The Best Automatic Espresso Machine + 8 Contenders

Why Should You Trust These Recommendations?

Before we dive into the best automatic espresso machines on the market today, we want to explain to you why you should trust us in the first place.

First of all, we are not sponsored and we acquired all these automatic espresso machines using our own means. Our goal is to provide you with the most accurate, honest, and helpful espresso machine reviews on the net.

Also, we speak from experience and have developed a testing methodology.

Based on our extensive experience with coffee and espresso machines, we have selected top-rated espresso machines that fit various preferences and budgets.

This is done by initially researching dozens of models: we categorized and gave a preliminary rating for different aspects of a candidate machine. We then select finalist machines which we test as follows:

• We try the default coffee drink recipes without changing any settings.
  
  
• We then tinker with all available coffee customization options to see if it's possible to improve the drink quality, and how easy it is to do so.
  
  
• We run all the cleaning and maintenance cycles of the machine.
  
  
• We stress-test the machine. For example, we prepare many coffees in a row, we initiate a cleaning cycle without enough water in the reservoir, or we try to make coffee with insufficient beans in the hopper.
  
  
• Finally, we use the espresso machine every day for at least 2 weeks as if it were our personal machine. The intent is to gauge how practical the design is and how it does in a typical scenario at home. This also helps us identify any issues.

We know how expensive these machines can be, and with many models available, choosing the best espresso machine for you can be a daunting task.

What is the Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machine?

Based on our testing and review of several machines, the JURA E8 is the best automatic espresso machine in the market. It prepares excellent espresso drinks while it ticks most of the boxes in terms of customization, luxury, and cleaning features, at a relatively good price.

However, what best espresso machines means to someone depends on their circumstances. For this reason, we have selected different super-automatics that we deem best in different categories and tested them.

Check out our overviews below and click on "Read More" to jump down to the in-depth reviews:

no. 1

Jura E8

Best Overall

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Seattle Coffee Gear

Sur La Table

• Gorgeous luxurious and quiet design
• Great Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Highly Programmable
• Color LCD Screen with buttons
• Lacks some frothing features
• $$$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 2

De'Longhi Dinamica LatteCrema

Best Value

Check Prices From:

Amazon

1st in Coffee

Sur La Table

• Great Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Highly Programmable
• B&W LCD with buttons
• Excellent Value
• $$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 3

Breville Oracle Touch

Best Drinks

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Breville

Seattle Coffee Gear

• Automatic 58-mm commercial grade portafilter machine
• Two boilers for simultaneous brewing and steaming
• 5 pre-programmed drinks, with space to save 8 more
• Automatic or manual steam wand with programmable textures and temperatures
• Color LCD Touch Screen
• Large and Bulky
• $$$$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 4

Gaggia Brera

Best Under $500

Check Prices From:

Amazon

• Compact retro design with analog interface.
• Very decent espresso: comes with pre-infusion, 3 espresso strength levels, and drink volume adjustment.
• Manual Panarello steam wand
• Lacks many features and programmability
• $ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 5

Philips 3200 LatteGo

Most Intuitive Design

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Seattle Coffee Gear

Sur La Table

• Good Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Highly intuitive user interface
• Extremely easy to clean and maintain, including the LatteGo frother
• Entry level - lacks programmability and some features
• $ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 6

De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica

Best Budget

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Sur La Table

• Good Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Dials/buttons w/o screen make an intuitive user interface
• Lacks programmability
• Materials feel cheap, loud grinder
• $ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 7

Miele CM6350

Best Programmability

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Seattle Coffee Gear

• Great Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Highly Programmable
• B&W LCD with buttons
• Long and short design
• $$$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 8

Jura ENA 8

Best for Compact Spaces

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Seattle Coffee Gear

1st in Coffee

• Great Espresso/Milky Drinks
• Highly Programmable
• Color LCD with buttons
• Quiet
• Compact
• Limited water/bean capacity
• $$$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

no. 9

Jura ENA 4

Best for Purists

Check Prices From:

Amazon

Seattle Coffee Gear

1st in Coffee

• Great espresso
• Program coffee strength (3 levels) and brew sizes
• Buttons with TFT color screen
• Quick and quiet
• No milk frothing system
• $$ out of $$$$
• Read More ⇒

Now stick around so you can learn more about each product we mentioned and what you should look for when you're shopping for one!

