Office work and espresso are a match made in heaven, but that’s no secret. While it’s certainly easier for many to hit their local café, more and more offices are opting to invest in an espresso machine. It saves money for employees, cuts their morning commute time down, and can be an excellent way to bond with coworkers over their morning cuppa. But the act of picking the perfect machine can be … complicated.

Luckily, this article is here to help. So, pull a shot, pick your comfiest seat, and read along. And be sure to reach out to our Curated Coffee and Espresso Experts with any questions — they’re here for a reason.

Picking the Best Office Espresso Machine

When shopping for a personal espresso machine, you’re aware of your own needs, wants, and limitations. That all goes out the window (hopefully not literally!) when buying for an office; each individual will want something slightly different, and not everyone will be familiar with espresso machines.

Some offices choose to solve this with a simple drip coffee machine, while others opt for a Nespresso or pod-based system. Perhaps surprisingly, though, those aren’t the only options.

So, here is a quick list of what should be on your mind when shopping for an office espresso machine. Each is important in its way, so let’s dive a bit deeper. If you know it all already, feel free to skip to the next section with our selections.

Cost

This is perhaps the most obvious of our criteria, but it’s important to take into consideration nonetheless. Most offices (i.e., all of them) have a pretty strict budget for in-office gadgets and employee perks; this means that you’ll need to know what you’re working with before opting for a super-fancy machine.

Luckily, though, espresso machines come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and price points. If you’re fortunate enough to have a big budget, congrats! Go grab a top-of-the-line espresso machine and rejoice in the velvety magic of fantastic espresso. If not, don’t despair — I’ll be including a few more budget-friendly choices in our list for that exact reason.

Ease of Use

This is where knowing your coworkers comes into play. Granted, you should already be familiar, but if you’re not, ask around. The reason I say this is simple: Not everyone knows how to use an espresso machine. Many people are happy with their drip coffee and pods, and you can’t expect to throw a professional-grade, plumbed-in espresso machine at them without a touch of training.

If you’re not super happy with the idea of having a weekend espresso training sesh, that’s fine. The list below will mostly consist of semi- and super-automatic espresso machines for that exact reason. While there are certainly fantastic manual espresso machines on the market (more on that here), there’s no need to get overly complicated.

Versatility

Similarly, an office espresso machine’s versatility is absolutely crucial to ensuring it’s easy to use for everyone in the office. The option for full programmability is ideal for those who simply don’t want to learn a new machine, and the addition of a steam wand and hot water dispenser will make your office’s tea lovers very happy.

With that said, there are a few other things to keep in mind. Espresso machines need a grinder, hot water, and coffee beans to work — this means that you should keep an eye out for machines that can handle multiple tasks. Some key features to find include a(n):

• Built-in burr grinder
• Built-in coffee hopper
• Large water reservoir

Other handy features that aren’t necessarily mandatory but are nice to have include the aforementioned steam wand, milk frother, hot water dispenser, and the option for programmability, so be sure to keep that in the back of your mind when shopping.

The 4 Best Office Espresso Machines of 2024

1. Terra Kaffe TK-01

The Good

The Terra Kaffe TK-O1 is, despite its space-age appearance, an incredibly well-designed espresso machine with two main factors in mind: a compact size and near-effortless use. While this makes it a very good espresso machine for home enthusiasts trying to get into the hobby, it makes the TK-01 ideal for the office.

Its small size (less than 1.5sq ft) means that it will fit in even the most compact of offices, but that’s not all. The TK-01 features:

• A large (57oz) water reservoir
• Built-in burr grinder and bean hopper
• Touch screen with programmable recipes
• Adjustable brew head (up to 5.5in)
• Solenoid valve
• Milk frother
• Water temperature control
• Removable drip tray

In tandem with its 3.5in touch screen, this suite of features makes it incredibly easy for just about anyone to quickly hop in and make their perfect cup of coffee.

Even better, you won’t have to deal with arguments over whose drink is the best — there’s room for everyone to have their own “secret recipe.” (Disclaimer: It won’t actually be secret — recipes are saved in the machine for ease of use.)

The Bad

The TK-01 is an excellent machine, but it does have one minor downfall: its steam wand. Don’t get me wrong, the wand still works wonders. Its issue will become clearer with continued, successive use between multiple people.

This is because the steam wand struggles with heat retention. While that’s not (likely) a deal-breaker for most, it’s worth noting that there will be a bit of waiting between users if multiple people want to pull shots and froth milk for a nice little latte.

The Verdict

Ultimately, the TK-01 is an incredibly versatile machine that is entirely suited for office use. It’s on the more affordable end of super-automatic machines, it comes with everything you’ll need to brew espresso, and it allows near-infinite programmability because of its intuitively designed touchscreen menu. Plus, it fits into just about any counter space you need.

