The Best Home Espresso Machines for 2018

1. The Best Home Espresso Machines for 2018 A strong cup of espresso is like a panacea – it cures all your problems! Do you want to start your day with a rejuvenated mindset? Do you want to get instant energy after a hard day at work? Do you want to get rid of that nagging migraine and feel fresh? Do you want to keep your mind calm to take big decisions? Irrespective of any situation that you face in life, a cup of coffee always seems to make you feel better, isn’t it? Espresso, with its dark and strong flavour, is a godsend for people who are looking for energy and stimulation in a cup! However, it is not practical to head to a café every time you need an espresso, for all practical purposes! This is why home espresso makers play an important part in your life. Thanks to these coffee makers, you can brew a cup of espresso, whenever you want, right in the comfort of your home. When you set about to buy espresso machines, you are sure to get confused, because there are quite a few models on the market. Which one is the right choice for you? Which machine suits your taste and budget the best? Which one is easy to clean and maintain? You may have a lot of questions in your mind. Through this article, we plan to clarify all your doubts about espresso machines to the best of our abilities, as we have listed below the 10 best home espresso machines for 2018 herewith. We have listed down the features, pros, cons and our recommendation for each of these machines, so that you can read through and make a qualified decision, without any hassles. 1. Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine Product Overview If you are looking for a coffee maker that is comfortable for beginners and professional baristas, the Breville BES870XL is the right choice for you. This is not only perfect for brewing espressos but for cappuccinos and lattes as well so that your coffee brewing experience is not monotonous at all. Features What makes the Breville BES870XL one of the best espresso makers in town? Read through these features to know more about this machine: 15-Bar Italian Pump –For an espresso to taste divine and authentic, the right amount of pressure needs to be applied on it. A little too much would make the coffee bitter, and a little less pressure would make it flavourless. You will not face this problem with the Breville BES870XL because this machine comes with an I5-bar pump (manufactured in Italy), which allows you to give the right amount of pressure to extract the right flavour from your espresso. Powerful heating system –This coffee maker comes with an extremely powerful 1600W thermo-coil heating system, which helps you brew your favourite type of coffee within minutes. Unlike most of the other coffee makers, you don’t have to wait for a long time to brew your first cup of coffee, with this machine. Purge functionality –A good espresso maker is one that gives you the flexibility to choose specifications as per your tastes and preferences, isn’t it. That’s exactly what the Breville BES870XL. It comes with an excellent purge functionality that allows you to adjust the water temperature as per

2. your preference. After the steam function, you need to adjust the water temperature so that you can brew a perfect cup of espresso. This purge functionality allows you to choose the water temperature that you want after the steam function is over. Burr Grinder –The consistency in which the coffee beans are ground plays an important role in the quality of the espresso that you brew. It is very important to note that the beans shouldn’t be ground too finely or too coarsely. The stainless steel conical burr grinder that comes along with this coffee maker helps you achieve the right consistency while grinding coffee beans, to extract a flavourful cup of espresso. This grinder has a voltage of 110 to 120Volts and comes with a 1/2lb. Bean hopper with a seal. This conical grinder helps you to choose the grind size and dose that you want so that you can make your own customisations with ease. Dosing Tool –This coffee maker comes with a patented razor dosing tool and digital temperature control system, which helps you get the perfectly-trimmed puck while extracting your cup of espresso. The automatic water-temperature control ensures that the temperature of the water stays consistent throughout the extraction process; Quantity controls –If you want to pre-set your coffee maker to brew single-shot or double-shot espresso controls, you can do it with the help of the volumetric controls that come with the machine. This way, you can customise your coffee maker to brew the exact volume that you want, whenever you need to. Other user-friendly features –The Breville BES870XL comes with other excellent features such as the following: ➢ 67fl.oz water tank with handle (can be removed for easy cleaning) ➢ 54mm tamper and 54mm stainless steel portafilter (to get the exact tamping control) ➢ Cleaning light indicator (lights up when the coffee maker is due for a cleaning); the coffee maker comes with a cleaning kit for your benefit ➢ Steam wand that has a 360-degree swivel action (for getting the perfect texture of milk) ➢ Buttons to select the grind size, grind amount and filter size Pros ➢ Technologically sophisticated coffee maker that allows you to brew your perfect cup of espresso within minutes, allowing you to make as many customizations as you like ➢ Comes with a removable water tank and drip tray, which makes it very easy for cleaning; the drip tray has separate compartments for dry and wet spills and also comes with an indicator light when it is due for a cleaning ➢ Comes with automatic water temperature control settings, purge functions and a powerful heating system; all of these help you to maintain the consistency of the water temperature and quality of the brew, throughout the process of making the espresso ➢ Powerful conical burr grinder that allows you to get a perfect consistency while grinding the beans; the grinding process takes less than a minute ➢ Comes with easy to understand buttons and indicator lights, which makes the Breville BES870XL a huge hit with beginners too, though it is technologically sophisticated Cons ➢ Quite steeply priced at around $600 ➢ In some cases, users noted that the steamer and drip tray stopped working within a couple of years of usage ➢ Requires frequent cleaning and descaling