1. Jura E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine

Best Overall

We have selected the JURA E8 as our best overall super-automatic espresso machine because it delivers a wide array of high-quality coffee drinks effortlessly and luxuriously.

To achieve amazing espresso drinks, JURA has included Jura’s Pulse Extraction System (PEP), which releases hot water in short bursts, enhancing the flavor of your coffee. It also includes 3D brewing technology, which ensures water evenly flows through the coffee grounds, and the Intelligent pre-heating system, which ensures all components are hot.

The JURA E8 also comes with the Professional Aroma Grinder, one of the quickest and quietest built-in coffee grinders on the market.

With all that technology, it’s no wonder that the JURA E8 pulls one of the best espresso shots we have tested thus far – that is of course for espresso machines without portafilters.

The HP3 milk frothing system is also great. It automatically dispenses different milk textures corresponding to your drink of choice. Plus, the resulting milk foam is heavenly, to say the least.

Another feature we should mention is the hot water dispenser. This is great news if you are a fan of Americanos.

Operating the JURA E8 is a luxurious experience. The machine looks gorgeous and comes with a 2.8-inch color screen and 6 buttons. The User Interface is intuitive, making it very easy to select among the 17 pre-programmed One Touch specialty drinks. Yes, as the name implies, all you need to do is press a button before you can start admiring the E8 prepare a delicious cappuccino to get your morning started!

Cleaning and maintaining your JURA is also a piece of cake. If you are using CLEARYL Smart water filters, there is no need to descale the E8. Cleaning is facilitated by means of a graphical interface, showing you a progress bar when the next cleaning cycles are due.

Nothing is perfect, so the E8 has a few cons you should be aware of. It's costly (you are paying for its luxurious design), it does not include user profiles or a cup warmer, and a milk jug and a wireless adaptor are not included.

For more info, check our detailed hands-on JURA E8 review!

The Verdict: Jura E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine

Jura E8

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

Buy from Sur La Table

2. De'Longhi Dinamica LatteCrema

Best Value

The De'Longhi Dinamica LatteCrema stands out because of its excellent value. It's a bit loud and forgoes unnecessary features such as a color touchscreen and wireless connectivity, but it costs over $1,000 less than its competitors while providing a similar number of features and drink customization options.

For starters,  the Dinamica LatteCrema comes with 18 pre-programmed coffee drinks - the highest number out of all of the machines reviewed here. This menu includes TrueBrew Over Ice, which is great news if you live somewhere hot and crave iced coffee drinks. For all the drinks, you can customize the coffee strength (5 levels), the temperature (4 levels), the coffee and milk volumes, and the milk texture.

The LatteCrema automatic milk frother is excellent and offers a continuous scale of milk texture, from no foam to lots of foam for a cappuccino. Changing the milk texture is done with the dial on the frother.

What about the coffee drink quality? We tested this machine and are happy to report that De'Longhi Dinamica LatteCrema makes delicious espresso based drinks.

Other features worth mentioning are the two menus: the Drink Menu and the MyDrink Menu. In practice, both menus can be used as 2 user profiles, which is great for sharing this machine.

The design of this machine goes beyond being utilitarian. It looks great in any kitchen with its small footprint and modern design. Yes, the screen looks a bit dated, but again, color screens are expensive. If must have a color screen, check the Dinamica Plus.

The cleaning programs are robust (but a bit messy) and will tell you when maintenance cycles are due, such as rinsing and descaling. The LatteCrema milk frother can be disassembled for a thorough cleaning and is dishwasher safe (yay!). You can remove the brew unit - and we are glad you can because even after running the cleaning cycles we found coffee grounds upon removal.

For more info, check our detailed hands-on DeLonghi Dinamica LatteCrema review!

The Verdict: DeLonghi Dinamica LatteCrema

DeLonghi Dinamica LatteCrema

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Sur La Table

Buy from 1st in Coffee

3. Breville Oracle Touch

Best Drinks

If you are a coffee connoisseur and want all the bells and whistles, this is the best supert-automatic espresso machine for you. It ain’t cheap, and it's quite large, but the Oracle Touch is close as it gets to having a commercial espresso machine with your own private barista at home.