2. Espressione Concierge

The Good

The Espressione Concierge is another fantastic fully automatic espresso machine that will fit into just about any office. While its slim (under 1sq ft) size is certainly a perk, it also offers a(n):

• 3.5in touchscreen interface
• Built-in conical burr grinder
• Built-in (2oz) bean hopper
• 40oz water reservoir
• Programmable volumetric dosing
• Steam wand
• ThermoBlock boiler w/ ~22-second heating time

This all comes together to create a machine that excels at pulling espresso and frothing milk at a moment’s notice. And when the whole office is gathered to slowly pull their morning espresso shot, the speed with which the Concierge heats up is a very real upside.

The Bad

The largest issues with the Espressione Concierge specifically for office use are its bean hopper and water tank. This is because they’re both very small — the water tank only holds enough water for a handful (2-3, give or take) of drinks, and the hopper holds enough beans for it to be handy but not enough to cut out regular trips to refill.

It’s also worth noting that the Concierge can be a bit tricky to clean. You’ll need to assign at least one person in the office to learn the machine’s ins and outs to clean, as it’s not capable of being fully disassembled. While you absolutely can still clean it, it’ll involve a bit of consultation with the manual and some time with it tipped on its side as you scrub.

The Verdict

The Espressione Concierge is an excellent choice for offices limited in space that want a fully functional automatic espresso machine. While you will need to refill its hopper and water reservoir a bit more often than others on the list, it more than makes up for this with a speedy heat time, intuitive programmability, and super-simple one-touch use.

3. De’Longhi Dinamica Plus

The Good

We’ve covered the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus several times on Curated, and for good reason: It’s a fantastic machine. It’s an incredibly customizable device, even topping the programmability of the previous machines, and is simple to use.

The De’Longhi Dinamica Plus features a(n):

• 3.5in touchscreen
• 16 pre-programmed recipes
• 3 customizable drink profiles
• LatteCrema automatic milk frother
• Built-in conical burr grinder
• 10 oz bean hopper
• Cup warmer
• 60oz water tank
• 3-year full manufacturer’s warranty

Combined, this adds up to a machine that’s ideally suited to office use — those who are familiar with espresso machines can tinker around to get their favorites, while those who aren’t have a collection of pre-set recipes. The addition of the automatic milk frother also cuts out the potential frustration of troubleshooting a poorly frothed cappuccino, too. And with its large bean hopper and water reservoir, you’ll be able to avoid constant trips to refill, unlike the Espressione Concierge above.

The Bad

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: There is very little to complain about with the Dinamica Plus. While it is a touch spendier than other machines on this list, it offers just about everything an office could need, all while fitting into any space it’s needed.

The Verdict

The De’Longhi Dinamica Plus is an excellent espresso machine, no matter how you cut it. Whether you’re looking for ease of use and programmability, a larger hopper and reservoir, or something in between, it really does have it all.

Even better, it comes with a three-year warranty, ensuring your office will get quite a bit of use out of it, come rain or shine.

4. Breville Barista Pro

The Good

The Breville Barista Pro has quite a bit going for it. It features all of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a top-end espresso machine while improving upon the more basic bits that are often overlooked.

The Barista Pro includes a(n):

• Built-in conical burr grinder
• Steam wand
• Espresso pre-extraction
• 3-second heating
• Pressure and volumetric controls
• 67oz water reservoir
• Solenoid valve
• 2-year limited product warranty

Perhaps the largest draw of the Barista Pro is its accessibility. It’s designed with newcomers to espresso in mind, meaning it’ll be a breeze to use for everyone in the office, and it heats in seconds, meaning no waiting in line at the office each morning.

The Bad

The Breville Barista Pro really only has two downsides: its plastic build and its hot water. While it does heat in seconds, the water tends to be just a touch lower than many may like it, as noted in our Curated Coffee and Espresso Experts review. It’s also worth noting that its plastic parts can break if mistreated, so be careful.

The Verdict

All in all, the Breville Barista Pro is a fantastic machine. It’s easy to use, versatile, and generally well-made. While I would love to see more stainless steel in its outer shell, the price-to-performance ratio here is genuinely excellent.

Find the Best Espresso Machine for Your Office

Whether you want a machine that does it all, like the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus, or a simple, easy-to-use machine, there’s an espresso machine out there for your office. While this guide will help build a framework for picking the ideal option, there’s always going to be more to learn.

It’s worth noting that several machines, such as the Lucca X58 and Espressione Combination coffee maker just barely avoided making the cut. If you’re looking for something more specialized, the X58 is a wonderful option, and the Espressione Combination offers an excellent middle ground between drip coffee and espresso. But if none of the machines above catches your eye, be sure to speak to a Curated Coffee and Espresso Expert — we’re here to help (and chat about espresso).