There are a number of different espresso machines available and choosing between them can be difficult.

This post will show you five of the best espresso machines that you can buy that cost less than $600.

There are two types of espresso machines that get recommended in this post and they are semi-automatic and automatic espresso machines.

The difference between the two is that an automatic espresso machine will do everything for you all you need to do is to put the beans into the machine and it will do the rest. Whereas, with Semi-automatic machines you are the one that determines when the shot is done and you will usually also need to grind and tamp the coffee.

Espresso
Machine
Type Key Features
Breville Barista Express
on Amazon
Semi-automaticBuilt-in grinder,
espresso size selector,
grind size selector,
milk frother,
hot water dispenser,
automatic shutoff,
drip tray,
tamper included,
portafilter included,
Cuisinart Programmable
Espresso maker
on Amazon
Semi-AutomaticStainless steel,
2 built-in espresso
sizes,
programmable
espresso sizes,
removable drip tray,
milk frother,
3 filter sizes,
tamper included,
portafilter included,
pod compatible
DeLonghi Magnifica
on Amazon
AutomaticMilk frother,
Automatic bean
grinder,
60 oz water reservoir,
Auto-shutoff
DeLonghi Dedica
on Amazon
Semi-AutomaticMilk frother,
tamper included,
portafilter included,
compact design,
single or double
size options,
pod compatible
Cuisinart Espresso MakerSemi-automaticMilk frother,
pod compatible,
removable drip tray,
tamper included,
53 ounce water
reservoir,
portafilter included

These espresso machines are the top picks because of how well they have been received among their users and how reliable they have proven to be so far.

Breville Barista Express

The Breville Barista Express is one of the most popular espresso machines that you can get and it has been very well received amongst its users.

It is a semi-automatic machine so you will be the one that controls the length of the espresso shot and to tamp the grind.

However, it comes with a built-in automatic grinder, with a capacity of 8 oz, that lets you select the fineness of the grind. This means that you won’t need to buy a grinder separately and all you need to do is to put the beans into the machine, select the grind fineness and select the amount of grind to use.

To get the grind out of the machine you select the settings that you want and you push a latch with the portafilter that comes with the machine and then the grind will fall out.

You then tamp the grind using the given tamper and put the portafilter back into the machine and then press the espresso size button to create the espresso.

It also comes with a milk steamer so you will be able to make latte, cappuccino, macchiato and other milk-based espresso drinks using the machine.

It also has a hot water dispenser which you could use to make Americano or long black espresso if you want to.

The water reservoir can hold up to 67 ounces of water and the removable drip tray will let you know when it is full with a latch that will float up to the top.

You can watch the video review to see the Breville Barista Express in action.

If you’re interested in getting the Breville Barister Express then you can find it here on Amazon.

Cuisinart Programmable Espresso maker

The Cuisinart Programmable Espresso maker has been around for a while now and it has proven to be a very reliable and consistent espresso maker.

It is a semi-automatic espresso maker. This means that you’ll need to grind the beans, tamp them and set the length of the espresso. The benefit of doing this is that you will have full control over the strength of the espresso. If you want a machine that will do it all for you then consider getting the DeLonghi Magnifica.

The body of the machine is made from stainless steel which you’ll only typically find in machines at higher price ranges.

It features a removable water reservoir that can hold up to 69 ounces of water so you shouldn’t need to fill it up too often. It also features a removable drip tray that can go into the dishwasher.

The machine has two pre-installed espresso size buttons that allow you to make espresso with a size of either 1.5 ounces or 3 ounces. However, you can also program the machine to make an espresso of the size of your choosing.

The machine comes with three espresso filter sizes which are a two cup size, a single cup size and a pod cup where you can use pods to make the espresso.

The machine also comes with a portafilter and a coffee scoop that also has a tamper on the other end.

It also comes with a milk steamer that you can use to make latte, cappuccino or other milk-based espresso drinks.

If you’re interested in checking out the Cuisinart Programmable Espresso maker you can find it here on Amazon.

DeLonghi Magnifica

The DeLonghi Magnifica is an upgrade on a previous machine that proved to very successful and it was well received amongst its users.

The DeLonghi Magnifica is an automatic espresso machine. This means that it will grind and tamp the beans for you as well as actually make the espresso. All you have to do is to put coffee beans into the machine, fill the water reservoir with water and press a button for the espresso that you want.

It comes with an automatic grinder, with a capacity of 7 ounces, that allows you to control the fineness of the grind and the amount of grind to use.

It features a dial that allows you to control the amount of water that you want in the espresso shot. This means that if you like ristretto then you will be able to make it with this machine and if you like long espresso or even Americano then that will also be an option for you.

It has a removable drip tray that will let you know when it is full via a floating device that will float up when the tray is full.

The machine comes with a milk steamer that you can use to make latte, cappuccino or other milk-based drinks with. It also features a hot water function that you can use to make Americano or long black if you want to.

The water reservoir that comes with the machine is removable and can contain up to 80 ounces of water which should mean that you will not need to refill it very often.

You can watch the video below to see a video review of the machine and to see how to make espresso using the machine.

You can find the DeLonghi Magnifica here on Amazon.

DeLonghi Dedica

The DeLonghi Dedica is a compact and reliable espresso machine that has been around for a few years now.

It is a semi-automatic machine so you’ll be the one to grind the beans, tamp them and time the shot. The advantage of this is that you will be able to control the strength of the espresso more easily. Of course, it will also mean that you will have to do some of the work, if you don’t want to do any then I would recommend the DeLonghi Magnifica that’s talked about above.

The DeLonghi Dedica comes with a tamper and a portafilter designed to be used with the machine. It also features espresso filters that are espresso pod compatible.

It comes with a milk frother which you can use to make latte, cappuccino or other milk-based espresso drinks with.

The DeLonghi Dedica is also made from stainless steel which is normally only found in espresso machines at a higher price range.

You can watch the video below to see a review after having been using the DeLonghi Dedica for 6 months.

You can find the DeLonghi Dedica here on Amazon.

Cuisinart Espresso Maker

The Cuisinart Espresso Maker is another espresso machine that has been around for a number of years now and it has proven to be a reliable machine at a low price point.

It is a semi-automatic machine so you will need to grind and tamp the beans and to time the shot.

It comes with a 53-ounce water reservoir, a portafilter and a tamper. It also comes with filters to use with the portafilter one of which will allow you to use pods to make the espresso with. It also comes with a milk frother that you can use to make latte and cappuccino.

You can watch the video below to see more about the Cuisinart Espresso Maker.

You can find the Cuisinart Espresso Maker here.

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