.

It wasn’t overly consistent though, producing single and double espresso shots that varied from the target yield by between three and four grams. There was a slight difference in the brew temperature of our double shots. Our testers noticed a clear crema though and, as for milky coffees, while microfoam was only present sometimes, the milk combined well with the drink.