If you are looking for a home espresso machine but don’t want to break the bank, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article I’ll introduce you to five espresso makers that will bring a café experience into your own home. You can’t go wrong with these top picks!

As a Coffee Expert here on Curated, I have spent countless hours helping people find their dream machines. Which machine makes the best espresso? Which steams the best milk? Which allows the most control? Which is the best budget option? Answering questions like these has helped me to find the best espresso makers for people’s needs. If you are still unsure after reading through this list, you can connect with me or a fellow Curated Coffee and Espresso Expert for free, personalized advice!

What Makes an Espresso Machine Worth It?

Just like every other hobby out there, espresso is an endless pursuit. Coffee lovers could easily find themselves lost in a sea of options ranging from a hundred dollars to a multi-thousand-dollar purchase.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t good budget options out there. When looking for an inexpensive machine you should expect:

• Quality extraction (espresso that tastes good!)
• Ease of use
• Longevity (No one wants to throw away an investment after just a couple of years.)
• Good milk texture

Can an Espresso Machine Under $500 Make Good Espresso?

Certainly! Some machines are better than others and, depending on the brand and the model, you can produce café-quality espresso and lattes on many machines. A quality burr grinder is another important piece of the espresso puzzle. Coffee is a science and requires some knowledge and practice to get things just right. Fortunately, the Coffee Experts here at Curated can give you tutorials, share resources, and cheer you on as you learn to make stunning latte art. We can give you tutorials, share resources, and cheer you on as you learn to make stunning latte art.

The Best Espresso Machines Under $500

Best Overall: The Breville Bambino

The Breville Bambino is a real knockout for its price range. This is not only a practical budget option for beginners, but with a slew of standard features, even espresso experts will be impressed with the quality of this semi-automatic machine. It has a tiny footprint that saves counter space, a super-fast heating system (three seconds!), and a mighty espresso pump.

• Build Quality: The Bambino is not the most durable machine on this list. Its plastic casing, lightweight portafilter, and lack of weight leave a lot to be desired. You have to hold the machine firmly when putting the portafilter in, or it will slide around your counter. I guess Breville had to save money somewhere to make this machine so affordable!
• Accessories: The Bambino comes with everything you need to make espresso right out of the box. It includes both pressurized filter baskets (for beginners or for pre-ground espresso) and standard filter baskets in both single and double sizes. It also has a tamper, a milk pitcher, and some cleaning accessories. The machine is ready to pull shots and steam milk right just as it is! I would recommend upgrading the tamper eventually, since the included plastic one is a bit lightweight and awkward.
• Features: The Bambino, like most Brevilles, has a PID, which is a part that regulates the temperature and keeps it consistent. Almost no espresso machines in this price range have that, and temperature is very important in quality espresso shots. The water reservoir is 47oz. Other features that make the Bambino stand out include low-pressure, pre-infusion, programmable volumetric shot control; a three-second heat-up time; fast, well-textured milk frothing; and it is energy efficient!
• Performance: With an Italian-made 15-bar pump set to produce 9 bars of pressure, the Bambino can pull a tasty shot of espresso when paired with a good grinder. Like most Brevilles, the Bambino uses a thermoblock heater instead of a boiler. The advantage to this is that it is almost instantly able to produce hot water at a consistent PID-regulated temperature. The push-button interface is simple. The steam wand is designed ergonomically and on a ball joint, so you can find the right angle for frothing milk easily. I found the machine to pull some tasty espresso shots and produce beautifully steamed microfoam.

All in all the Breville Bambino is an amazing machine. It gets pushed to the top of the rankings because of its tiny price tag and high-end functionality. For only around $300 you have a lot of wiggle room in your budget for accessories that will make this machine perform even better. If you can excuse the lightweight build, you get a ton of performance! If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, consider some of these other Breville models.

Best Budget Machine: The De’Longhi ECP3420 Espresso Maker

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend but want to at least dip your toes into the world of home espresso, the De’Longhi ECP3420 is a great starter machine. On this little guy you can practice making espresso shots and cappuccinos and get comfortable with all the steps involved in being a barista for less than $200.