The Oracle Touch will be the centerpiece of your kitchen. It’s quite large but has a beautiful stainless steel design body featuring a large color touchscreen. The user interface is highly intuitive and comes with a tutorial mode to get you started.

The first thing you will notice is the 58-mm commercial-grade portafilter. Don’t worry though, although Breville machines are semi-automatic, when it comes to the Oracle Touch the dosing, grinding, and tamping are done automatically. All you need to do is move the portafilter from the grind outlet to the brew group.

Another highlight is the dual stainless steel boilers, which allow you to brew coffee while simultaneously using the steaming wand.

In addition, the PID temperature control ensures precise water temperatures, while the Over Pressure Valve (OPV) prevents overpressure during the extraction process, avoiding bitter flavors in your coffee.

Because of the above, this is the most thermally stable espresso machine on this list, and with the implementation of a 58-mm grade portafilter, the Oracle pulls the best espresso shot of any machine in this list.

It also offers the greatest coffee drink customization. The Oracle Touch has a built-in 45-level stainless steel burr grinder, options to change the coffee and milk temperatures, options to change the pre-infusion time and extraction times, and nine options to automatically texture your milk. If you have the skills, you can even manually steam and texture the milk.

With the Oracle, you can prepare virtually any coffee drink using any kind of coffee bean and roast level. You even have the option to add 8 additional beverages based on your preferences.

Surprisingly, despite its complexity, the Oracle Touch is amongst the easiest machines to clean and maintain. This is because of the use of a portafilter and steam wand systems. You won’t have to worry about cleaning internal brew units or complicated milk piping systems.

So are there any cons? Well, this machine is expensive and bulky. Also, compared to other machines in this list, the Oracle Touch takes more than 5 minutes to heat up. Thankfully it can be programmed to turn on in advance.

For more info, check out our detailed hands-on Breville Oracle Touch review!

The Verdict: Breville Oracle Touch

Related Read:
This machine also made our Breville Espresso Machine Recommendations!

Breville Oracle Touch

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Breville

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

4. Gaggia Brera

Best Under $500

We normally don't recommend super automatic machines that cost less than $500, but the Gaggia Brera is an exception. We had our sight on this machine because of its low price and reputable brand. We have finally tested this machine, and we are happy to report the Gaggia Brera is an excellent low-cost automatic espresso machine. Here is why:

For starters, the compact retro design looks great, despite being an all-plastic $420 automatic espresso machine (at the time of writing). Yes, there are some gaps between the paneling, and you're not getting a fancy touch color screen, but again, a luxurious machine can cost 5 times more than this Gaggia!

Instead of the screen, you get 4 buttons and a 3-color LED panel with icons that illuminate to indicate the status of your drink or machine. This is a plus for some people, including myself. Analog machines like this one tend to be highly intuitive and easy to use. The Gaggia Brera is no exception; the user interface is self-explanatory thanks to the clearly labeled icons. You won't need to read the instructions manual to use this machine (but you should!)

The espresso quality for a machine of this cost is outstanding. There is a pre-infusion cycle, 3 levels of customization for the coffee strength, and you can adjust the water volume. Another great feature is the ceramic burr grinder which lasts longer than stainless steel ones. With some tinkering, I was able to pull a very decent shot of espresso with this Gaggia.

The Pannarello steam wand produces good microfoam, but it is on the slower side. But with a bit of patience and skill (this is a manual milk steaming wand after all) you should be able to create beautiful lattes.

In terms of cleaning and maintenance, the Gaggia Brera scores very high marks. There are mandatory rinsing cycles when you power on or off your machine, there is a descaling indicator, the brew unit is removable, and the steam wand can be easily removed and disassembled. All in all, it should take you only a few minutes per day to keep this machine in top shape.

For more info, check out our detailed hands-on Gaggia Brera review!