3. Bottom Line The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine is definitely one of the best espresso makers in the market today. It offers you a lot of customisation and helps you brew your favourite cup of espresso, just the way you want it, within minutes. It helps you to choose the grind quality, grind size, pressure levels, water-temperature settings, shot-quantity and so on. It can be used for brewing espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, whenever you want. We don’t deny any of these. If you are looking for a coffee maker that is a perfect blend of technology and user-friendly features, the Breville BES870XL has to top your list. However, the big question here is, if you are willing to spend around $600 on a coffee maker? It is quite a huge investment, indeed! If you ready to splurge on your coffee maker, we would surely recommend this coffee maker to you. If you are looking for an affordable coffee maker, you might have to look at other options that are cheaper and more comfortable options. 2. Breville BES920BSXL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, Black Sesame Product Overview If you want a luxury café-style coffee maker to make the perfect cup of espresso right from the comfort of your home, the Breville BES920BSXL is the right choice for you. This coffee maker is packed with commercial features but is fit for residential purposes. Let’s learn more about this coffee maker in this section. Features Here are some of the exciting features that make the Breville BES920BSXL the superior coffee maker that is loved by professional coffee experts all over the world. Dual stainless steel boilers and Italian pumps –The two most important parts of an espresso coffee maker are a boiler and the pump. While the boiler allows you to steam water to the desired consistency, the pump helps you to exert the right amount of pressure to get the perfect flavour of espresso. The Breville BES920BSXL comes with dual boilers and pumps. This helps in simultaneous steaming and espresso extraction. This means you can extract your perfect cup of espresso while you use the other boiler for steaming your milk to the right quality. Over-Pressure Valve Functionality –When you exert a lot of pressure, your coffee tastes very bitter, whereas when you exert very little pressure, your coffee tastes light. If you are reading this article, it means you know the basics of brewing espresso. You would have known by now that exerting the right amount of pressure is very important for brewing the perfect cup of espresso. The Breville BES920BSXL comes with an exciting feature called OPV (Over-Pressure-Valve). This helps you to maintain the maximum pressure that you exert throughout the extraction process. Therefore, this feature prevents your espresso from getting bitter or losing its flavour. Temperature Control Settings –The espresso boiler of this coffee maker comes with a PID temperature control settings so that you can control the precise water temperature, throughout the extraction process. When the temperature levels are maintained consistently, it helps you in brewing a cup of espresso that is filled with the right flavours and aroma. LCD Panel with help buttons –One of the attractive features of this stylish coffee maker is its backlit LCD that comes with various help buttons. These buttons help you choose the right temperature, brew time and pressure settings. You can also choose low-pressure pre-infusion with this dual boiler coffee maker, to extract an optimum amount of coffee from the grinds. This coffee maker comes with a shot clock and pressure gauge to help you brew the espresso, just the way you want it. The Auto Start Button prepares the machine well before the actual brewing starts, and the hot water outlet

4. helps you to pre-heat cups in a faster way so that it is a breeze while preparing beverages like the Americano. Other functionalities – The Breville BES920BSXL dual boiler coffee maker comes with quite a few attractive features such as a razor dosing tool (which helps you to measure the coffee grinds dose precisely), descaling unit (so that it is very easy for you to clean the coffee maker regularly), high- power system that runs on 1700W, a strip to test the water hardness level, huge water tank of 2.5l capacity and a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer. Pros ➢ Pressure extraction level, water temperature and duration of brewing can be selected as per your convenience, as all these features are controlled by programmable buttons ➢ Café-style espresso guaranteed as the coffee maker is powered by heavy-duty commercial features such as low-pressure infusion system, precision dosage control and simultaneous functionalities of extracting the espresso shot and steaming the milk, thanks to the dual boilers and dual espresso pumps in this coffee maker ➢ Helps in brewing a flavourful cup of espresso by limiting the maximum pressure that can be exerted during the brewing process, thanks to the OPV (Over Pressure Valve) functionality of the coffee maker ➢ Very easy to descale, whenever you want, because this machine comes with a descaling functionality as well ➢ In spite of being looking stylish and sophisticated, this coffee maker is very simple in its functionality and very easy to use by newbies too ➢ Helps you brew the perfect cup of espresso just like what you get in cafes, as you keep practising ➢ Comes with easy to follow LCD lights which tell you what you need to do when it is time for descaling or when your selected brew time is over, etc. ➢ Excellent blend of heavy-duty commercial features and the simplicity needed to use it for residential purposes Cons ➢ Very costly, as it is priced at around $1130 ➢ In some machines, the water pipe witnessed leakage within the first year of usage, but Breville agreed to sort the issue out by replacing the broken machine with the updated BES920BSXL ➢In some, the descale button didn’t work properly ➢ Many users complained of leaked boilers and inconsistency of the movement of steam wand after about 2 years of usage, but Breville immediately sorted the issue by giving these users a completely refurbished machine in exchange for the old one. Bottom Line In a nutshell, we would like to offer you a simple recommendation. Are you ready to spend $1000 on a coffee maker? If your budget allows you, this is one of the best coffee makers that you can lay your hands on. Yes, there may be some mechanical problems, but the Breville BES920BSXL comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. Also, Breville’s customer service is excellent, so the company will sort out your problems by replacing your old machine with a new one. This coffee maker is a classy, luxurious and stylish coffee-maker that is designed for people who love to brew café-style espressos right in their home.

5. This coffee maker more than justifies the huge price tag that is associated with it. The consistency of espressos that this machine allows you to brew is beyond our appreciation. Go for it if you want to add some class and style to your kitchen! 3. Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Silver Product Overview The fact that the Breville BES980XL is the first automatic manual espresso machine to have been ever created in the world, speaks volumes about this coffee maker, isn’t it? It automates all the important processes involved in brewing the espresso – grinding, tamping, dosing and milk texturing. It is a hybrid coffee maker that impresses all coffee lovers at one glance. Here is a brief overview of this coffee maker for your reference. Features Blend of automation and manual coffee making –In semi-automatic coffee makers, you can brew a good cup of coffee, but it takes you quite a while to understand the right technique before you start brewing excellent cups of espressos. In a fully-automatic coffee maker, the machine will take care of all the specifications, but the quality of coffee is not up to the expected level. If you want good quality o coffee along with the benefits of quick brewing and fully automated processes, the Breville Oracle Espresso Maker is the right choice for you. With this coffee maker, you can not only watch your machine do magic with the coffee grinds, but you can also choose to alter the specifications, as per your preference. Technological brilliance –The Breville Oracle is packed with some superior features such as auto grinding, auto tamping and auto milk texturing. ➢When you buy this coffee maker, you don’t have to invest in a grinder separately because the Oracle comes with an inbuilt burr grinder that allows you to grind the coffee grains to the perfect consistency. All you need to do is to press a button to instruct the grinder to get started on the process. You can grind the same quantity of grinds, or you can also change the dose, as per your preference, with the help of selected buttons. ➢ Forget about getting your tamping process right, when you buy the Breville Oracle. This is because the machine comes with automatic tamping functionality, a dream-feature for all coffee lovers. Once the coffee grinds come into contact with the group head, the coffee maker automatically exerts the right amount of pressure on them while inserting the grinds into the portafilter. Since tamping is an automated process, you can expect 100% consistency in the amount of pressure applied to each cup of brew that you make with this coffee maker. ➢ It is important to have the right texture of milk if you want to brew the right type of coffee that you want. For example, in a latte, the milk should be of silky texture whereas, for a cappuccino, the milk should be of a frothy and creamy texture. It will take some time for beginners to use the steam wand properly to get the right type of milk texture. However, with the Breville Oracle, you will be thrilled to note that you don’t have to do anything at all! The automatic milk texturing feature of this coffee maker makes the machine froth the milk automatically depending on the type of beverage and then purge it once the texturing has been done. However, the best part of this feature is that it allows you to take control when you need to customise the texture of the milk to suit your preferences. ➢ The Breville Oracle also comes with the auto-extraction feature, in which you can set the coffee maker to brew the espresso for a certain time and extract the beverage automatically when the time is up. Alternatively, you can also choose to choose your timings to suit your taste and preference manually.

