There are a number of different espresso machines that you can buy and the best one for you will depend largely on the type of drink that you intend to make with it.
This post will show you the 5 best espresso machines to use to make flat white with.
In this post, semi-automatic, automatic and pod-style espresso machines are recommended.
Semi-automatic machines require that you get the beans, grind them, tamp them and that you time the shot to make the espresso. The advantage of doing it this way is that it gives you full control over the taste of the espresso. However, it requires the most amount of effort of the three options.
Automatic espresso machines will grind the beans and make the espresso for you all that you need to do is to put coffee beans into the machine. Automatic espresso machines allow you to make fresh-tasting espresso without having to do much yourself and they do still give you a lot of control over the way that the espresso is made.
To make espresso using a pod-style espresso machine you just need to fill the machine with water, put a pod in the machine and to press a button. They are quick and easy to use but give you the least amount of control over the espresso.
| Machine | Type | Features |
| Breville Barista Express on Amazon | Semi-automatic | Built-in grinder, espresso size selector, grind size selector, milk frother, hot water dispenser, automatic shutoff, drip tray, tamper included, portafilter included |
| DeLonghi Magnifica on Amazon | Automatic | Milk frother, Automatic bean grinder, 60 oz water reservoir, Auto-shutoff |
| VertuoPlus on Amazon | Pod-style | Makes: Large Coffee (14 oz), Coffee (8oz), Gran Lungo (5 oz), Double Espresso (2.7 oz), Espresso (1.35 oz) Uses VertuoLine pods, Can be bought with Aeroccino milk frother |
| Keurig K-Cafe on Amazon | Pod-style | Makes sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz Features automatic milk frother to make latte, cappuccino or flat white with Uses k-pods |
| DeLonghi Dedica on Amazon | Semi-automatic | Milk frother, tamper included, portafilter included, compact design, single or double size options, pod compatible |
These machines have been selected as the most recommended espresso machines to make flat white with due to the quality and reliability that they have shown with their users.
Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express is a very popular espresso machine that has received many great reviews amongst its users.
It is a semi-automatic espresso machine meaning that you will need to tamp the grind and to time the shot.
However, you will not need to grind the coffee beans because the machine features an automatic grinder that allows you to adjust the fineness of the grind that you want. The grinder has a capacity of 8 ounces so you shouldn’t need to fill it up too often.
To get the grind out of the machine you select the amount of grind that you want, push onto a level using the portafilter that comes with the machine and then the grind will fall out onto the lever. You can then use the provided tamper to tamp it, put the portafilter back into the machine and then press a button to make the espresso.
The Breville Barista Express also comes with a milk frother so you will be able to use the machine to make milk-based espresso drinks such as latte, cappuccino or flat white.
It also comes with a hot water dispenser that you could use to make Americano with if you want to.
Additionally, the water reservoir is removable and can hold up to 67 ounces of water so you shouldn’t need to fill it up regularly.
You can watch the video below to see a video review of the Breville Barista Express.
If you’re interested in getting the Breville Barista Express then you can find it here.
DeLonghi Magnifica
The DeLonghi Magnifica is an upgrade on a previous machine that proved to be very popular.
It is an automatic espresso machine. This means that it will grind the beans and make the espresso for you all you have to do is to put the beans in the machine and select the type of espresso that you want.
Automatic machines give you a bit less control over the taste of the espresso compared to semi-automatic machines. However, the DeLonghi Magnifica allows you to control the strength of the espresso shot and the amount of water that will be used to make it so you should still be able to adjust the espresso to your taste.
An advantage that the automatic machines have over pod-style machines is that since you need to put the coffee beans into the machine to make the espresso it should mean that it will have a fresher taste.
The DeLonghi Magnifica also comes with a milk frother that you can use to make flat white with.
The machine also features a removable drip tray that will let you know when it is full via a latch that will float to the top. It also has a removable water reservoir that can hold up to 67 ounces of water so it shouldn’t require you to fill it up a lot.
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.
Nespresso VertuoPlus
The Nespresso VertuoPlus is one of the newer machines on offer from Nespresso.
It is a pod-style machine meaning that, to make espresso using it, you just need to fill the machine with water, put a pod into the machine and to press a button.
It also uses pods from the VertuoLine. This means that it will gather information from the barcodes on the pods about the strength and length of the espresso. However, the pods are only sold be Nespresso so they will be slightly more expensive than other types of pods.
The VertuoPlus allows for you to make up to 5 different espresso sizes which are:
- Large Coffee (14 oz),
- Coffee (8oz),
- Gran Lungo (5 oz),
- Double Espresso (2.7 oz),
- Espresso (1.35 oz)
You can also get it with an Aeroccino milk frother that you can use to make flat white with.
You can watch the video below to see a video review of the Nespresso VertuoPlus.
You can also find the Nespresso VertuoPlus here on Amazon.
Keurig K-Cafe
The Keurig K-Cafe is one of the most popular pod-style espresso machines available.
It is a pod-style machine that uses k-pods which are widely available, have many flavors to choose from and can be bought from third-party sellers. This means that the Keurig K-Cafe should be one of the cheapest espresso machines to maintain.
It features an automatic milk frother that you can use to make cappuccino, latte, flat white or other milk-based espresso drinks. To use it you put milk into the milk frother, put a pod in the machine and make the espresso, steam the milk then pour it into the espresso.
The Keurig K-Cafe also allows you to make a number of other coffee sizes which are 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz. This means that you should be able to get full use out of the machine.
The Keurig K-Cafe is medium-sized so it should be able to fit on your workspace without taking up too much space.
You can watch a video review of the Keurig K-Cafe below.
You can find the Keurig K-Cafe here on Amazon.
DeLonghi Dedica
The DeLonghi Dedica is a compact espresso machine that has been on offer for a few years now.
It has proven to be a reliable machine that will make good quality espresso especially if you are on a budget.
It is a semi-automatic machine so you will be the one to grind and tamp the beans using the portafilter and tamper that comes with the machine and to time the shot.
It is made mostly from stainless steel which is normally only found with models at a higher price point.
It comes with a milk frother that you can use to make flat white or other milk-based espresso drinks.
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.