The Verdict: Gaggia Brera

Gaggia Brera

Buy from Amazon

5. Philips 3200 LatteGo

Most Intuitive Design

The Philips 3200 LatteGo may not have as many bells and whistles as other super-automatic espresso machines in this list. However, it offers great value and is the most intuitive machine to use - so much so that you can learn how to use it by simply looking at the control panel.

The tactile control panel consists of buttons labeled with icons to choose and customize your drink, with lights that turn on/off to graphically indicate the status of your machine or the customization level of your drink. This design is intuitive because you can get a global idea of your machine settings without having to navigate various menus.

Your centenarian grandma will be able to use this machine without reading the instructions!

Using the default drink settings, this machine yielded a decent-tasting espresso. During our testing, we changed the grind level to a finer one, increased the coffee strength to the max level, and the coffee volume to the minimum level. The resulting espresso was surprisingly good!

We should mention the ceramic flat burr grinder. Ceramic grinders are usually high-end and remain sharp for a longer time than stainless steel ones.

The LatteGo system readily dispenses sweet and creamy milk froth, but the milk temperature and texture are not customizable. The milk texture was a bit thick, which is ideal for a cappuccino but not appropriate for latte art.

One of the highlights of the LatteGo system is its simplicity. It consists of 3 pieces, making it one of the simplest frother designs out there. This makes it the easiest-to-clean milk frothing system we have tested so far. You can throw it in the dishwasher or rinse it with water and some soap - a process that takes less than a minute.

Finally, the Philips 3200 offers excellent value for money. Philips omitted features such as milk customization, a digital display, user profiles, a cup warmer, or wireless connectivity to bring the cost down.

If you are looking for a no-fuss machine that takes little from your precious time, yet, prepares mean espresso drinks, then we highly recommend the Philips 3200 LatteGo.

For more info, check out our detailed hands-on Philips 3200 LatteGo review!

The Verdict: Philips 3200 LatteGo

Philips 3200 LatteGo

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

Buy from Sur La Table

6. De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica

Best Budget

The De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica is one of the best-value De'Longhi espresso machines in existence.

Yes, its over-20-year-old design looks dated, but the fact that De'Longhi continues selling the ESAM3300 over newer Magnificas is a testament to its amazing design. Despite its age, it offers many features that match newer and more expensive machines, all for a low price. If you want an entry-level automatic espresso machine, this is it!

The Magnifica ESAM3300 is operated by 6 buttons and 3 dials. The user interface is very intuitive; the water quantity and the coffee strength can be controlled with two separate dials while the steam wand is operated with another dial.

The Magnifica ESAM 3300 comes with the patented Tubeless System (TB) and Direct-to-Brew system. The former minimizes the amount of leftover coffee dust left in the grinder, which can eventually become stale, while the latter allows the machine to almost instantly brew the coffee grounds after grinding to minimize aroma loss after grinding.

The patented Cappuccino System uses a Panarello milk steam wand. It's a manual steam wand, but fear not, even a beginner can prepare froth milk using this system and make a great latte or flat white.

Further, this machine includes a 15-bar pump and a steel burr grinder with 13 grind settings. As can be seen, the ESAM3300 hides a surprising number of coffee-specific technologies under the hood!

This is reflected in the coffee drink quality. During our testing, we were able to brew some amazing velvety espresso drinks without much fuss or tinkering. This is to show that an older machine design does not mean inferior espressos. At least not with the ESAM3300!

As you can see, the ESAM 3300 Magnifica offers a lot for a low price. What is the catch?

Other espresso machines feature many pre-programmed drinks, can adjust the milk temperature and foam texture, have automatic frothing, and have nice-looking touch screens.

The Magnifica does not.

Nonetheless, you get what you pay for, and one could argue that it’s worth paying an extra $1,000 to get above lacking features. This machine focuses on the basics and has been a favorite for many years, and with good reason!

For more info, check out our detailed hands-on De'Longhi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review!

The Verdict: DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300

De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Sur La Table

Related Read:
This machine also made our Delonghi Espresso Machine Recommendations!

7. Miele CM6350

Best Programmability

The Miele CM6350 offers a modern design with a glossy finish and minimalistic user interface, consisting of tap sensors and a monochrome screen. What stands out the most though is its unique narrow and long design.

