01.Introduction
Test results for 37 manual and semi-automatic espresso machines, priced from $159 to $1800.
Through our rigorous testing, we reveal which coffee machines:
- Have the best temperature performance
- Are the easiest to use
- Are the easiest to program
- Make the best-tasting coffee
On this page:
For more information on Coffee machines, see Kitchen.
A 30mL shot of espresso forms the base of any coffee. You should use fresh coffee beans and grind them just before use, which means you'll need a coffee grinder.
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A quick guide to getting the best espresso out of your new coffee machine.
In our taste test we used a popular and easy-to-access supermarket brand of coffee; however, if you experiment with premium fresh coffees you may find they give even better results. See our ground coffee test article to find which coffees were our best buys and green buys.
In this test five manual, three pod and two semi-automatic machines have been added to those models still available from our previous tests.
Manual machines - you'll need to cut the flow of coffee yourself.
Semi-automatic machines - the machine will automatically turn off once the pre-set amount of coffee is poured.
Pod machine - uses small capsules filled with enough coffee for a single shot. These machines are praised for their ease of use - you simply insert the capsule and the machine pierces it to allow hot water to flow through and make the shot.
Coffee Machine Models Tested
- Breville 800ES
- Breville BarVista BES200
- Breville Café Modena BES230 (A)
- Breville Café Roma ESP8C (A)
- Breville Café Venezia BES250
- Breville Fresca BES860
- # Breville Professional 800 Collection BES820
- # Breville The Dual Boiler BES900
- Bugatti Diva-B15
- # DeLonghi Icona ECO310.R
- # DeLonghi Lattissima+ EN520S
- DeLonghi Nespresso EN265CWAE Citiz and Milk
- DeLonghi Nespresso Essenza EN95R
- # Expobar Office SA
- # Expressi The Capsule Machine K-fee 11 1B04 + Milk frother
- Gaggia Baby Twin
- Gaggia Classic
- Ilve by Ascaso Dream MF Versatile
- Ilve by Ascaso DU 16 (A)
- Krups XP 5280
- # La Pavoni Eurobar EBR24A
- La Pavoni Stradivari SPL
- La Pavoni Stradivari STL
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Extra
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Premium
- # Map Bella 504
- Nuova Simonelli Oscar Professional
- Rancilio Miss Silvia
- Saeco Via Venezia Espresso
- Sunbeam Café Espresso EM3600
- Sunbeam Artista EM 5900 (A)
- Sunbeam Café Crema EM4800C (A)
- Sunbeam Café Espresso EM3800
- Sunbeam Café Latte EM5600
- Sunbeam Café Series Twin EM6910
- # Sunbeam Cafe Crema II EM4820
- # Sunbeam Piccolo Espresso EM2800
# Newly tested models.
(A) Discontinued, but may still be available in some stores.
How we test
Our expert tester scores the manual and semi-automatic coffee machines on:
- Coffee temperature
- Frothing milk for lattes and cappuccinos
- Ease of use
- Ease of programming
- Taste (rated in a blind taste test by three coffee experts).
To remove any factory smells and tastes, our tester, Peter Horvath pumped a litre of hot water through each of the machines, then made 12 cups of espresso coffee (not for testing), one after another.
- He checks how simple machines are to use, trying out controls, group handle/filter and how easy the machine is to refill with water and coffee.
- He measures temperature of coffee produced in each machine.
- He froths milk in a jug, looking for a fine, pourable texture.
- For the all-important taste test, we invite two coffee industry professionals, along with our home economist, to rate 30mL short blacks (espressos) from each machine in 'blind' tastings. We use a reference machine to check the consistency of our taste testers.
- We use single wall baskets where supplied (double wall if no single is supplied) and an ECM grinder to get the right grind.
Capsule machines for these machines our tester chooses the capsule flavor that best resembles an espresso shot. He tries most (if not all) of the flavors supplied for a particular machine before he chooses which capsule will be used for the test.
You can also get more information on how we test grinders and coffee roasters by following these links.
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