If you’re thinking of getting an espresso machine but you need it to be quiet then you’re probably wondering whether or not espresso machines are loud.

So, are espresso machines loud? While the espresso machine is making the espresso it is not usually loud. However, grinders can be loud when grinding the coffee beans and the milk steamer can make a loud high-pitched noise when steaming the milk.

Stopping the milk steamer from making a loud noise can be difficult but the noise doesn’t last for long. However, there are some things that you can do to reduce the noise of the machine itself and the grinder.

The Loudness of different types of espresso machines

There are a number of different types of espresso machines that you can get and they can all making different noises and different amounts of noise.

Semi-automatic

Semi-automatic machines will require that you grind and tamp the coffee beans and to time the espresso shot to make the espresso.

Semi-automatic espresso machines will normally make the most amount of noise out of the three machines. However, the noise is not usually loud and it’s normally more of a small humming sound that doesn’t last for long.

The semi-automatic espresso machine that I would most recommend would be the Breville Barista Express that you can find here on Amazon. It features an automatic grinder so you won’t need to grind the beans yourself.

You can watch the video below to see a review of it and if you skip to 6:20 you can hear the noises made by the machine when the reviewer makes a latte using the machine.

Automatic

Automatic espresso machines will grind, tamp and make the espresso entirely for you all you need to do is to fill the machine up with water and to put coffee beans into it every so often.

Automatic machines can be loud while they are making the espresso since they will grind the beans themselves. However, they will generally be quieter compared to a traditional grinder since the grinder will be contained inside of the machine.

The milk frothers that they come with will also generally be quite loud when using them to steam the milk.

You can watch the video below to see a review of the DeLonghi Magnifica on Amazon which is the automatic machine that I would recommend the most. If you skip to 5 minutes then you can listen to the noise it makes when making a latte.

Pod-style

To make espresso using a pod-style espresso machine you just need to fill it up with water every once in a while and to put a pod into the machine and then to press a button to make the espresso.

Pod-style espresso machines will generally be the quietest out of the three machines. Additionally, if you get one with an automatic milk steamer then it will be even quieter since the automatic milk steamers won’t normally be as loud as the manual ones you get with traditional espresso machines.

The pod-style espresso machine that I would recommend would be the Keurig K-Cafe on Amazon which features an automatic milk steamer.

You can watch the video below to hear how loud it is when making an espresso and when steaming the milk.

How to make espresso machines quieter

Making the machine itself be quieter can be quite difficult to do. The most effective option would be to get one that is quiet from the start such as the Keurig K-Cafe on Amazon.

However, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the noise or to avoid the noise.

Since the milk steamer will generally be the loudest part of the machine one option would be not to use it when you don’t want to make a lot of noise.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to make cappuccino, latte or other milk-based espresso drinks since you can still heat the milk up another way. One option would be to fill the milk jar with the amount of milk you want, shake the jar with a lid covering it and then put it in the microwave.

You could also get a machine, such as the Keurig K-Cafe on Amazon, that has an automatic milk frother. Machines with automatic milk frothers don’t tend to make the high-pitched squeaking sound that you get from manual milk steamers.

The next thing that you can do is to make sure that there are not any loose parts in the espresso machine. If the machine contains loose parts then they will vibrate when the machine is turned on and cause the machine to be noisier.

When using a semi-automatic or an automatic machine to make espresso it is usually actually the grinder that is the loudest part. The grinder isn’t normally very loud but it is a bit louder than something like a microwave for instance.

One option you have is to grind the beans when it is ok to be loud and then to make the espresso later on.

Another option would be to just buy the coffee beans pre-ground so that you don’t need to grind them at all. However, this will give you a bit less control over the strength of the espresso since the grind size can impact its strength.

Alternatively, you could use a hand grinder instead. Hand grinders won’t be nearly as loud as automatic grinders and shouldn’t be too much of a chore if you only plan on using it once or twice a day but if you plan on making lots of espressos then it would likely become annoying.

You could also use something to dampen the noise such as the Dynamat which works by reducing the amount that the machine is able to vibrate which will reduce how much noise it makes.

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