We think this is a good tradeoff, since at only 9.9 inches in width, the CM6350 should fit on most kitchen counters.

The Miele CM6350 is one of the most programmable machines we have tested. You can virtually customize everything, including the pre-infusion time, the coffee strength, the coffee and milk volumes, and the milk and water temperature for each pre-programmed drink. In addition, you can create up to 4 user profiles - a very useful feature for large households.

This super automatic machine is also exceptionally versatile. It can prepare drinks of different sizes ranging from an espresso to an 8-cup coffee pot! If you have a regular coffee maker, you can now sell it to create even more room in your kitchen!

Miele has placed a high emphasis on hygiene with this machine and we are glad to see this - the innards of espresso machines are perfect for bacteria to thrive. You don’t want any of that in your drink, right?

The CM6350 will make sure it’s kept clean even if you are lazy. There are non-optional automatic rinsing cycles every time you turn on and off the machine, and every time you use the milk system. This is in addition to other cleaning programs for the milk system and for descaling. Further, the brew unit can be removed for deep cleaning.

Based on our testing, the CM6350 pulls excellent espresso shots that are delicious and piping hot. Miele has included its AromaticSystem; the brew chamber expands once hot water flows in, to allow a thorough mix of water and coffee. This might be why the brewing process was on the slow side, but a few seconds is a good trade-off for good quality coffee.

The Cappuccinatore milk frothing system uses a thermal stainless steel milk carafe, which is included with the purchase of this espresso machine. The frothing system is automated and quick while delivering great consistency.

In terms of cons, the long and narrow design could pose some issues if your counters don’t go deep enough or if you have kitchen cabinets on top of your counters. If so, you may need to do some maneuvering to refill the water tanks and coffee bean hopper.

Another issue is that a water filter cannot be installed, potentially meaning more decalcification cycles.

For more info, check our detailed hands-on Miele CM6350 review!

The Verdict: Miele CM6350

Miele CM6350

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

8. Jura ENA 8

Best for Compact Spaces

The JURA ENA 8 is a modern and slick fully automatic espresso machine, with a beautiful crystal-looking water tank on one side, and ventilation openings that should belong to a Ferrari on the other side.

It’s truly one of the best-looking espresso machines on the market.

It is designed for those who don’t have much space in their kitchen and are looking for a luxurious espresso drink-making experience.

Despite its small size, the JURA ENA 8 packs a punch. It includes JURA’s AromaG3 grinder, which is quick and quiet. It also makes use of JURA’s patented Pulse Extraction Process (PEP) technology, the same technology used on JURA’s higher-end espresso machines. This system basically sends short bursts of pressured hot water which makes the extraction process quicker and helps highlight the bean coffee flavor profiles.

Programming and customizing drinks can be done so easily thanks to the full-color LCD screen and 4 buttons on the sides of the screen.

For each of the 10 pre-programmed drinks, the volume, strength, temperature, and milk foam amount can be customized. Once all is set, the machine will remember these settings for the next time.

The coffee quality is outstanding, but during our testing, we found the JURA E8 to yield stronger drinks. This is because the brew unit of the ENA 8 is smaller and can hold up to 10 grams of coffee.

The HP1 Milk System is adequate; however, only one type of milk foam texture is available. It has a frothy airy texture that may not be suitable for all drinks.

JURA has also ensured a luxurious cleaning experience. The maintenance status menu graphically shows what components of your machine need cleaning, and using a progress bar, when it’ll be time to clean them. Further, if you use the CLEARYL smart filters, you won’t need to descale this espresso machine.

Like all JURA espresso machines, the brew unit cannot be removed. That is one less task to do, but you’ll have to trust JURA’s technology.

As we noted, the JURA ENA 8 is ideal for the solo user living in a small space. As such, the compact design means a small water reservoir and bean hopper.

This super automatic is also quite expensive relative to the features it offers. It does not include a milk jug or Smart Connect adaptor, which is needed for wireless connectivity.

For more info, check our detailed hands-on JURA ENA 8 review!

