Best espresso machines, ranked by critic score
9 ranked by critic score · 74 professional reviews
Home espresso machines, from automatic beginner models to manual machines for tinkerers.
Image: BrevilleBreville Barista Pro
7 professional reviewers tested the Breville Barista Pro, and 7 recommend it. Most praised: fast heat-up and easy to use. Most common complaint: grinder.
5 of these 7 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.
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- 1Breville Barista ProBest overall7 reviews86Image: Breville
- 2Breville Bambino PlusBest for beginners21 reviews84
Image: Breville - 3Breville Barista ExpressWith a built-in grinder9 reviews84
Image: Breville - 4Breville Barista Express ImpressGuided tamping, built-in grinder7 reviews83
Image: Breville - 5Breville Oracle JetBroad agreement6 reviews83
Image: Breville - 6Rancilio SilviaBest for hobbyists who like to tinker7 reviews80
Image: Rancilio - 7De'Longhi StilosaBest for beginners6 reviews79
Image: De'Longhi - 8Gaggia Classic Evo ProBest For tinkerers6 reviews78
Image: Gaggia - 9Casabrews CM5418Critics split5 reviews71
Image: Casabrews
The best espresso machine, according to professional reviewers, is the Breville Barista Pro: critic score 86 out of 100 from 7 reviews, 7 of them positive. Most praised: fast heat-up and easy to use. Most common complaint: grinder.
Common questions
What is the best espresso machine?
The Breville Barista Pro, with a critic score of 86 from 7 professional reviews. Most praised: fast heat-up and easy to use. Most common complaint: grinder.
Breville Barista Pro vs Breville Bambino Plus: which is better?
Critics score the Breville Barista Pro 86 and the Breville Bambino Plus 84. We list the Breville Bambino Plus under “Best for beginners”. Its main drawback: no grinder, and the price has gone up.
Which espresso machines do critics disagree on?
The De'Longhi Stilosa (scores from 44 to 89); The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (scores from 53 to 89); The Casabrews CM5418 (scores from 50 to 85).