If you're like me, you've found yourself staring down the list of impressively (and intimidatingly)…
Sasha Pavlovich is a coffee expert with years of experience as a barista, and she knows quite a bit about caffeine and coffee. She manually curates every single page on CaffeineStats.com to make sure that you are getting the right information at your fingertips.
Sasha's expertise is backed by a strong foundation of credentials. She is a certified Coffee Roast Master, specializes in Green Coffee Analytics, and is a certified Sensory Cup Taster.
Before we look at some budget espresso machines, let’s see what we need to know
This is a controversial one. What type of coffee you use and consider the best, that’s the best espresso you want to use. Espresso is a way of extracting, squeezing out the good flavors of coffee.
Traditionally, dark and strong. My best buddy and I like our coffee black. But I like an organic single origin from Malawi, very pricey, and he likes the cheapest blend you could buy.
Who’s drinking the best? We both are.
About 97 percent of coffee is water. So we need our water to be the “right” temperature. In a budget espresso machine, we’ll aim to reach at least 180 degrees.
Why is this so important?
Because we want to “squeeze” out the good flavors out of our coffee. There are other flavors in those beans that are not that tasty. But if our water is too cold…. I’m sure you get it.
Technically we don’t need milk to drink espresso. But milk is in all those tasty and sweet drinks we like. So we need to be able to heat and foam milk to the perfectly. Our bubbles also should be the right size. Not too big but not too small.
Those were the most basic details. But there are others: coffee grind size and the bars. Bars? Pressure when extracting espresso is measured in bars. Ideally you want to do this at 9 bars. One bar equals 14.5 lbs.
It’s just the force that’s applied to the water through the coffee grounds. That’s why you see the baristas timing their coffee when pressure, is applied. When buying an affordable espresso machine, that’s something you want to look at.
When buying store-bought espresso you have no control over the size of your grind. Sometimes it’s labeled as fine or extra-fine. Unless you have a grinder this would have to do.
Choosing the right budget espresso machine it’s important. You have a few choices: pump-driven, steam-driven, and hand-driven. Hand-driven? You’ll see it soon.
If using very fine espresso you’ll want a budget machine with a pump. With a steam-driven machine, you must be careful to only use a coarser fine grind. 3.5 bars are not great, but, you’ll extract espresso at a higher temperature than any other model, so that’s a plus (or a minus).
Let’s take a look at 10 budget espresso machines for your home. Most under $100.
Choosing the best budget espresso machine is easier said than done. What makes the espresso makers detailed in this review so stellar? Espresso making is an artform, so let’s dive into how to choose the right maker to fit your needs.
How much do you actually know about making a shot of espresso? Have you ever tried it before? There is a lot of trial and error involved in this process, even with a fully automatic machine. Making espresso isn’t the same as making coffee, as the process is quite different and yields its own unique results.
If you’re totally new to making espresso shots, consider getting one of the simpler but at least partially automatic espresso machine models. You will quickly learn the importance of using tightly packed ground coffee to extract as much flavor as possible into the espresso shot.
You will also want to get a machine that heats the water to the desired temperature. This is important because the hot water will emulsify with the oil from the coffee grounds in order to generate the crema floating around on the top of the drink. You will want your drink to have a proper amount of crema on the top.
Budget espresso machines can pull a good quality shot, but some of the lower end models don’t do a thorough job. This is why it is important to read through what other users have to say about each model.
Also, you will want to find a machine that is able to generate enough pressure so that the water will shoot through the densely packed coffee grounds you use. A serious lack of flavor is what you get without enough pressure, which is why getting something with 15 bars of pressure is ideal.
Bars of pressure can vary by machine, but try to aim for 15, as this echoes what you will find on some pro-grade machines.
If you are able to save up for one of the more expensive espresso makers, it might be worth doing, especially if you have already owned a cheaper model and are looking to upgrade.
The more high-end models offer more features but are often more complex to use. They do have the benefit of temperature dials, but with the budget machines, you get the more budget-friendly easy-to-use pods.
A good espresso machine should have enough pressure to shoot the water through the packed grounds as well as the ability to get water heated to a desirable temperature.
It is entirely possible to make a good shot using a budget espresso maker. Many cheaper models can pull shots with a decently rich and smooth crema.
Plan to spend around $300 for a cheap machine, but know that those in the $500 ballpark tend to have the better features on them.
It can be worthwhile to buy one, especially if it is your first foray into making your own espresso shots. They have a shorter learning curve.
While they offer more features, the expensive machines can be more difficult to use. Of course, most of them pull a great shot, but some of them struggle to do so.
Cheap machines will have fewer features equipped on them and tend to have stainless steel designs intermingled with some plastic parts while high-end machines have sturdier build qualities and more features.
Buying your own machine can end up paying for itself within a few months of ownership, especially given the rising costs of buying a drink from Starbucks or Biggby.
Buying a good espresso machine does not necessarily mean having to spend a small fortune. In fact, shelling out a couple hundred bucks can yield some great results, as demonstrated by the De’Longhi 15 bar Pump Espresso machine.
Having those 15 bars of pressure makes all the difference when it comes to pulling a delicious, aroma-ridden shot. And having the ability to pull a double shot is definitely a bonus.
The De’Longhi has a professional look and feel to it that other budget makers simply do not possess. Pair it with your electric stovetop or just use it as-is – you have options.
The manual frother makes for a nice, milky froth on top of your drink, which is essential for making a stellar cup of cappuccino. And, of course, this device is one that is easy to use and efficient to clean.
All in all, buying an espresso drink maker can save you a lot of money in the long run. All those dollars that you fork over for that pricy Starbucks drink can be put to good use with a budget machine bought and placed right in the comfort of your own home.
You get control over the quality of your drinks and how you wish to customize them, all the while feeling like a barista yourself.
Save that cash you would be shelling out for an expensive drink at a coffee shop and cultivate your own barista skills with one of these budget espresso machines.