The Verdict: JURA ENA 8

JURA ENA 8 Super Automatic Espresso Machine

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

Buy from 1st in Coffee

9. Jura ENA 4

Best for Purists

Are you a coffee purist who is always on the go, and don’t have time to use a traditional espresso machine? If that is you, we highly recommend the JURA ENA 4.

The first thing we should mention is that the JURA ENA 4 does not have a milk system. As such, it is designed for the purist user (like you!) who only cares about black coffee. Of course, there are other automatic espresso makers that only deliver black coffee, at a lower cost.

We decided to recommend the JURA ENA 4 because, despite its relatively high price tag, it delivers excellent black coffee. That is, in our opinion, the most important aspect of these "purist" machines. You simply cannot mask a poor espresso shot behind the sweet flavor of milk!

During our testing, the ENA 4 was not left far behind our portafilter espresso machines. That is an excellent compliment for an automatic espresso maker that uses an internal variable unit!

The espresso is excellent thanks to the AromaG3 burr grinder, one of the best built-in espresso grinders in the market, and the patented Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P), which forces hot water in short bursts through the coffee, allowing the full development of the coffee flavors.

Operating the JURA ENA 4 is also a pleasure with its amazing looks and luxurious design. The user interface is minimalistic and logically laid out.

The compact design means this machine should fit in most spaces, even fit on your nightstand if you need coffee as soon as you wake up! However, a compact design also means a small water tank and bean hopper: this machine is designed for the solo user living in a small space.

Cleaning and maintaining the ENA 4 is very easy thanks to a lack of a milk system. Thanks to the CLEARYL Smart water filter no descaling is required. There are also multiple cleaning and maintenance prompts to help keep your JURA in top shape.

In terms of cons, my biggest grievance is the lack of a hot water dispenser despite the high cost of this machine. If you like Americanos, this is something you consider before buying this machine. Also, to use any connectivity options, you will need to cough up additional dough because the JURA Smart Connect (wireless adaptor) is not included with the purchase of this machine.

For more info, check our detailed hands-on JURA ENA 4 review!

The Verdict: JURA ENA 4

JURA ENA 4

Buy from Amazon

Buy from 1st in Coffee

Buy from Seattle Coffee Gear

Related Read:

How to Make Espresso: The Best Beginner’s Guide Online

Best Automatic Espresso Machine Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know

There are so many espresso machines deciding which one to get is a daunting task.

The best fully automatic espresso machine does not necessarily mean the most expensive one or the one with the most features. The best machine will depend on YOUR needs and where you’re going to use it.

So what should you look for in an automatic espresso machine? Before you click that purchase button, make sure you consider the following points!

• Do you really need a milk frothing system?
  
  
• What kind of milk system should I get?
  
  
• How much space do I have in my kitchen?
  
  
• How many people will be using the super-automatic espresso machine?
  
  
• Do you need all the features?
  
  
• How much time do you have to clean and maintain your machine?
  
  
• What is my budget?
  
  
• What kind of heating system does the machine have?
  
  
• Is this machine for home or the office?

Related Read:

The Complete Guide on How Espresso Machines Work & Their 5 Main Parts

Do You Need a Milk Frothing System?

There is no point in purchasing an automatic espresso machine with a fancy milk frothing system if you only care about pure dark espresso! It will add additional cost to your desired machine, and may add an additional point of failure!

So before you make a purchase, think of the drink YOU drink daily. If you mostly drink espresso and Americanos but very occasionally have a latte, it might make sense to skip on machines with milk frothing systems to save money, and instead go to your local coffee shop for the occasional latte.

Milk Steam Wands Vs. Milk Frothers

If you opt for a machine with a milk system, there are two types of milk systems to choose from:

• Milk frothers: These are built-in and typically suck milk from a jug, then heat it and froth it. There is nothing for you to do but wait for the frothed milk to come out; however, you don't have control over the pouting process. Milk frothers require more time to clean than steam wands.
  
  
• Steam wands: They are not as automatic as milk frothers and may require some skill to use. However, when you froth milk yourself, you can control the pouring and make latte art. Steam wands are significantly easier to clean than milk frothers.

Consider the Size of the Machine

If you live in a small condo and kitchen counter space is premium, that could rule out many machine models. So make sure you measure how much space you have, and also check the vertical clearance between your kitchen counters and kitchen cabinet doors!