6. Features for the best coffee quality in real quick time –Apart from these automatic features, the Breville Oracle also comes with other exciting features that help you brew the best cup of espresso in minutes. ➢ The 1800-W powered dual boiler feature helps you in simultaneous espresso extraction and milk steaming, thereby saving a great deal of time. ➢ As we said earlier, the coffee maker, in spite of being automatic, also helps you to make manual adjustments when needed. So, you can choose the programmable pre-infusion feature, through which the machine soaks the grinds a little longer than usual before it starts extracting it. This method will give you a very flavourful cup of espresso. ➢ This coffee maker comes with PID temperature controls –this means you can choose to brew various varieties of coffee at consistent water temperatures that have been already set so that you can test the flavours. The temperature- settings of the boilers are close the levels set by the Gold Standard, assuring you the highest quality of espresso ever. Shot temperatures are always maintained in the range between 190 and 205 Degrees Fahrenheit ➢ Huge 84ounce water-tank ➢ One-Touch Americano button ensures that the coffee maker pours the water into the cup directly after extraction. You have the flexibility to choose from 3 pre-set and 6 customised settings while doing so Pros ➢ Perfect balance of world-class automation and manual customisations, where needed ➢ Allows you to enjoy luxurious café-style espressos and other types of coffees in the comfort of your home, without the barista ➢ Saves your time and effort by a great deal, thanks to the automatic features of grinding, dosing, tamping, milk-texturing, purging and extracting Cons ➢ Priced at around $2000, which is quite steep, indeed ➢ One-holed steam wand may be slightly tedious to get the right frothy texture of milk when you choose the manual settings when you are using the machine for the first time ➢ Water pump gets overheated quickly in some cases Bottom Line We strongly believe that this coffee maker may be of some help to professional baristas who want to get the same quality of coffees in their home, similar to the one they brew in their luxurious cafes. Since the coffee maker is too overpriced, we would suggest you try other cheaper models of Breville first, to get an understanding of how the machine works, before you proceed to invest your hard- earned money in this hybrid beauty. 4. Breville BES840BSXL The Infuser Espresso Machine, Black Sesame Product Overview Breville is one of the leading manufacturers of coffee makers in the world. Every single product from its stable is known for its technical brilliance and user-friendly features. This BES840BSXL is no exception to this rule. This is a special Infuser Espresso Machine, which has features that will help you brew a cup of espresso that is filled with the right flavours and taste.

7. Features Why is the Infuser Espresso Machine a huge hit with coffee lovers? What are the special features in it that help you in the brewing process? Read on to know more about the same: Pre-Infusion functionality –The is the most special function of the Breville BES840BSXL. It has been named as the Infuser Espresso, because of this feature. When you choose this function, the coffee maker applies very low pressure on the coffee grinds before the actual extraction process. Thanks to this low pressure, the coffee grind will start expanding well in time for the actual extraction. Applying this low-pressure pre-infusion technology will also allow the grinds to soak well and absorb the flavours well. Therefore, the resultant espresso that you brew will be very high on aroma, taste and flavours. High-power heating system –The 1650-powered thermo coil heating system comes with a water coil made from heavy-duty stainless steel. This system helps you to maintain the consistency and accuracy of the water temperature throughout the espresso extraction process. Auto purge functionality –Once the steaming process is completed, the Breville BES840BSXL automatically adjusts the water temperature, thanks to its auto purge functionality. This way, you can ensure that the temperature is maintained well to help you in extracting the highest-quality of espresso possible. The water temperature remains consistent throughout, thanks to the coffee makers’ PID temperature control features. 15-Bar Italian Pump –The functionality of the pump is very important if you want to extract a delicious cup of espresso. This Infuser Espresso machine comes with a 15-bar Italian Pump, which helps you to exert the optimum level of pressure for every brew. The pump also comes with many easy-to-understand programmable buttons. You may use these buttons to choose your shot volumes (you can choose from the pre-set single or double shot volume, or you can also choose manual over- ride buttons to customise your shot volumes to suit your tastes). You will also find a pressure gauge on the coffee maker that gives you a clear idea of the amount of pressure that is exerted on the grinds during the extraction process. Indicator lights –It might be quite difficult for you to track the cleaning/descaling cycle of your coffee maker. With this coffee maker, you don’t have to make an effort to remember these dates. This is because it comes with the option of a “Clean Me” light that gets turned on to indicate when it is due for descaling/cleaning the machine. There are also lights to indicate your selection options such as hot water, steam, etc. There is also an “Empty Me” light that gets turned on when it is due to empty the drip tray of your machine. Other user-friendly features –This coffee maker comes with a drip tray that can be removed easily whenever you want to clean it. There is also a storage tray located right at the back of the drip tray. You can use these to store your coffee essentials when you are not using them so that your coffee brewing process is mess-free. Do you want instant hot water for preheating your coffee cups or for brewing an Americano? You can use the dedicated hot water outlet that comes along with this coffee maker. The steam wand comes with 360 degrees swivelling action, thereby helping you to get the perfect texture of milk to suit your preferences. There is a dry puck feature in this coffee maker that takes away all additional moisture from the coffee grinds present in the filter basket. Pros ➢ Great value for money as it offers a lot of features for just around $470 ➢ Helps in maintaining consistent and accurate water temperature levels throughout the process

