Top 10 Espresso Machines – for all budgets

As a writer, I can spend several hours, if not days thinking about my next article. Sitting in the coziness of my house in front a warm fireplace, it is sometimes difficult to stay awake. Over the years, the effect of regular coffee would just not do it anymore, a few minutes in and I was falling again in the arms of Morpheus. This is when I discovered espresso. While many people associate espressos with a dark bitter shot of coffee, espresso is much more than that. A good espresso is actually surprising sweet, have a delightful and stimulating aroma, and a flavor similar to that of coffee beans that were freshly ground.

For years, I bought my coffee booster from an organic coffee shop down the street where I live. Perfect espresso each time. Then one day, I decided to invest in a small espresso machine. I budgeted 100$ for an espresso machine I found at the mall, thinking that an espresso was just an espresso. Boy was a wrong, this was a 100$ badly spent! After talking to one of my friend who used to be a barista for many years in a well-known coffee shop (the one where you see some stars for you bucks..), I realized that given the right machines and the right beans, I should be able to make an espresso to the level of a European bistro.

So I decided today, to share with you, caffeine lovers, a full blown guide of espresso machines.

My personal top 3 coffee makers

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I currently use the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine – New 2009 Model V3. The Rancilio Silvia is a real step up to almost any espresso machines. I have start learning brewing with a Breville, and I assure you that the Rancilio is far superior to my previous coffee machine. This espresso maker is still affordable and makes consistently excellent espresso. The Rancilio Silvia has a powerful brass broiler as well as a durable pump and now comes with a commercial grade steam wand. I highly recommend you to invest in a good coffee grinder (check out Top 10 Best Burr Coffee Grinders for some suggestions) for a better quality espresso. It is not cheap, but considering that you may easily spend over 900$ in bad coffee at Starbucks, it is an excellent investment!

I personally don’t own a Gaggia 90951 Platinum Vision Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Island yet, my dad, who is a real espresso veteran, upgraded to this little baby a little while ago and I swear, this is THE expresso machine of the century (of the millenium)! This beautiful machine combines elegance, high technology and ease to use with a touch of funniness. Designed by Italy (Italy is home to the espresso), this machine was made for speed and quality. At almost $2000, this is obviously not a machine for everyone. However, even though the machine itself may look pricey, remember that with a latte every day, the machine will actually quickly pay for itself!

If you are looking for affordability, I highly recommend the Nespresso C180W Le Cube Automatic Espresso Machine. Nespresso are great machines, and offer a balanced cost. Just like all other Nespresso models, this machine has a solid feel to it and makes an excellent creamy and rich espresso, thick with a creamy top layer. The overflow is huge, which I really like. Overall an excellent quality/price. I have to say that you actually can’t go wrong with a Nespresso, unlike some Breville or Cuisinart, which can be a hit or miss, Nespresso and consistently good.

But espresso machines comes in many sizes and many prices, so I put a little list of the best rated machines for you.

Top 10 espresso machines

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I hope my suggestions will help you find the perfect espresso maker. And remember that in addition to a good espresso maker, it is important to also get a good coffee grinder (if not already included in the machine).

Hazel, writer for Consumer Top 10.