The 5 best espresso machines of 2022

Features: 15-Bar Italian pump | Thermoblock heating technology | 2-liter capacity

At a $400 base (often on discount for under $350), the Calphalon Temp iQ is one of the best performing and least expensive consumer espresso machines on the market. In addition to an intelligent boiler temperature regulation system, integrated Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) has a built-in warming tray to serve drinks at the proper temperature and an enlarged portafilter to wet the coffee grounds to extract the best flavor adequately. The machine has a built-in milk frother for making lattes and other specialty coffee drinks. 

For a $200 upgrade, you can get a version of the machine with an integrated conical burr coffee grinder with 30 adjustable settings.

Pros:

• Produces a high-quality extraction
• Integrated PID
• Reasonable price

Cons: 

• Base model doesn’t have a coffee grinder
• Portafilter can be difficult to access compared to other models

Features: Patented ergonomic 58mm porta filter | 30.8 pounds | Included 7-gram coffee scoop, a plastic tamper, and two filter baskets 

The Rancilio Silvia (starting at around $775) is the veritable Porsche 911 or Volkswagen of manual home espresso machines — a simple classic design with excellent performance for the money that has not changed fundamentally since its introduction in 1997. It uses a standard 58mm portafilter and accessories (such as brew baskets, tampers, and levelers), employs a single boiler design, and has a vibratory pump. It was my first real espresso machine, and I know many home espresso enthusiasts who still swear by it and have been using Gen 1 machines and easily maintain them by themselves with simple tools.

Pros: 

• Classic design
• Extremely modifiable, easy to use, and maintain
• Excellent crema extraction

Cons: 

• If you want to steam milk, you need to switch to steamer mode, which takes a few minutes to heat the boiler to a higher temperature
• Learning curve to produce consistent shots without a PID

Features: Grinds on-demand | Integrated PID | 5 pre-programmed drink types 

In the last several years, Breville has been making waves with its Barista line of home espresso drink machines because they integrate a conical burr grinder into the design, providing an all-in-one experience. 

The Barista Express is a base-level model ($700) that incorporates “dose control,” which grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of ground coffee directly into the specially-designed portafilter. 

The Barista Pro ($800) incorporates an LCD display and integrated PID, making the $100 upgrade well-worth it for more discerning espresso enthusiasts desiring better temperature precision with their extractions and a faster heat-up time to steamer mode. 

For another $200, the Barista Touch ($1000) incorporates a color touch screen with 5 pre-programmed drink types with 8 adjustable coffee settings, including programmable milk temperature and texture and an instant hot water dispenser for tea and other drinks.

Pros: 

• Different machines for different price points and needs

Cons: 

• Single boiler design
• Relatively high-priced if you compare it to a lower-end model when paired with a grinder

Features: 12 grinder settings | Touchscreen display | One-touch operation

Philips Saeco has been making top-notch superautomatic espresso machines for well over a decade, and the price of these systems in recent years has dropped dramatically — the “Lattego” 3200 series with milk dispensing system streets for about $800. By loading the water and milk reservoirs, and the coffee hopper with freshly roasted beans, the machine will make you a pre-programmed perfect latte or espresso at the touch of the button; no messing with settings is required. 

Pros: 

• Completely automated
• Integrated ceramic grinder, and milk frother/dispenser.

Cons: 

• Requires factory repair if maintenance is required
• Needs a larger amount of countertop space compared to other options

Features: 15-bar pump | One-touch control panel | Included recipe book

At under $200, the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is the least expensive espresso machine on our list with semi-automatic capabilities. It features a powerful 15-bar pump and integrated milk dispenser/frother with one-touch controls that make it very easy to make your morning drink. 

Pros: 

• Produces nice espresso drinks at a budget price
• Make quality espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes 

Cons: 

• Requires a separate grinder
• Must prime the system properly and clean the frothing unit after each use

Features: 18oz coffee bean capacity | 9 color options | LCD display

If you are inclined to buy an espresso machine without an integrated grinder, you’ll need a good quality conical burr grinder that has many levels of granularity to help you “dial-in” the precise grind that your machine needs to produce a consistent and tight extraction. There are many on the market, but one of the best for the money is Breville’s Smart Grinder Pro, which at around $200 street, is probably one of the best for the average consumer without moving into prosumer or professional-grade models at $500 or higher. 

Pros:

• 60 electronically-selected precise grind settings
• Direct grind into 50mm, 54mm, and 58mm portafilters with intelligent dosing

Cons: 

• Consumer-grade grinder may not hold up to many years of use

Alternative: Baratza Virtuoso+ ($249) The Baratza Virtuoso is also a very good choice for about $50 more and may be a better choice for heavier use