8. ➢ Low-pressure pre-infusion technology helps to infuse more of coffee flavour into the grinds before the actual brewing process, thereby helping you brew a cup that is rich in flavour and taste ➢ Comes with a load of accessories such as stainless steel jug, coffee scope, cleaning kit, water-filter baskets for single and dual wall, water filter holder and water filter ➢ Available in exciting colours such as Black Sesame, Cranberry Red and Stainless Steel ➢ Comes with a removable 61fl.oz water tank that can be replaced and cleaned easily Cons ➢ The cup holding head broke off in some cases, after a few years of usage; spare parts aren’t available easily as well, which makes it quite costly to repair ➢ Water leakage issues noticed in some units within a year of use, but since it was within the warranty period of one year, Breville replaced the broken unit with a refurbished unit ➢ Infuser Gauge stopped working in few units within the first month, but Breville later replaced them ➢ Requires frequent cleaning and descaling Bottom Line While we are quite happy with the cost of this Breville Infuser Espresso Coffee Maker, what we don’t seem to like is that there are no additional features in it than what you could find in any espresso coffee maker in the market. Yes, the low-pressure pre-infusion technology is good, but that’s not a very impressive factor for us to recommend this product to you. According to our opinion, there are quite a few coffee makers out there for $200 or $300 that are worth trying. Now that we have said all these things don’t think we are going to stop you from buying the Infuser Espresso maker from Breville. Yes, it is a good buy for $500. We would have liked it more if it had some X-factor in it that was worth mentioning and rooting for it, though! Go for it, if you love your espresso too deeply to care for that extra flavour that the infusion gives you. 5. DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso Coffee Machine Product Overview If you are looking for a coffee maker that not only offers you 100% comfort to brew the best quality of coffee but also looks stylish at the same time, the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is the right choice for you. It is a super-automatic espresso coffee maker that gives you the flexibility to brew any type of coffee that you want with a single touch. Features Considered to be one of the best super automatic espresso coffee makers in the market today, the DeLonghi Magnifica doesn’t fail to impress the ardent coffee lover. It comes with great features like these: Great grinding quality –This coffee maker comes with a conical burr grinder, which helps you to grind the coffee beans to the perfect consistency. Not just that! It also helps you choose the grind size that you want as it has a knob that can be rotated to suit your preference. This grinder is big enough to hold beans to brew around 8 cups of coffee, but you can choose the quantity as per your wish. Apart from roasted beans, this coffee maker also allows you to use ground coffee for brewing your beverage just the way you want it. You don’t have to measure your dose each time because the coffee maker comes with a scoop that can hold the exact amount of grinds that are needed for a single shot espresso.

9. High-quality brewing - The DeLonghi Magnifica comes with two boilers, which helps you to use them both simultaneously for brewing and steaming. When you are expecting a lot of friends or guests, this is the perfect coffee maker to have, because it not only allows you to enjoy different flavours of coffee but allows you to brew them one after the other, without any time lag. A major highlight of this coffee maker is that it allows you to choose from five brew boldness levels. Some of you may want your coffee to be dark, while some others may want your beverage to be light. So you can experiment with each of the five flavours every time you choose to brew your coffee so that you will get to know the boldness level that suits your taste-buds the most. On some days, you may want to drink a small amount of coffee, whereas, on some other days, you might want a large cup to feel relaxed or energetic. The DeLonghi Magnifica understands the diverse needs of coffee lovers across the world; therefore, it allows you choose from three different cup sizes ranging from small to large. Apart from choosing these pre-set options, you can also choose your customised brew quantity by pressing the right button. Active heating quality –Cappuccinos and lattes taste delicious when the cup is warm or pre-heated. Thanks to the active heating functionality of this coffee maker, you can now warm the cups within a single touch. The cup warmer of the coffee maker is large enough to hold 3 warm cups. You can also set your timing on this coffee maker to make it brew coffee when you need it. For example, you can set the timing for tomorrow morning on your coffee maker before you go to bed, so that this beauty brews a cup of espresso as your welcome drink, as soon as you wake up tomorrow. Best milk is frothing and steaming functionality –The DeLonghi Magnifica comes with a patented cappuccino system frother, which helps you get the right texture and cream of milk when you are brewing cappuccino. One of the best features of this coffee maker is that it is compatible to be used with a separate milk carafe as well; therefore, this coffee maker is the best when you want to brew big pots of coffee. While using the carafe, it is highly recommended that you use cold milk, because coffee tastes the best when you store the carafe in the refrigerator. When you are not using the carafe, you can use a wand in its place for dispensing hot water, if you want to brew a cup of tea. A noteworthy feature of this coffee maker is that the carafe comes with two separate lids that can be used when brewing cappuccinos and lattes, to accommodate the different milk textures needed for both these types of coffees. Pros ➢ DeLonghi Magnifica is very easy to use as it comes with programmable buttons ➢ Grinding quality of the beans of this coffee maker is one of the best that you can find in this price range, thanks the direct to brew system ➢ Cleaning this coffee maker is very easy and quick when compared to most of its peers ➢ Excellent customer service of DeLonghi customer call centre ➢ Priced at around $500; however, it is designed to provide great value for money for users ➢ Stylish looks and very compactly designed so that it can fit small kitchen counters as well Cons ➢ Though the internal parts are made from heavy-duty stainless steel, the exterior body is made from plastic, which doesn’t lend a very strong look to the machine ➢The menu with the programmable buttons didn’t work in few units, within two years of usage ➢ Some units took a long while to brew a cup of espresso, though the machines were descaled regularly and though only purified water was used for brewing