It would be very disappointing to finally receive your espresso machine and then find out it does not fit! You’d then have to return it, and you may have to pay restocking fees! Your machine size matters!

How Many People Will Be Using the Machine?

If you live alone, then this is not much of a concern.

But if you have a large family of coffee drinkers, get a machine with a large water tank and bean hopper! Having to constantly re-fill the water tank and bean hopper because you bought a machine suited for a single user can become bothersome really quickly.

Look for machines that have a large coffee drink menu to suit all tastes in the household. Other features to look for are user profiles, multiple menus, or the ability to create your own drinks.

Does Good Espresso Really Need a Machine With All the Bells and Whistles?

Remember, you are paying for all the features you get.

If you’re an advanced user who wants to play with all kinds of grind settings, water and milk temperatures, milk textures, pre-infusion times, dosage, and so on, then it would make sense to get an advanced automatic espresso machine. Examples include the JURA E8, DeLonghi Dinamica, or the Breville Oracle Touch.

But if you don’t really care about this jargon, and you just want to press a button and have great espresso-based drinks, then get a simple machine! You will save on costs. Examples include the Philips 3200 LatteGO or the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Does it take 5 minutes or 15 minutes per day to clean and maintain your machine? This is important because if it takes too long, most likely you won’t do it. And this could mean your super-automatic espresso machine becomes a living colony. Yuck.

This also deteriorates your coffee drink quality and will eventually shorten the lifespan of your machine.

There is a trade-off between automation and cleaning time.

Machines with One-Touch menus and automatic milk frothers require less effort when preparing coffee drinks when compared to machines with steam wands. However, it's much easier to clean and maintain a steam wand system than an automatic milk frother, which must be rinsed each day, and disassembled and thoroughly cleaned every few days.

To minimize the cleaning time, look for machines with a dishwasher-friendly drip tray, with water filters (to minimize how often you need to descale), if the espresso machine has cleaning and maintenance prompts and programs, and select a steam wand system instead of a frother.

Related Read:

How to Properly Clean and Descale Your Espresso Machine!

Does It Fit Your Budget?

Automatic espresso machines are expensive, there is no way around it. However, knowing what you need and don’t need can help you shave off a few dollars.

Here are some components and features that drive the price up.

• A fancy color touch screen - your coffee drink quality won’t suffer without it.
  
  
• Size - do you really need a machine that large?
  
  
• A milk frother system - if you don’t like milky drinks then save yourself some money and don’t pay for this unnecessary system!
  
  
• Programmability - will you be drinking the same drink every day, or do you have a large household with each member of your family having their preferred drink?

Related Read:

13 Different & Most Unique Types of Espresso Machines

What Kind of Heating System Should I Get?

Almost all super-automatic espresso machines use thermoblock technology to heat up. Essentially, a thin hollow wire wraps around a heating element. As the water passes through the coil, it quickly heats up. However, we recommend dual-thermoblock heating systems because they minimize the wait time between steaming and brewing.

A few automatic espresso makers have boilers. Boilers have better pressure but require several minutes to heat up. The only machine in this list with boilers is the Breville Oracle Touch. It actually has two boilers dedicated to brewing and steaming.

Are You Purchasing an Automatic Espresso Machine for the Home or the Office?

Home automatic espresso machines are designed to be used relatively lightly. So if you’re purchasing for the office, don’t get a home espresso machine or it will break very quickly. You need to get a machine designed specifically for the office.

These machines tend to be more expensive given their higher expected duty cycle. They also tend to have larger water tanks and two bean hoppers. The user interface is usually ‘foolproof’ and you can lock some settings (so that people in the office don’t mess with it!)

Related Posts:

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• Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: The Ultimate Showdown!
• 17 Espresso Machine Accessories You Need
• Find the Perfect Latte Machine Using This Buying Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

We hope this guide has proven useful in your quest. As you can see, there isn't just one best espresso machine, this really depends on your own needs.

If these espresso makers are out of your budget then check out our review on the best espresso machine under $1000.

If you want us to review a specific super-automatic espresso machine not on this list, shoot us a message!