• Build Quality: The De’Longhi ECP3420 is a very lightweight espresso machine with a lot of plastic. Fortunately, it can be upgraded to a stainless-plated version that still costs less than $200. The milk frother also looks cheap and doesn’t match the feeling of a café-style machine.
• Accessories: This machine is designed with beginners in mind. It comes with pressurized single- and double-sized baskets. These are designed for pre-ground espresso or easy-serve espresso (ESE ) pods; however, they won’t perform as well with finely ground coffee beans. The included plastic tamper leaves a lot to be desired but, for the price, who can complain? The Portafilter is also extremely cheap and plastic. Keep in mind that all of these accessories can be upgraded when you feel that you’ve outgrown this as a starter machine. Also, it does not include a milk pitcher.
• Features: The ECP3420 is a boiler espresso machine. Many purists prefer these to the thermoblock style. It also has a heated brew group, which is rare for an entry-level machine. Having all the brewing parts of your espresso machine warmed up and ready to go has a positive influence on the flavor. The controls are simple, and you must manually start and stop your shots. The milk frother helps beginners out by having a “cappuccino function” that adds extra aeration to your milk. The water reservoir is 37oz.
• Performance: This machine is capable of pulling decent shots of espresso from pre-ground coffee right out of the box. If you are a veteran to the coffee world you may find the steaming to be too frothy and the included portafilter baskets lacking in performance with freshly ground espresso beans. However, this is a good starter machine for new home baristas, and with some upgraded accessories you can breathe new life into this De’Longhi and get a better performance.

When it comes down to it, the De’Longhi ECP3420 is a wonderful machine for someone who has a limited budget and wants to learn about making espresso today. It’s nice that when you outgrow the machine there is a way to upgrade it and get more years out of this inexpensive 15-bar pump espresso maker.

Easiest to Use: Breville Bambino Plus

If you have a bit more room in your budget and want more premium features, the Breville Bambino Plus is worth considering. With this model you get everything great about the Bambino and then some. The Bambino Plus adds a bit more size and a better build quality to the machine, as well as automatic milk steaming.

• Build Quality: Though you still get a lot of plastic in the body of the Bambino Plus, it is slightly bigger and heavier so it feels sturdier than its little brother. The steam wand is designed well and feels professional. The grouphead is snug and creates a strong seal for proper extraction from the portafilter, and as this machine is better built than the Bambino, it slides around less when locking it in. The portafilter itself feels a little cheap, but it works well.
• Accessories: The Bambino Plus comes with everything you need to make espresso right out of the box. It includes both pressurized (for beginners or for pre-ground espresso) and standard filter baskets in both single and double sizes. It also has a slightly nicer tamper than the Bambino, a milk pitcher, and some cleaning accessories. The machine is ready to pull shots and steam milk stock!
• Features: The Bambino Plus has all the same features as the Bambino, including a PID temperature regulator, push-button programmable volumetric shot control, low-pressure pre-infusion, and a three-second heat-up time. The water reservoir is 64oz. The Plus also adds optional auto-steaming at the push of a button for those who want some ease of use in their latte routine. A three-way solenoid valve allows an auto-purge function of the steam wand.
• Performance: Just like the standard Bambino, the Bambino Plus pulls great shots. Since these models have 54mm portafilter baskets they are very forgiving to new espresso makers. The deeper and narrower bed of espresso leaves less room for error and prevents water from channeling. The automatic steamer froths the milk to a creamy texture, and the milk temperature is adjustable. It’s a premium function that really sets this affordable machine apart from others. The auto-purge, too, is a nice touch and keeps the inside of your steam wand from getting icky. Convenience and quality are at the forefront of this model.

The Breville Bambino Plus gets the job done and then some. This semi-automatic machine doesn’t take up much counter space and looks fabulous. If you want coffee-shop-quality espresso shots but aren’t looking to fall deep into the world of coffee geekdom, this machine paired with a good grinder will make your morning cappuccino routine a dream. The added automatic steam wand frees your hands up to flip your eggs, and the three-second ThermoJet heating system means making drinks for two takes no time at all!

Best Espresso Quality: The Flair Pro 2

No need for milk? Love to play? If you are a huge espresso nerd and love to tinker, the Flair Pro 2 will bring you endless joy! With an included pressure gauge, this 100% manual espresso machine allows you to have full control over the espresso extraction. When it comes to pressure profiling, the possibilities are endless. This is definitely a hobby machine and skips the convenience of a semi-automatic espresso machine, but the potential for quality espresso is sky high!