10. Bottom Line The DeLonghi Magnifica is one of the best super-automatic coffee makers that you can lay your hands on. Yes, you may hesitate because of its price, but we would like to tell you that it is only the initial investment that you have to make. The coffee maker is designed in such a way that you will handsome returns on this investment for many years. The one-touch features, programmable buttons, direct brew system, patented milk frother features, a clear segregation of lattes and cappuccinos, etc. are some of the functionalities that more than justify the price that is associated with it. Go for it if you want to enjoy café-style espressos and cappuccinos right from the comfort of your home. 6. DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker, Stainless Product Overview Looking for a coffee maker that kindles your innovation to brew cappuccinos and espressos at will right in your home? Are you looking for a branded coffee maker but at a reasonable budget to help you discover the barista in you? If yes, the DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker is the right model for you. What’s special about this coffee maker? Read on to know more about the same: Features The DeLonghi EC702 is a coffee maker that is packed with simple but strong and durable features such as the following: Patented filter holder –This coffee maker comes with a three-in-one filter holder, which gives you the flexibility to choose the brew of your choice. The three folders are clearly segregated in the filters to hold single shots, double shots and easy-serve espresso pods respectively. Thus, you can choose the type of coffee easily and then use the filter holder accordingly to get the desired results. The holder that you use for brewing espresso shots is the Sempre Crema Filter, which helps you to get the perfect crema (the thick liquid that brews into your cup at the start of the extraction process). Patented Cappuccino frother –Though most of the coffee makers help you brew espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, not all of them help you with automatic milk frothing functionalities. When you are brewing cappuccinos, you need the milk to be thick, creamy and frothy, whereas the milk has to be soft and silk when you are brewing a latte. It takes the huge manual effort to get the perfect texture of milk during the steaming process. This is where the DeLonghi EC702 helps you immensely because it comes with a patented cappuccino frother. This frother has a dedicated chamber for mixing steam and milk in the right consistency to help you brew the perfect cup of cappuccino or latte. Dual thermostats –The water and steam, pressure needs to be maintained at different levels when you are brewing espressos and cappuccinos. However, the DeLonghi EC702 saves you the trouble of adjusting the temperature settings every time, as it comes with two separate thermostats. It also comes with the Automatic Flow Stop functionality, through which you can set the coffee maker to extract the exact amount of espresso that you want and stop automatically after that. Since the temperate is maintained consistently throughout the brewing process, the coffee maker’s rapid cappuccino system can be used to brew multiple cups of coffee without any time lag. Consistent pressure during extraction –If you are a lover of espresso, you will find the DeLonghi EC702 quite helpful because the coffee maker comes with an inbuilt Italian Pump with a capacity of 15 bars. The 15-bar pressure is exerted consistently when you brew every single cup of espresso. So, you can be assured of a superior quality of brew every time. Also, you can use the adjustable controls to customise your brew as per your preferences. Other user-friendly features –This coffee maker comes with some more exciting features such as the following:

11. ➢ A 44oz. removable water tank that is easy to fill, remove and attach comes with a water-level indicator, so that you know when it is time to refill the reservoir ➢ Removable drip tray which makes cleaning easy and an innovative no-drip design which eliminates all chances of mess and dirt while brewing ➢ Comes with self-priming operation, which means the machine automatically prepares itself before the brewing process and you don’t have to do anything to prepare it for brewing ➢ Heavy-duty stainless steel boiler that helps to maintain the temperature consistently to extract a cup of flavourful and tasty espresso Pros ➢ Helps you brew barista-quality beverages with utmost ease and comfort ➢ Very easy to clean as it comes with a removable water tank and drip tray ➢ Helps you get a creamy froth consistently, thanks to the patented frother in this coffee maker ➢ Very quick brewing time; therefore, this coffee maker is great for you if you host many friends and guests at home frequently ➢ At just around $175, this is the best budget-coffee maker you can find for these features and comforts ➢ Helps you in brewing great espresso shots Cons ➢ Quality of coffee not upto the mark within two months of usage in spite of cleaning and descaling the machine regularly, according to a few users ➢ Water stopped passing through the coffee grinds after about 2 to 3 months of usage, as reported by some users ➢Steam wand didn’t produce good quality of foam, as reported by many cappuccino lovers ➢ Rude and unhelpful customer service department of DeLonghi Bottom Line The DeLonghi EC702 performs reasonably well for its price, especially when you use it for brewing single or double shots of espresso. Thanks to the 15-bar Italian Pump and consistent brewing temperatures maintained, the quality and flavour of the espressos that you brew are quite nice, indeed! Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about cappuccinos! The steam wand of this coffee maker doesn’t produce consistent quality of froth, and as you brew more and more cups of cappuccino, you will notice that the froth quality keeps getting thinner and thinner. When you don’t have proper frothy milk, your cappuccinos don’t taste good. However, we feel that since it is priced at just around $175, you can still try this machine and use it for brewing espressos only, if you are a hardcore espresso devotee. You can use it for cappuccinos rarely, though! The machine has been designed to brew high -quality of espressos so that you can use it accordingly. However, if you are looking for a coffee maker that gives excellent quality of espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, we would suggest you increase your investment slightly and look for better models in the market. The DeLonghi EC702 will not satisfy if you if you want your coffee maker to give you the flexibility of brewing your choice of beverage, whenever you want. 7. Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine with Iron Frame and Stainless Steel Side Panels Product Overview If you are looking for a commercial quality coffee maker for your house and if you don’t mind about spending some money on the same, the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is the right choice for you. Though the coffee maker is of traditional build, it looks very elegant and stylish at the same time. Let us understand more about this product in this section:

