If you’re new to the world of espresso, finding the right machine can feel overwhelming. There are countless options available, each with different features, benefits, and price points. This guide will help you navigate through some of the best espresso machines for beginners in 2024, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your needs.
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1. Breville Bambino
The Breville Bambino is our top pick for beginners. This semi-automatic machine strikes a balance between user-friendliness and the ability to craft quality espresso. With Breville’s innovative thermojet technology, it heats up in just three seconds, minimizing wait time between brewing and steaming.
One of the standout features of the Bambino is its low-pressure pre-infusion, which primes the coffee grounds before brewing. This results in a more precise extraction and better flavor. The PID temperature control ensures that the water temperature remains consistent, which is crucial for brewing great espresso.
Photo by Breville on Amazon
The Bambino also comes equipped with a manual steam wand, allowing you to create rich microfoam for your lattes. While there is a learning curve, the wand’s design helps you practice your latte art skills effectively. You can choose between single or double shots of espresso, and program the machine to suit your preferences.
Compact in size, the Bambino is perfect for those with limited counter space. However, it does have a smaller 47 oz water tank compared to other machines, which means more frequent refills. Additionally, since it doesn’t include a built-in grinder, you’ll need to invest in a separate grinder to complete your setup.
2. Gaggia Classic Pro
The Gaggia Classic Pro is another excellent choice for beginners, featuring a stainless steel body and a commercial-grade steam wand. It utilizes a 58mm portafilter, larger than the typical 54mm found in many home machines, which allows for a greater amount of coffee grounds and better extraction.
This machine does require a bit of patience, as it takes up to five minutes to heat up. However, once it’s ready, you can steam milk in just thirty seconds, making it suitable for serving multiple drinks in a row. The 72 oz water tank is the largest on our list, allowing for several drinks before needing a refill.
Photo by Giggia on Amazon
The Gaggia steam wand creates excellent microfoam, making it easy to craft beautiful latte art. One downside is the lack of a built-in grinder, meaning additional costs for a grinder. Additionally, the coffee dispenser is not adjustable, which may limit your choice of cups and mugs.
3. Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch is a standout machine featuring a touchscreen display that allows you to scroll through pre-programmed drinks. You can quickly prepare coffee, but also customize the settings to save your preferences for future use.
With five pre-programmed drinks and the ability to save up to eight recipes, the Barista Touch blends the best of automatic and semi-automatic machines. The automatic steam wand is another highlight, making it easy to froth milk to your desired texture and temperature.
Photo by Giggia on Amazon
This machine also incorporates Breville’s thermojet technology, ensuring it’s ready to brew in just three seconds. While it has a single boiler, the wait time between brewing and steaming is minimal. The most significant advantage is the integrated conical burr grinder with thirty settings, allowing precise control over your grind size.
4. De’Longhi ECP3420
The De’Longhi ECP3420 is an affordable option for beginners, featuring a durable plastic body with stainless steel accents. Despite its budget-friendly price, it heats up quickly, taking less than a minute to prepare for brewing.
This machine uses a pressurized portafilter, which can limit the flavor potential of your espresso. However, it has a fifteen-bar pressure pump, the standard in espresso machines, and allows for some adjustment of extraction levels. The manual steam wand can heat milk well, but it may not produce the finest foam.
Photo by De’Longhi on Amazon
While the ECP3420 is a great entry-level machine, you might want to consider investing in a stainless steel tamper and portafilter for better results. Overall, it’s a solid choice for those just starting their espresso journey.
5. Capresso Ultima Pro
The Capresso Ultima Pro is a fantastic budget option that features a self-tamping portafilter, making it incredibly user-friendly for beginners. This innovative design eliminates the need for a separate tamper, which is crucial for achieving a good espresso shot.
With a stainless steel-lined thermoblock heating system, the Capresso heats up in under ten seconds, allowing for quick brewing and steaming. It also has a self-stopping feature, so you don’t have to worry about turning it off at the right moment.
Photo by Capresso on Amazon
While the 34 oz removable water tank is on the smaller side, it is easy to refill and clean. The manual steam wand allows for both single and double espresso shots, but it may not create the fine foam needed for latte art.
Conclusion
Choosing the right espresso machine as a beginner doesn’t have to be daunting. Each of the machines mentioned offers unique features tailored to different preferences and budgets. Whether you prefer the compact Breville Bambino, the robust Gaggia Classic Pro, or the user-friendly Capresso Ultima Pro, there’s something for everyone.
Take the time to assess your needs, kitchen space, and budget, and you’ll find the perfect espresso machine to kickstart your coffee journey in 2024!