• Build Quality: This machine is solid and sturdy. With the pressure being produced manually, it has to be! All components of the machine itself have a high-quality build. The brew chamber and portafilter are stainless steel. There are a lot of parts to this espresso press, but all fit together nicely. Just don’t lose anything!
• Accessories: Designed with portability in mind, the Flair Pro 2 only weighs seven pounds and comes with a travel case for the barista on the go. When all packed up, the case measures 12.5” L x 9″ W x 3.25″ H and can easily fit into a backpack! The included stainless-steel tamper feels good in your hand. It also comes with a dosing funnel, a rubber cap for protecting your counters when preheating, and — most importantly — a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge not only allows you to extract your espresso at the right pressure but also to play with different pressures at different times. It gives you full, manual control.
• Features: No buttons here! The main features that the Flair Pro 2 offers are mobility and control. Being compact, it is designed for travel. If you are the type who doesn’t trust others to prepare your coffee, a machine like this would be nice to have in a hotel room. The pressure for extraction all comes from your muscles, so you are in complete control. With practice and patience, you will be creating espresso so elevated, you will swear it came from a machine that cost thousands!
• Performance: The performance of this lever machine reflects the user. If you are careful, precise, and knowledgeable, your espresso shots can rival some of the best shots ever pulled. It is also an ideal machine to learn all about espresso extraction and become a master of the basics in a very hands-on way.

This manual espresso maker is for the coffee-obsessed person who likes to fiddle and has plenty of time on their hands. For most of us, this lever machine is a bit too involved for our daily shot. However, it does make top-notch espresso and is a lot of fun to use. It would make a great hobby or travel machine for a real coffee nerd!

Best for Modifying: Gaggia Classic Evo Pro

The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is an amazing espresso machine for the barista who wants their machine to grow with them. It is the only machine on this list with a standard-sized 58mm portafilter. It also has a true steam-boiler heating system rather than a thermoblock, so it has a lot of power when frothing milk. There are entire communities devoted to this machine and all of its possible upgrades. Keep in mind that modifying your machine may void your warranty, but if you are the type who doesn’t mind working on a machine in the first place, you may enjoy getting hands-on with repairs.

• Build Quality: The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is built solid. It weighs in at a hefty 20lbs and has stainless-steel housing.
• Accessories: This machine comes with a 58mm stainless-steel portafilter. The handle on the portafilter is still plastic, but you can’t have everything from a budget machine, can you? The 72oz water reservoir is huge for the size of the machine. The included plastic tamper leaves a lot to be desired.
• Features: The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro has a major upgrade to its predecessor: 9 bars of pressure without modification. The original Gaggia Classic Pro required a modification to get the pressure just right for espresso. The Evo also sports a brass and stainless-steel grouphead, which is perfect for heat retention. The three-way solenoid valve allows the machine to purge excess water. The interface has simple on and off toggle switches.
• Performance: This espresso machine makes amazing espresso when paired with a good grinder. When modified with PID temperature control the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is a dream machine, but doing so requires some willingness to tinker. The aluminum boiler is fast heating (about 5 minutes) and gives you a lot of power for milk steaming.

The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is a much more manual machine than the Brevilles on this list and requires a bit more knowledge of espresso as a craft to get the most out of your machine. If you like working on machines and are okay with upgrading the accessories, this true classic will serve you well. It will last for years and offer you a more professional experience than other inexpensive machines.

Find The Right Espresso Machine for You

Do you want a machine that is easy to use and quick to learn on like the Breville Bambino Plus? A machine that will gain you entry into the world of home espresso but won’t break the bank like the De’Longhi ECP3420? Perhaps you want a machine that requires more knowledge and expertise but is capable of better quality espresso with some effort, like the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro or the Flair Pro 2? If all this sounds like too much work, perhaps an automatic machine is best.

Everyone’s needs are different, and perhaps you still feel unsure. That is why the Curated Experts exist! Be it prosumer-level machines, super-automatic espresso machines, or semi-automatic espresso machines — when you need help picking the right coffee maker to fit your lifestyle, you can connect with me or with another Coffee and Espresso Expert here on Curated. I look forward to helping you get delicious espresso and creamy cappuccinos in your own kitchen!