12. Features Superior heating quality –The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine comes with a commercial-grade group head, which lends superior heating quality to the machine. This coffee maker’s heat retention capacity is considered to be one of the best in the market, and this helps your brew stay hot for a longer time than most of the other machines. Super extraction quality –Due to its excellent heating functionality, this coffee maker ensures that the coffee is grounded perfectly and consistently for every brew. You can be assured of café-style espressos when you use this machine. The 58mm portafilter comes with a patented ergonomic design. This is similar to the portafilters that are found on all the commercial-grade machines of Rancilio Silvia. Hence, you can be assured of heavy-duty commercial performance right inside your house. Excellent boiler quality –The chrome-plated brass boiler found in this machine is not only sturdy but huge as well. It can hold 12oz. of water, which makes it the largest of all residential coffee makers. Due to the large boiler, this coffee machine exudes excellent steaming quality. The process is brewing is quite rapid, and you will be thrilled to note that you can brew multiple cups of coffee within minutes when you use this coffee maker. High-performance steam wand –The stainless steel steam wand of this espresso maker can be moved in all the 360 degrees to ensure that you have the right texture of milk for the beverage that you have chosen. When you want to brew a cup of cappuccino, you have to adjust the steam wand’s knob accordingly so that the machine makes highly creamy and frothy milk. The steaming pressure is maintained consistently throughout the brewing process, thanks to these adjustable controls. Great visual appeal –Though the Rancilio Silvia is a commercial-grade coffee maker, it fits into your kitchen perfectly, because of its compact and traditional linear design. The beauty of this portable coffee maker is further accentuated by its huge iron frame and stainless steel side panels. This coffee maker comes with a measuring scoop that can hold 7grams of coffee (makes it easy for dosing) and two filter baskets (for single-shots and double-shots). Pros ➢ Built like a tank to last for many years ➢ Internal plumbing system is very solid and durable, with copper & brass connections from the boiler completing the robust set-up ➢ Very easy to install, understand and use on a regular basis ➢ 3-way Solenoid brew system helps the coffee maker to release the pressure on the coffee grinds as soon as the brewing is stopped. The excess grinds are moved into a drip pan; therefore, this technology allows you brew a compact puck of grounds that you exactly need. ➢ Steam wand can be used to rotate in all directions, thereby helping you to get a nice swivelling action to act on the texture of the milk ➢ Comes with a removable water reservoir, which is easy to fill and clean ➢ Solid exteriors made from stainless steel and cast iron, which makes it stand like a rock for many years ➢ Fits compactly in small kitchens as well ➢ Commercial-quality features available in a residential coffee maker Cons ➢ Priced quite steeply at about $715 ➢ Water reservoir can only be filled from the top ➢ Not possible to maintain consistent brewing temperatures throughout the process of extraction

13. ➢ Brewing time is comparatively longer than most of the other coffee makers in this price range ➢ Tamper is made out of plastic ➢Manufacturer’s warranty not provided ➢ Steam wand started leaking within a few months of usage, in some of the units ➢ Traditional design that is not updated enough to give you the right quality or flavour of espresso Bottom Line Appearances are deceptive, they say! Our recommendation to you is to remember this line when you are about to purchase the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Maker. Yes, it looks great and comes with one of the toughest exteriors and a solid frame that you will ever find in this industry, but is that you should look at while investing over $700 in it? Definitely not! We agree that a machine tends to break down within a few months or years, but the disappointing feature about the Rancilio Silvia is that the customer service is not very cooperative. This coffee maker doesn’t come with a warranty as well, which is a huge let-down, according to us. We believe that a manufacturer should be confident enough to offer at least one or two years of warranty on his products. We are hesitant to recommend this product to you because the makers don’t provide any warranty for this same. Secondly, the design of the model is quite traditional and classic. Unfortunately, in an age where innovative espresso makers have been introduced to automate the entire process of brewing, the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Maker lags behind in many factors. We feel that the coffee maker is not updated enough to adapt to the new-age brewing process. The quality of the resultant beverage lacks authentic taste and flavour because the boiler is quite old-fashioned and doesn’t maintain the consistency of brewing temperature throughout the process. If you don’t mind spending over $700 on a coffee maker, we wish you spend it on other better models that offer you customisations and automation in equal balance. Our honest opinion is that the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Maker is not worthy of your hard-earned money. Instead, spend your time in analysing the market for better and modern coffee makers that justify the huge price that is associated with them. 8. Gaggia Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker Product Overview Ever since 1991, Gaggia, the Italian brand has been making waves in the coffee brewing machines market because of the excellent engineering and design behind its products. The Gaggia Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker is one of the most stylish but affordable coffee makers, specifically designed for the true-blue coffee lover. It is not without reason that this coffee maker is considered as one of the best among all the semi-automatic espresso makers. Features What makes the Gaggia Classic special? Let’s take a look at the features of this model herewith for your better understanding: Durable housing –One of the first features that stand out in a coffee maker is its exteriors. When the exteriors (housing) look classy and durable, coffee lovers take an instant liking towards it. The Gaggia Classic with its heavy-duty stainless steel housing leaves a lasting impression on viewers, indeed! The style is simple, but it oozes durability and stability. The stylish yet simple housing assures people that they can trust in this model as it is bound to last them for a long time. Pannarello Wand –Every coffee maker comes with some unique features. The Gaggia Classic 14101 comes with its USP in the form of a pannarello steam wand. You will understand when you use this wand that milk frothing has never been easier! The wand comes with an intake hole that directs air into the milk automatically, thereby creating as little or as much of froth you want when you are

