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 Breville Barista Touch is a well-rounded espresso maker designed for home users who want café-quality coffee without complicated steps. It features an integrated conical burr grinder with dose control, so you get fresh-ground coffee every time with the right amount for great flavor. The machine uses optimal water pressure with a smart pre-infusion system that gradually increases pressure, helping extract balanced flavors from the coffee. Thanks to a fast ThermoJet heating system, it reaches the perfect brewing temperature in about 3 seconds, saving you wait time.

Its digital temperature control (PID) ensures espresso is brewed at the right heat, improving consistency. The automatic steam wand froths milk to a microfoam texture, ideal for lattes or cappuccinos, and you can customize milk temperature and texture to suit your taste. The 67-ounce water reservoir is fairly large, so you won’t need to refill often.

A user-friendly touchscreen guides you through grinding, brewing, and frothing with just a few taps, and lets you save up to 8 custom coffee settings—a big plus for households with different preferences. Cleaning is easier with included tools like a cleaning kit and water filter, though as with many machines with integrated grinders and steam wands, some daily maintenance is still required. The machine is somewhat heavy and bulky, which may be a consideration if you have limited kitchen space. It also comes with a higher price point compared to basic espresso machines, reflecting its advanced features and build quality. This makes it an excellent choice for espresso lovers looking for an all-in-one, customizable experience with consistent results and minimal guesswork.

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.