The Best Budget Espresso Machines
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You do not need a premium machine to make good espresso at home. Budget pump machines can make a solid shot and froth milk for lattes, as long as you feed them fresh coffee.
What you give up is mainly consistency, build quality and room to grow. If you catch the espresso bug, you will probably upgrade later, and that is fine.
Our picks at a glance
- De'Longhi Dedica: Best slim design
The picks
Very slim, so it fits small kitchens, and it accepts ground coffee or ESE pods.
Watch out: The frother is fine for foam but not ideal for latte art.
Side by side
| Machine | Type | Grinder | Milk | Price tier* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Longhi Dedica | Semi-automatic (no grinder) | No | Manual frother | Budget |
*Price tier is a rough guide. Click through for today's price on Amazon.
Tips before you buy
Spend a little on coffee, not only the machine
Freshly roasted coffee ground for espresso makes a bigger difference on a budget machine than any upgrade.
Upgrade the tamper
Budget machines often ship with a light plastic tamper. A metal tamper in the right size (51 mm for these) is cheap and helps you tamp evenly.
Descale regularly
Hard water shortens the life of small machines. Use filtered water or descale on the schedule in the manual.
How we chose
We compared manufacturer specifications, design features and patterns in published owner feedback. We do not accept payment from brands for placement. More about how we work.
FAQ
Is a cheap espresso machine worth it?
Yes, if you want to learn the basics or mostly drink milk drinks. If you drink straight espresso and want café quality, consider a mid-range machine and a good grinder.
What is the cheapest machine with a steam wand?
Among our picks, the De'Longhi Stilosa and Casabrews CM5418 are in the budget tier and both can froth milk. Check Amazon for today's prices.
Do budget machines need a grinder?
Not necessarily. They work well with fresh pre-ground espresso coffee. A grinder helps, but on a tight budget fresh pre-ground is fine.