Summary
What could be better than the smell of a good freshly ground coffee in the morning when you wake up or after a meal to make the pleasure last? Practical and design, the espresso coffee maker has quickly become a must in our kitchens, the star of household appliances, both functional and decorative. In France, 7 out of 10 people drink coffee every day: no wonder that espresso machines have found an enthusiastic audience here! In capsules, pod or grain, compact or imposing, modern or traditional, it always produces its effect for breakfast or a friendly moment with friends. Are you looking for a new automatic or manual coffee machine? Sublimate coffee time at home: buy the espresso coffee maker that suits you at the best price with our comparison guide based on the opinions of MAX2KDO testers!
🏆 The best automatic espresso machines
🏆 The best espresso machines
Espresso coffee maker: how does it work?
The espresso coffee machine is a machine used to reproduce the quality of the traditional Italian coffee highly prized by epicureans around the world: espresso. While capsule models have become widely available in Europe to caffeine consumers in a hurry in search of quality combined with practicality, many purists still resist and prefer models equipped with a real coffee grinder or a percolator grinder in order to rediscover the real gestures and sensations of traditional espresso preparation. The operation of an espresso coffee machine with percolator is quite simple: the coffee machine is equipped with 2 tanks, one for water, the other for the unground beans for machines equipped with a coffee grinder (automatic or not). When there are no pods, the machine works either with pods or capsules. Then, the process depends on whether the machine is configured manually or automatically:
Manual espresso coffee maker
As the name suggests, the manual espresso machine must be fed with coffee by hand: either the grinder works by hand or the machine works with pods and capsules. The advantage of the real espresso coffeemaker with fully manual beans is that it allows you to fully personalize the preparation of your cup of espresso coffee: the intensity, length, grinding of the coffee?
Automatic espresso coffee maker
With an automatic machine, making espresso coffee becomes child’s play, but above all it is very quick: at the touch of a button the machine starts to grind a precise quantity of coffee beans according to the quantity and intensity required, and the percolator starts to extract all the aromas from the coffee. While some require a preheating time to reach the best temperature to extract all the aromas from the coffee, which varies according to the variety chosen, others take only a few seconds to prepare the espresso requested.
On this type of model, which is more sophisticated than a manual machine, it is usually possible to adjust the coffee grind size (the fineness of the ground bean) according to the desired aroma, and of course the length of the coffee. However, it requires careful maintenance: filtering, cleaning, descaling…
Where can you buy your espresso maker?
While it wasn’t always the case, today you can find espresso coffee makers everywhere, from appliance stores to department stores and online retailers. The best deals are usually found by buying on the web, but stores are resisting and also regularly offer promotions on this type of device to reduce the generally high price they charge. There’s no secret: to have a real quality coffee machine at home, you have to put a price tag on it.
Choosing the right espresso coffee maker: selection criteria
Consumption
Pay particular attention to the energy label on your future machine at the time of purchase, as some can consume about as much energy as a refrigerator that is constantly plugged in. While the latest models on the market are generally optimized to be less energy consuming, this is not the case for all of them: a little check can always be useful to avoid unpleasant surprises in use!
The pressure
9 bars of pressure: while many advanced machines have 15 to 25 bars of pressure, this is all it takes for your pump to extract the full richness of the aromas from your coffee beans. Also, make sure you buy an espresso machine that reaches at least 9 bars
The outlet of the nozzle
Some models can be equipped with a 2-way spout, convenient for making 2 coffees at the same time and saving time when many guests are having coffee. Of course, a coffeemaker designed to make 2 hot drinks at the same time will increase the budget for your espresso machine. But when you like coffee, you don’t count!
How it works
Automatic or manual, grain, pods or capsules, it all depends on the quality you are looking for. Similarly, some machines are exclusively dedicated to the preparation of espresso while others are multifunctional: from those that include cappuccino, latte or american à la carte and are at least equipped with a milk frother, to those that are capable of making all drinks, including tea and hot chocolate, the choice is wide: it’s up to you to choose the one that suits you best!
The functionalities
Depending on the level of sophistication you wish to achieve, a host of options are available on the espresso coffee maker market, including American-designed models:
The automatic switch-off function turns the coffee maker off without use for a defined or programmed time (e.g. half an hour). If you’re naturally distracted, you won’t have to worry about energy consumption: your machine understands that it’s no longer needed and turns itself off.
The timer function allows you to program the coffee preparation to be delayed, so that you can enjoy your coffee hot in the morning, for example, without having to worry about setting up your machine.
The Aroma function for coffee enthusiasts slows down the flow of water so that the water has more time to soak up the coffee’s aroma. This results in a stronger, more intense coffee.
The anti-drip system, as the name suggests, stops the traditional drip flow during coffee preparation and therefore stops it exactly at the right moment.
