Good/Better/Best

Espresso Machines

Good/Better/Best

Espresso Machines

A price and style comparison

Best home espresso machines in 2025

Maybe you’re getting tired of spending five bucks a day at your local café. Or perhaps you're looking to turn your love of good coffee into a proper habit. Or you just want to try your hand at latte art. Whatever your reason, you're ready to invest in a solid espresso machine and start making your coffee drinks exactly the way you like it. Whether you want to keep things simple or fully embrace your inner barista, there's a machine for every level of interest and budget.

We looked at dozens of options and chose three that offer excellent performance at their respective price points. From a reliable starter that gets the job done with minimal fuss, to a mid-tier workhorse packed with pro-level features, and finally, a luxury machine that's essentially a mini café in your kitchen—each one offers strong value where it counts.

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Good

The
Smarter Starter

• Touchscreen interface with easy, custom shot timing

• Compact body with Italian-style ULKA pump

• Surprisingly strong steam wand for silky microfoam

• Commercial-style 58 mm portafilter for better espresso flavor

$359.99 by Gemilai

Better

Café Quality

• Built-in conical burr grinder with adjustable grind settings

• Intelligent dose system auto corrects, while “Impress” puck system auto-tamps grounds for consistency

• Thermocoil with PID temperature control delivers water at exactly 200°F

• Powerful steam wand works fast and creates true microfoam milk

$799.95 by Breville

Best

All-in-One
Machine

• Built in Florence, same as their commercial machines

• Dual boiler system for simultaneous brewing and steaming

• Connected app to control temp, scheduling and cleaning alerts

• Manual paddle for hands-on control over the shot

$6,600 by La Marzocco

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