The 5 Best Beginner Espresso Machines
Are you tired of spending a fortune on espresso drinks week in and week out? If so, the Earl of Coffee has a solution. With these reviews of the best beginner espresso machines, you’ll be a top notch barista in no time.
If you are a coffee lover, then you may have spent several hours of your life waiting in the line at Starbucks to grab your espresso or frappaccino. With the average price of a Starbucks espresso on the rise, it is a good idea to make your own espresso at home and avoid breaking your bank.
If you are a beginner barista, chances are that you are lost in the world of coffee making machines and wouldn’t know whether to buy a manual or automatic, cheap or pricey model. That’s why we decided to review some of the best beginner espresso machines on the market.
The 5 Best Beginner Espresso Machines
Espresso is widely consumed, though not many people understand what it is. An espresso is not a type of coffee bean, though some roasters may specially process coffee beans that are destined to go into an espresso coffee.
An espresso machine shoots highly-pressurized scalding water through tightly-packed, finely ground coffee. The process gives you the thick, concentrated coffee drink that is covered by a frothy layer of foam, which we all know and love as espresso.
If you’re deciding to purchase your first espresso machine, you must take a number of factors into account. The features of each machine will be explained in this guide. This will help you make an informed decision.
Comparison Chart
Nespresso ENV150GY VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker
This is definitely a great machine for new home baristas. One reason this Nespresso model is such a good choice is that it measures and grinds the coffee for you. The machine comes with a 40 oz water reservoir, and all you need to do is pop in the coffee pods and press a single button.
Flair Home Espresso Maker
For beginner espresso maker, a manual espresso machine can be a great way to learn the rope of making espresso. The Flair Home Espresso Maker is one of the most popular manual espresso makers on the market. The design is stylish and it weighs only 5 pounds, so you can easily take it camping.
De’Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
The De’Longhi EC155 is a great choice for beginners because it’s very simple to use. Thanks to its 3-in-1 portafilter, you can use both coffee pods and loose coffee grounds to make espresso. This means you don’t have to limit yourself to certain pod brands.
Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
With such a small package, the Breville Bambino has quite a lot to offer. The coffee maker is very quick and can make you great-tasting espresso in less than a minute. It has a super fast heating system that helps the water reach the ideal temperature in just 3 seconds
Gaggia 14101 Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker
The Gaggia Classic is Italian-made and features a compact and sturdy size. In fact, it is praised among espresso maker as having one of the best build qualities.
Detailed Reviews of Best Beginner Espresso Machines
Nespresso ENV150GY VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker
This is definitely a great machine for new home baristas. One reason this Nespresso model is such a good choice is that it measures and grinds the coffee for you. The machine comes with a 40 oz water reservoir, and all you need to do is pop in the coffee pods and press a single button.
Value
Nespresso pods can be a bit expensive and you may have to dish out $40 for 30 pods. However, the espresso maker comes with a range of complimentary coffee pods in varying flavors. These pods are made of aluminum, and can be recycled at any Nespresso boutique.
Functionality
The espresso maker offers five cup-sizes, including espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, coffee, and alto. The machine offers 19 bars of pressure and has a fast heating time. Its patented Centrifusion technology spins the pod 7000 times a minute, blending water and coffee grounds together to give you a thick and creamy espresso.
The Earls Overall Rating
Espresso purists may find it cringey to pop a coffee pod in a machine and press a button to make espresso from it. However, if you are looking for ease of use and convenience, the Nespresso VertuoPlus might be the best choice you can make.
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CONs
Flair Home Espresso Maker
For beginner espresso maker, a manual espresso machine can be a great way to learn the rope of making espresso. The Flair Home Espresso Maker is one of the most popular manual espresso makers on the market. The design is stylish and it weighs only 5 pounds, so you can easily take it camping.
One of the great things about it is that you can take it apart easily, which makes for easy washing.
Value
At about $229, the Flair Espresso Maker is a bit steeply priced. However, this is counterbalanced y the fact that it is highly portable and you can take it with you anywhere you want and get a great cup of espresso on the go.