Best espresso coffee makers in 2019: the comparison
 Beem 02051 Espresso Perfect
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 Aicook 3 in 1 Italian coffee maker
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 Delonghi EC685.M Dedica Style Espresso Machine 1300W
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 Philips HD8650/01 Super Automatic Espresso Machine 2000 Series
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 Krups Espresso Automatic EA8108
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 Delonghi BCO260CD.1 Espresso combo filter coffee maker 5 kg
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The Max2kdo assessment of the best espresso coffee makers: the opinion of our testers
Beem 02051 Espresso Perfect: a sure value
With its colourful and retro look, combined with unbeatable convenience in operation and cleaning, this espresso coffee maker was unanimously acclaimed by our testers. Ideal for beginners because of its ease of use, it allows you to prepare a wide range of hot drinks with a very short heating time, perfect for the whole family!
With 1350 W under the hood, it is not the least energy-intensive on the market. Nevertheless, it only reaches class C in active operation, i.e. when you actually make a coffee with it, and remains economical the rest of the time between A and B. In the end, unless you consume coffee frantically throughout the day, the bottom line remains economic. In addition, the Beem brand is known for the durability of its devices, which is confirmed by this model: low noise, reliable and solid thanks to very simple operation and good materials, it is easy to imagine its longevity exceeding that of the other models in this comparison.
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 5 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 4.5 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 5 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 4 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 3 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 3 / 5 stars |
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Aicook 3 in 1 Italian coffee maker: countertop atmosphere Rome – New York
Our team of testers had a real crush on this compact multifunctional espresso coffee maker that is both stylish and ultra-practical. Italian espresso coffee maker on the one hand, American coffee maker on the other, this compact, easy-to-use and professionally designed model offers a real world tour of coffee-making traditions: making coffee is a real pleasure with this appliance. Its resolutely modern look will certainly not please all purists, but for us, it is a real success, with a quality/price ratio that is certainly positioned among the best on the market!
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 5 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 4 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 4 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 4 / 5 stars |
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Delonghi Expresso EC685.M Dedica Style 1300 W Espresso Machine : real barista coffee maker
The speed champion in the light weight category, this adorable coffee maker from the Italian brand Delonghi produces a delicious espresso in just 18 seconds. If it doesn’t have a display, it doesn’t need one: its settings using the main buttons are child’s play to use, our team loved its ergonomics when testing the machine. As for maintenance, nothing could be more classic: the removable parts can be washed with tap water, the dispenser must be cleaned with a vacuum cycle and the machine warns when descaling is necessary.
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 5 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 5 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 2.5 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 4.5 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 3 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 3 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 3 / 5 stars |
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Philips HD8650/01 Super Automatic Espresso Machine 2000 Series
Rather dedicated to espresso purists, the Philips automatic coffeemaker is exclusively designed for the preparation of espressos, from coffee beans whose type it analyzes to keep the right dosage for each one, just like that! Not very versatile, then, but so powerful that it is quickly forgiven for this detail. In terms of use, its efficiency is formidable: a simple push of a button is all it takes once the preferences have been saved in its programming. Its ultra-compact size allows it to be installed in all kitchen configurations, except the smallest ones where every surface is essential.
With its shredder, this machine necessarily consumes a little more than its competitors who do not have one, but nothing excessive: its appetite for energy is in the middle of the genre.
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 4 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 4.5 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 2 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 4 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 3 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 5 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 3 / 5 stars |
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Krups Espresso Automatic EA8108: expressly yours
Here again, the coffeemaker focuses on its specialty: pure and hard espresso, in single or double versions, with a steam nozzle to froth the milk to obtain an even smoother coffee. The coffee is excellent, the setting is very easy and we appreciate its design with textures and transparency. However, this model cannot really be called a muffler.
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 4 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 2 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 3 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 2 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 5 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 3 / 5 stars |
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Delonghi BCO260CD.1 Combined espresso coffee filter coffee maker 5 kg: multifunctional
This type of multifunctional coffee maker will satisfy everyone, from espresso lovers to filter coffee lovers. We like this Italian-American style, espresso on the left and filter coffee maker on the right. Ideal at work and at home with large coffee consumers, this DeLonghi coffeemaker is ultra-light for its size, and very economical to purchase for the level of performance offered.