14. brewing the beverage of your choice. With this wand for your support, you don’t have to worry anymore if you have got the right texture of milk when you are brewing cappuccinos or espressos. Dry puck feature –The Gaggia Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker comes with a 3-way solenoid valve that ensures all moisture in the espresso puck is removed instantly. When the puck remains dry, it helps you in getting more flavours in your espresso than before. Portafilter baskets –Three portafilter baskets come along with the Gaggia Classic so that it is easy for you to brew ground coffee, fresh beans or espresso pods, as per your convenience. The best part of this machine is that all its components are designed for high-quality commercial use, but at an affordable price range so that it can fit in your residences as well. The 58mm portafilter is made from chrome-plated brass, which speaks volumes of its sturdiness. You can use it brew the shot volume that you want, with utmost ease. Other helpful features –The Gaggia Classic is packed with many attractive features that make it a blessing for beginners. It comes with a measuring scoop (so that you don’t have to worry about the dosing) and a tamper (to help you exert the right amount of pressure). A portafilter with the single and double filter baskets, removable 72oz water reservoir and a manufacturer’s warranty of one year are some of the other features that make this coffee maker one of the best in this price range. Pros ➢ Helps in getting a rich and consistent froth for your lattes and cappuccinos, thanks to the pannarello wand feature ➢ Comes with a removable water reservoir, which makes it easy and convenient for cleaning purposes ➢ Boiler gets heated up in a minute, and you can brew your espresso shot in just 30 seconds, which is quite quick, indeed! ➢ Wonderful coffee maker for beginners as the features are simple to use and understand ➢ Made from heavy-duty materials which makes it one of the most durable coffee makers ever ➢ Compatible with coffee pods and it is possible to brew two cups at the same time in this machine ➢ Comes with a hot water dispenser, which you can use if you are a tea-lover; the coffee maker also has a cup warmer as cappuccinos and lattes taste more delicious in a warm cup than a normal cup ➢ Quite reasonably priced at about $400, which is a good deal when compared to the machine’s features and longevity Cons ➢Doesn’t have an inbuilt grinder; for the best quality of espresso, you need freshly ground beans. Therefore, you need to invest in one separately if you are a devotee of espressos ➢ As in the case of all single boiler machines, there is a small time gap between steaming and brewing ➢Doesn’t allow for too many customizations as the user has to rely on the default settings offered by the machine; for example, you can either brew a single-shot or a double-shot espresso in this coffee maker. You cannot brew the volume that you want because the machine doesn’t allow you to change the settings Bottom Line What type of coffee lover are you? Are you a beginner who is just learning the nuances of coffee brewing? If yes, the Gaggia Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker is the right choice for you. It is affordable; so you can learn the basics of the process at a reasonable investment before you move on to high-end models. The machine comes with user-friendly features and an automatic milk frother as

15. well. Therefore, this model is great if you want to brew reasonably tasting espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, right in your home, from a machine that will last for a long time. However, if you are someone who loves to take control of your coffee maker and customise your brew as much as possible, we would not recommend the Gaggia Classic for you. The machine doesn’t score too well on flexibility, and it offers some default settings that you have to comply with. In short, if you are an expert coffee brewer, you will notice that this coffee maker lacks in many features. If you want authentic espressos, you will rue the fact that this machine doesn’t come with an inbuilt grinder. Our verdict – go for it if you are a beginner, but look for better and more flexible options, if you have enough experience in coffee brewing already! 9. Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, Silver Product Overview Mr. Coffee is a brand that is known for making high-quality but budget coffee makers to suit the middle-class coffee lover. The Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker that we are going to discuss here is no exception to this feature. It is priced at just around $200 and is considered to be one of the best coffee makers in this price range, due to its excellent features. Features Choice of beverage at your fingertip –On certain days you may want a strong cup of espresso to feel energised. On certain other days, you may be in the mood to drink a thick and frothy cappuccino while binge-watching your favourite TV show. This coffee maker from Mr. Coffee is the right choice for you, in this case. This is a semi-automatic coffee maker that helps you make lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, whenever you want. Great quality of milk texture –More often than not, your cappuccinos don’t turn out to be as thick or frothy as you want, don’t they? This is because, as a beginner, it is difficult to get the right texture of milk. You have to use the steam wand effectively, which you will do, with a little bit of practice. With this machine from Mr. Coffee, you don’t have to worry at all! This is because it comes with a trouble- free automatic milk frother that helps you in getting the right texture of milk, depending on the choice of beverage that you have made. Thanks to this feature, you don’t have to wonder or make wild guesses while steaming or frothing your milk. Adjust the control knob for the frother to do its work automatically. Rich and flavourful espressos –The pressure that you apply during the extraction of an espresso decides the quality and boldness of the brew. This coffee machine helps you to brew an authentic cup of espresso, thanks to its inbuilt 15-bar Italian Pump. This pump helps you in extracting the right flavours of the espresso. One-touch controls –With a single touch you can program this coffee maker to brew single shot or double shot espressos. You can also choose the type of beverage you want (espresso or cappuccino or latte) so that the frothing function begins to perform accordingly. Easy to use milk and water reservoirs –Both the milk and water reservoirs of this coffee maker are easy to remove and setup. This makes the cleaning process very easy and quick, indeed. After you have taken the desired quantity of milk for your brew is there still some more milk leftover in the reservoir? All you need to do is to remove the reservoir carefully and put it in the refrigerator so that you can use it later when you want. Thermoblock technology –This coffee maker comes with superior thermoblock technology, which means it heats up quite quickly and helps you brew your espresso, cappuccino or latte, in real quick time.