Functionality
Pulling the shots may be a chore at first, since it is manual, but if you have used a burr grinder, the process will only take about 3 to 5 minutes. However, this machine is strictly an espresso maker and does not come with a frother, so you won’t be able to make any lattes with it
The Earls Overall Rating
Reviewers have loved the Flair Espresso Maker in 2017 through 2019 and it is expected that this compact little espresso maker will continue to perform great in the following year as well.
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CONs
De’Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Farberware 47053 is the best percolator coffee machine you can take outdoor. It creates delicious coffee for 12 persons. It also has a filter basket that clears and traps unwanted particles. It takes 20 minutes to brew great-tasting coffee.
Value
This coffee maker is dishwasher safe. Cleaning this machine is no problem. It is convenient to pour in coffee to cups with its non-slip handle. You can use this rustproof coffee pot for a long time. Plus, this machine is lightweight.
Functionality
This sturdy percolator comes perfect for outdoor activities. It serves flavorful coffee to large groups. The top cover prevents coffee spills. You can fill 60oz of water with this machine.
The Earls Overall Rating
Overall, this coffee maker may be the best deal you can get from a limited budget. It offers durability and affordability. The Farberware stainless steel percolator is an amazing display to your kitchen décor.
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CONs
Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
With such a small package, the Breville Bambino has quite a lot to offer. The coffee maker is very quick and can make you great-tasting espresso in less than a minute. It has a super fast heating system that helps the water reach the ideal temperature in just 3 seconds
The first step involves the pre-infusion process with low-pressure. For an ideal cup, you should take 19 grams of coffee for a full-bodied flavor. The Breville Bambino starts at low pressure and then gradually increases the pressure for optimal extraction of espresso. This allows you to get consistency in every cup.
The Bambino also comes with an automatic milk steaming wand that makes super-silky thick foam by allowing you to adjust the temperature and texture. Not only do you get great tasting coffee, but you can enjoy it with textured milk and latte art.
Value
The Breville Bambino may not be 100 percent complete espresso maker, but it is one of the best machines for beginners. Although it is pretty pricey, it will pay for itself as you will notice a definite reduction in your time spent waiting in the lines of expensive coffee shops.
Functionality
The machine comes with automatic milk microfoam texturing options that allow you to make barista quality espresso and latte. However, some users say the filter basket is not easy to get out and often gets stuck to the machine.
The Earls Overall Rating
The Breville Bambino is simple and easy to use. It lets you make great espresso at home. It comes with a user manual that is very easy to understand and it doesn’t require a large learning curve. With just a little practice, you can extract perfect espresso shots that capture the nuanced undertones of some premium flavors.
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CONs
Gaggia 14101 Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker
The Gaggia Classic is Italian-made and features a compact and sturdy size. In fact, it is praised among espresso maker as having one of the best build qualities.
It is also equipped with a commercial 59 mm portafilter with a basket that allows you to get the perfect amount of cream for your coffee.
Unlike the basic espresso machines like De’Longhi, the Gaggia Classic comes with a wide variety of functions and you have more options to make fantastic espresso; however, even though it can produce wonderful espresso shots, the steam wand doesn’t perform that great.
Value
The Gaggia Classic is not the most affordable of machines, but it is not as expensive as some other comparable alternatives. The plus point is that it has so many functions that and not just helps you make espresso, but also lattes and other specialty drinks as well.
Functionality
The Gaggia Classic has a variety of options but also a steep learning curve. Additionally, the machine does not perform as fast as our aforementioned espresso makers. Its dual heating system makes it steam-ready in 20 seconds and brew-ready in 5 minutes. So if you don’t want to wait that long for your cup of espresso, try one of the above choices.
The Earls Overall Rating
Many reviewers say that once they learned the ropes of the Gaggia Classic, the espresso they made seemed even better than before. Additionally, they say the machine requires next to no maintenance. Since it is a commercial grade machine, you can even use it to start your own café.
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Parting Shots
Although we have listed the best beginner espresso machines, our favorite picks aren’t just used by newbies. Even coffee connoisseurs and seasoned baristas use them, proving they offer much more value than an average beginner espresso machine