In a modern round of coffee machine tests, Bosch’s latest entry into the coffee world topped the list of automatic coffee machines thanks to its exceptional versatility. It can make more than three dozen different drinks, including many European coffee drinks I’ve never heard of before (any fans of Großer Brauner here?). But what’s most impressive is that the drinks really do show a lot of subtle differences in size, strength, and consistency.
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Size: 15″x13.9″x18.4″ | Libra: 21 pounds | Water tank size: 81.2 oz | Cup clearance: Variable | Color: Black and stainless steel | Guarantee: Two years or 7,000 cups
The best coffee machine according to the national barista champion: Decent DE1
Isaiah Sheeseowner of three Archetype coffee shops and roasteries in Omaha, Nebraska, won the 2023 U.S. Barista Championship and ranked No. 4 in the world, so if you’re looking for a coffee pro to ask about the best espresso machine, you won’t find anyone more qualified than him. “If you’re going to make espresso at home and it’s not just about convenience,” Sheese notes, “usually people want to have fun and experiment.” For that purpose, he likes the Decent DE1 because it can do, well, almost anything. “You can basically change any variable to extract as much flavor as you want.” Decent machines combine the precision of cafeteria-quality machines with a high-tech interface that lets you customize each variable shot of espresso. Of course, you can adjust the water temperature, as you would with many PID machines, but you can also change the temperature, pressure and flow rate. while brewing to give your shots different flavor profiles, or set a shot timer that turns off the water after a set amount of time. It’s all controlled via a gigantic touchscreen tablet that’s basic to read and operate. The DE1 has a hefty price tag ($3,699 at the time of writing), but it gives you complete control and information about every part of the process, something you won’t find in any other home coffee maker.
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Size: Dimensions: 9.1″ x 14.5″ x 16.5″ | Libra: 29.1 pounds | Water tank size: 68oz | Color: Black | Guarantee: Two years (200,000 espressos)
How We Selected the Best Coffee Machines
What to look for when choosing a coffee machine
Does it make tasty coffee?
It may be obvious, but it’s a given that an espresso machine should make an espresso with nuances of flavor, a full body, and a prosperous crema on top. Machines achieve this through the right combination of temperature (200℉) and pressure (9 bars). Don’t be fooled by offers that say the coffee machine is powerful enough to reach 20 bars of pressure. Usually, such a claim compensates for the fact that it doesn’t really regulate its pressure very well.
Ease of operate
Making espresso drinks can be a daunting task—weighing the beans, grinding them correctly, tamping them with the right amount of force, all before brewing. Anything a machine can offer to make the process easier and more reliable is welcome. This could be a quick heat-up time, brewing on a timer so you don’t have to start and stop the process, or an easy-to-use steam wand to texturize the milk. The only exception is a built-in grinder. With fully automatic machines, you don’t have much choice, but I’ve tested a few semi-automatic machines with built-in grinders, such as the Breville Barista Express, and found that they’re often underpowered compared to standalone grinders. You’d be better off spending some of your budget on a good coffee grinder.
Does this look good?
We know it sounds superficial, but no matter what coffee maker you choose, it’s going to be sitting on your counter for everyone to see for years to come, so you should like the look of it. “I would completely skip the $1,000 level for Breville machines,” says Morocco, “and get something a little more aesthetically pleasing.” His Rancilio Silvia model not only looks like a pretty piece of industrial design, but it also comes in a variety of colors for those who don’t want the stainless steel look everywhere.
Price
Here’s the bad news: When it comes to coffee machines, you get what you pay for. According to Sheese, “anything under $500, you’re not going to get a machine that’s as great as this.” That’s usually because these machines lack things like PIDs. Both the Breville Bambino Plus and the Solis Barista Perfetta are under $500, but they’re the exception rather than the rule.
What else do you need to make espresso?
A good burr grinder
Both Morocco and Sheese make it clear that any espresso machine is only as good as the coffee grinder you operate alongside it. This is because it requires a fine, even grind, and you need to be able to make very miniature adjustments to the grind size to get the perfect result. There are a few good beginner espresso grinders out there these days that will give you what you need without breaking your budget. Morocco is a huge fan of the Fellow Opus.
Good tamper
Unless you go super-automatic, you’ll have to tamp the coffee grounds yourself. Sheese recommends the Normcore tamper for most people. Because it’s spring-loaded, it’ll give you the right amount of pressure every time. Just make sure you have the right size tamper for your machine. For Breville or Solis machines like the ones above, you’ll need a 53.3mm tamper (sometimes called a 53mm or 54mm). For prosumer machines like the Rancilio Silvia, you’ll need a 58mm tamper.
Coffee distributor
Because espresso is ground so finely, the grounds can clump together, preventing the water from flowing evenly. You operate needles in the dispenser to break up those clumps before tamping. Sheese likes the dispensers from Barista Hustle to do the job.
