10 Best Espresso Makers 2025 in the United States

The Breville Barista Express is a semi-automatic espresso machine designed to bring café-style coffee into your home with ease. It has an integrated conical burr grinder that grinds beans fresh for each shot, allowing you to control grind size and dose amount, which is great for customizing flavors based on your coffee beans. The machine uses a low-pressure pre-infusion system that gently starts the extraction, helping to pull balanced flavors from the grounds. It also features a digital temperature control system, ensuring the water is heated just right for optimal espresso taste. With a 67-ounce water reservoir, you can make multiple cups without frequent refills.

Milk frothing is manual via a powerful steam wand, giving you the flexibility to create microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos, although it may take some practice to perfect your frothing skills. Cleaning is made simpler with included tools like a cleaning disc and brush, but regular maintenance is still necessary given the machine's complexity and integrated grinder. Weighing around 22 pounds, it’s fairly bulky, so it needs a dedicated counter space.

While it doesn’t offer fully automatic milk frothing or app connectivity, this machine strikes a good balance between control and convenience, making it ideal for coffee lovers who want to learn barista skills without the hassle of professional equipment. The included accessories like a tamper, stainless steel milk jug, and dual filter baskets add value, and the machine is well-regarded by users for delivering quality espresso at home. Beginners should be ready to invest some time in mastering the settings and milk texturing to get the best results.

The Ninja Espresso Machine, Luxe Café Premier Series, is a versatile and feature-packed espresso maker that combines the functionalities of an espresso machine, drip coffee maker, and rapid cold brew. This multi-functional device caters well to coffee enthusiasts who appreciate variety, with its ability to brew different styles of espresso and coffee and its integrated grinder offering 25 grind settings for precise customization. The barista assist technology enhances the user experience by providing guided instructions for grind size and weight-based dosing, ensuring a consistent and high-quality brew without guesswork.

Additionally, the hands-free frother with preset programs for different milk textures simplifies the process of creating cappuccinos, lattes, and other milk-based drinks, which is a significant advantage for those who enjoy these beverages but may not have barista-level skills. The machine also includes built-in storage for accessories, aiding in organization and convenience.

On the downside, the Ninja Espresso Machine is relatively heavy at 32.4 pounds, which could be cumbersome for some users, especially in smaller kitchens. Also, its various components and functionalities might require a learning curve for users new to such comprehensive coffee machines. Despite these potential drawbacks, its dishwasher-safe parts and included cleaning tools contribute to ease of cleaning, making maintenance manageable. This espresso maker is particularly suitable for individuals or families who desire a wide range of coffee options and are willing to invest in a higher-end, multifunctional appliance.

The Breville Oracle Jet is a high-end semi-automatic espresso machine designed to deliver café-quality coffee at home. It uses a professional-style 58mm stainless steel portafilter and a powerful ThermoJet heating system that heats quickly and precisely controls temperature within 1 degree increments—key for great espresso extraction. The built-in Baratza burr grinder automatically grinds, doses, and tamps coffee with 45 grind settings, making it easy to get the right amount and grind size without extra steps.

Milk frothing is handled by the Auto Milk system, offering smooth microfoam with adjustable temperature and texture levels that work well for different milk types like dairy, soy, almond, and oat. This helps create rich lattes and cappuccinos with good foam consistency. The machine also features a swipe-and-select interface to easily choose different specialty drinks, including cold brew and cold espresso options that reduce acidity for a smoother taste. It has an auto clean function, which simplifies maintenance, though the size (18" x 18" x 19") and weight (27 pounds) mean it takes up a fair amount of kitchen space and may require some effort to move or clean thoroughly.

The Oracle Jet is somewhat pricey and more complex than basic models, but it suits coffee lovers who want control and convenience combined with professional-level quality. It fits well for those ready to invest in their home espresso experience and appreciate features like automatic grinding and milk frothing paired with precise temperature and pressure control.