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| The plusses | The – |
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Our opinion: the rated criteria
| Design | 3 / 5 stars |
| Ease of use | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Versatility | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Design quality, solidity | 3 / 5 stars |
| Awards | 4 / 5 stars |
| Consumption | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Cleaning | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Additional services (warranty, accessories…) | 3 / 5 stars |
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Our selection of the best espresso coffee makers in 2019: technical specifications
Beem 02051 Espresso Perfect
- Preparation: espresso (double and single), lungo, cappuccino, latte macchiatos, hot frothy milk
- Double spout
- Ideal for a first machine
- Integrated milk frother
- Pressure: 15 bars
- Operation: powder and pads (pods)
- Removable tank
- Water tank : 1.5 L
- Energy saving: automatic switch-off after 30 minutes without use
- Dimensions: 20.5 x 26 x 29.5 centimetres
- Weight: 4.06 kg
- Warranty: 2 years
- Materials: stainless steel
- Power: 1350 W
- Energy consumption: A-C
- Removable base at the bottom (mug OK)
Aicook 3 in 1 Italian coffee maker
- Multi-drink preparation: traditional espresso, Italian cappuccino and café au lait / milk drinks
- Multifunctional: Italian espresso machine + American coffee maker
- Milk frother with integrated steam nozzle
- Milk carafe
- Easy to maintain
- Digital display
- Single spout
- Fast heating
- Operation: ground coffee
- Assorted thermos included in the pack
- Pressure: 15 bars
- Self-priming system, simultaneous double thermostat management for water and steam
- Easy cleaning: removable device with removable base
- Dimensions: 27 x 26 x 33 centimeters
- Weight: 4 kg
- Power: 850 W
- Warranty: 2 years
- Water tank capacity: 1.2 L
- multi-layer stainless steel insulation
Delonghi Expresso EC685.M Dedica Style Expresso Machine 1300W
- Preparation: single or double espresso (18s), creamy cappuccino, Delonghi espresso
- Operation: ground coffee or soft pods
- Adjustable water thermostat
- Integrated water filter
- Easy to descale
- Easy to use
- Double spout
- Milk froth (panarello)
- Power: 1300 W
- Ultra compact
- Adjustable flow rate
- Configurable automatic stop function (9 min, 30 min or 3h)
- Dimensions: 33 x 14.9 x 30.3 centimetres
- Weight: 4.22 kg
- Stainless steel
- Cup warmer tray
- 1 year warranty
- Water tank capacity: 1 L
Philips HD8650/01 Super Automatic Espresso Machine 2000 Series
- Preparation: single or double espresso
- Automatic espresso coffee machine
- Silencer
- Pressure: 15 bars
- Coffee bean machine
- Collecting tray
- Double spout
- 100% ceramic mill
- Memo function customization of settings
- Programmable coffee maker
- Automatic adjustment of the dosage according to the type of coffee beans analysed by the machine
- Automatic rinsing / cleaning cycles and descaling program
- Thermoblock to keep coffee at the right temperature
- Power: 1500 W
- Water tank capacity: 1 L
- Grain tank: 180 g
- Adjustable coffee grind 5 levels
- Dimensions: 29.5 x 42 x 32.5 centimetres
- Weight: 7 kg
- Stainless steel, aluminium and plastic
- Warranty: 2 years
Krups Espresso Automatic EA8108
- Preparation: single or double espresso
- Automatic coffee maker
- Operation: percolation coffee bean grinding
- Grain bin
- Double spout
- Automatic cleaning program for residues and scale
- Intuitive manual control panel
- Cup warmer tray
- Thermoblock to keep coffee at the right temperature
- Water tank capacity: 1.7 L
- Adjustable coffee grind on 3 levels
- Water temperature adjustable on 3 levels
- Grain tank 260 g
- Dimensions: 33 x 24.5 x 36.5 centimetres
- Weight: 7.1 kg
- Warranty: 2 years
- Power: 1400 W
- Plastic and metal
Delonghi BCO260CD.1 Espresso coffee maker 5 kg
- Preparation: Espresso, Cappuccino, American filter coffee
- Operation: ground coffee and pods (filter coffee with filter and espresso holder)
- Simple to use
- Pressure: 15 bars
- Power: 1750 W
- Water tank capacity: 2.7 L (espresso side 1.3 L + coffee maker 1.4 L)
- Milk frother
- Cream system for a creamy coffee texture
- Dimensions: 35 x 38 x 24 cm
- Weight: 5 kg
- Cup warmer tray
- Removable water tank
- Anti-drip system
- Water filtration for filter coffee maker
- 2 year warranty
Best espresso coffee maker: why trust us?
Thank you for reading our comparison guide! Because we know that it is not always easy to make the best choice without trying, each of our recommendations is the result of a long analysis of consumer opinions on flagship and little-known products on the market, of price and technical characteristics comparisons, but also and above all of tests by a team of men and women constantly renewed in order to maintain real objectivity.
All the purchasing criteria are scrutinized for the realization of our comparative guides: budget, level of range, functional and practical aspects, design, pack and accessories, safety… All this in order to help you choose the products best suited to your needs, desires and constraints on a daily basis, at the best price!