16. Blend of automation and manual controls –While there are a lot of pre-set options in this coffee maker, you will be happy to note that it also allows you to set your manual preferences wherever needed. For example, when selecting your size of brew, you will note that the machine comes with the pre-set options of small and large; however, that doesn’t mean you have to choose one of these. When you want to choose a quantity that is neither small nor large, all you have to do is to press the quantity button for 3 seconds. Then, the pre-set options disappear, and the machine will allow you to brew the quantity that you want. The beverage keeps filling your cup until you press the button again. Pros ➢ Very affordable price range; just about $200, thereby giving full value for money to the coffee lover who invests his money in this machine ➢ Flexibility to choose from three beverages, right from the comfort of your home ➢ Automatic frother helps to maintain the consistency of the milk texture depending on the choice of coffee ➢ Comes with a removable water reservoir, milk reservoir and drip tray, which makes it very easy and convenient to clean the entire unit as frequently as possible ➢ Great coffee maker for beginners, as the one-touch controls are very easy to understand and use ➢ Milk reservoir with the leftover milk can be directly stored in the refrigerator and later attached to the coffee maker with ease ➢ Comes in three colours – white, red and stainless steel Cons ➢Doesn’t have an inbuilt grinder; therefore, you need to invest in one if you want your coffee grinds to be evenly ground ➢ Prone to wear and tear within the first year of usage ➢ The quality of espressos is not as strong as some coffee lovers would have loved ➢ The texture and quality of froth is not as creamy as what you may find in higher-end models; however, it is still reasonable enough for its affordable cost ➢ Brewing temperatures are not consistently maintained throughout the extraction process, leading to lighter flavour of the beverage extracted Bottom Line If you are looking for a budget coffee-maker that allows you the flexibility to choose cappuccinos, lattes and espressos in a single unit, the Mr. Coffee Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker is a good choice for you. However, here is a heads-up! Don’t expect this coffee maker to give you a highly flavourful cup of espresso or a café-style frothy cappuccino. It is affordably priced, so you have to be ready to make a few compromises on the quality of the resultant beverage. This is easily one of the best coffee makers under $200, so you may opt for it if you don’t mind if your coffee isn’t strong enough or flavourful enough. For the first 6 to 8 months, this coffee maker does give you excellent beverages, but the quality gets slightly affected when it becomes prone to wear and tear. We would still recommend you to go for it, especially if you are a beginner and are just learning the basics of brewing. 10. Mr. Coffee BVMC-ECMP1102 Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker Product Overview Looking for an affordable coffee maker that allows you to brew any type of coffee (espresso, cappuccino and latte)? Mr. Coffee BVMC – ECMP1102 is the right choice for you if you answered

17. “yes” to this question. Ever since 1970, Mr. Coffee has been in the business of making high-quality brewing systems to match the diverse tastes of coffee lovers across the world. Features The BVMC ECMP1102 Café Barista, Espresso and Cappuccino Maker functions like a home-barista that delivers a delicious cup of coffee just the way you want it, upon your instructions. Here are some attractive features of this coffee maker one of the best in this price range. One-touch controls –Who doesn’t want a coffee maker that weaves magic with just a touch of their fingers? This one, from Mr. Coffee, comes with excellent one-touch controls, with the help of which you can choose your volume easily. Single-shots, double-shots, espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, etc. are some of the options that you can easily select with the help of these controls. 15-bar Italian Pump –The BVMC-ECMP1102 Coffee Maker is a three-in-one coffee maker that allows you to brew espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, whenever you want, within the comfort of your home. While the quality of cappuccinos and lattes are dependent on the texture of the milk, the quality of espressos is dependent on the amount of pressure you apply for extraction. Thanks to the 15-bar Italian Pump that comes along with this coffee maker, you can be sure of exerting the right amount of pressure so that your espressos don’t turn too bitter or too light. Automatic milk frother –Getting the right texture of milk is of paramount importance for brewing an authentic cup of cappuccino or latte. This is where the automatic milk frother functionality of this coffee maker is of great help to you. This frother comes with a knob that you can control to get the consistency or texture that you want so that you can brew a perfect cup of cappuccino or latte. Removable milk reservoir –Though the milk reservoir is quite huge, you may not need all the milk for brewing a single shot or double shot espresso or any other type of coffee. The milk that is leftover in the reservoir can be stored in the refrigerator for further use. You can also remove the reservoir from the unit so that it can be cleaned easily. Accessories –This coffee maker comes with a scoop that helps you to measure the dosage correctly for single shot or double shot espressos. It also comes with a tamper that allows you to exert the right amount of pressure while tamping. A filter that comes along with this unit helps you to choose the beverage type that you want. Pros ➢ Very stylish and compact; therefore, this coffee maker sits comfortably in small kitchen cabinets as well ➢ Comes with a removable water reservoir, which makes the cleaning process easy and comfortable ➢ Automatic frother helps you in getting the milk texture right so that your cappuccinos are creamy and lattes are silky ➢ Helps you get the right flavour of espresso as this coffee maker comes with a 15-bar Italian pump ➢ Help you to brew cappuccinos or espressos or lattes to suit your moods and tastes ➢ Comes with a recipe book that includes delicious coffee recipes ➢ Helps you brew café-style coffees right from the comfort of your home ➢ Very affordably priced at just around $200 ➢ Comes in three attractive colours – white, red and stainless steel ➢ Helps you to brew your favourite cup of coffee in real-quick time ➢ Helps in steaming and frothing milk at the same time, thereby saving you a lot of time while brewing coffee ➢ Considered as one of the best budget coffee makers in the market today

18. ➢ Good customer service team ➢ Very easy to clean; you only have to keep holding the button at the bottom of the milk frother and the button at the top of the connector to get it cleaned thoroughly ➢ Replacements are easily available at an affordable price for almost all the parts of this coffee maker from the official website of Mr.Coffee Cons ➢ The portafilter loses its shine when washed in the dishwasher; it needs to be cleaned manually only ➢The hole at the back of the milk container’s lid is very gentle; therefore, you have to exercise care while handling it ➢The screws holding the portafilter don’t make for a great design ➢ Portafilter may get clogged too frequently if it is not washed and cleaned regularly Bottom Line We would definitely recommend the Mr. Coffee BVMC-ECMP1102 Coffee Maker for you if you are looking for a budget coffeemaker that allows you to brew cappuccinos, espressos and lattes whenever you want. This machine is perfect for beginners because it comes with an automatic milk frother that gives you the right texture of milk. Now, you don’t have to guess anymore if your milk is frothy enough or creamy enough for your coffee. Priced at just around $200, this coffee maker proves to be your small, personal barista at home that you can use to brew any type of coffee that you want, at your convenience. This coffee maker is designed to give you full value for your money as it offers quite a few exciting features at a very affordable investment. Yes, some of the parts may break down with time; however, the good thing is that you can find affordable replacements for them quite easily on the brand’s official website. You only have to mention your product name and search for the part that you want. This way, you can save the money that you would have otherwise spent on a new coffee maker. The 1040-W powered heating system ensures that your coffee is brewed at the right temperature. If you are looking to brew your coffee in real quick time and want to get the milk texture at the right time, this one is a great budget model worth investing your money in. The best Home Espresso Machines for 2018