10 Best Steam Espresso Machines 2025 in the United States

The Breville Barista Express BES870BSXL is a solid choice for anyone looking to make café-quality espresso at home. Its built-in conical burr grinder allows you to grind fresh coffee beans directly into the portafilter, which helps capture great flavor. The machine uses low-pressure pre-infusion to gradually build pressure, helping to extract balanced and flavorful espresso shots. Temperature control is precise thanks to its digital PID system, ensuring the water is just right for espresso extraction every time.

The steam wand is powerful and versatile, perfect for frothing milk to create microfoam, so you can make lattes and cappuccinos with good texture and even try latte art. The machine holds up well in build quality with stainless steel parts, though it weighs over 22 pounds, so it’s not the easiest to move around or store in tight spaces. The water tank and bean hopper have decent capacity for home use—about 67 ounces and half a pound respectively.

Cleaning requires some regular attention because of the integrated grinder and steam wand, but the included tools help manage this. The Barista Express also offers customization like grind size and shot volume, which is great if you like to experiment with your coffee. While it’s a semi-automatic machine and needs a bit of practice, it’s very user-friendly for beginners wanting to step up from basic espresso makers. This durable, all-in-one espresso machine balances convenience with quality, especially suited for coffee lovers who want to grind fresh beans and brew espresso without buying separate devices. Its size and cleaning needs might not suit everyone, but its performance and features make it a top pick in its category.

The De'Longhi Magnifica Plus is a fully automatic espresso machine that shines with its ease of use and customization. It offers 18 one-touch drink recipes, including espresso, cappuccino, and iced coffee, with options to adjust size and coffee strength, making it great for households with multiple users thanks to 4 user profiles. Its built-in conical burr grinder with 13 grind settings ensures fresh, evenly ground coffee, which helps bring out rich flavors. The machine’s LatteCrema system automatically steams and froths milk with three texture options, producing creamy milk foam without manual effort.

The 3.5-inch touchscreen display is intuitive, guiding users through drink customization smoothly. In terms of cleaning, many parts are removable and dishwasher-safe, reducing maintenance hassle. The machine’s size is moderate (about 17.5" deep and 9.5" wide), which fits well on most kitchen counters but might be bulky for very small spaces. Its build quality is solid, reflecting De'Longhi’s reputation for durability.

Although the machine offers many features and a touchscreen interface that might feel overwhelming to those looking for a simple device, it provides a versatile, mostly hands-off espresso experience with strong customization and easy cleaning. It is less ideal if you prefer manual control or need a compact, minimalist machine. The price could be higher compared to more basic models.

The Breville Barista Touch Impress is designed to make espresso making approachable and precise, especially for those who want barista-level results at home without the usual complexity. Its standout feature is the ThermoJet heating system, which heats up in just 3 seconds, so you don’t have to wait long to start brewing. The machine also offers excellent temperature control and pressure management, ensuring your espresso is extracted just right every time. The integrated grinder with 30 grind settings allows you to customize your coffee strength and flavor easily.

One of its biggest strengths is the assisted tamping system, which helps you press the coffee grounds evenly—a key step for good espresso. The touchscreen guides you step-by-step, making it simpler to use, even if you’re new to espresso machines. The automatic steam wand with the MilQ system can create silky microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos, including settings for alternative milks, which is great if you don’t use dairy.

The machine’s size and capacity suit most home kitchens, and it includes helpful accessories like various filter baskets and cleaning tools. The brushed stainless steel build feels durable and looks modern, though the 24-pound weight means it’s quite substantial and not very portable. Cleaning is manageable thanks to included tools and programmable maintenance alerts, but like most machines with integrated grinders and milk frothers, it requires regular upkeep to perform its best. For coffee enthusiasts who want control over their brew without the steep learning curve, the Barista Touch Impress is a strong contender. It might be more than casual coffee drinkers need, and some users report a learning period to master all functions. It is a higher-priced option compared to basic machines, but the convenience and quality it offers justify this for many.