Best beginner espresso machines compared

Breville Bambino Plus (BES500)

Good fit for: Milk-drink lovers who want a small, fast-heating machine with hands-free milk.

• ThermoJet heating, ready in about 3 seconds (manufacturer claim); PID temperature control
• 54 mm stainless portafilter, single- and dual-wall baskets; 18 g recommended dose
• Low-pressure pre-infusion; 15 bar pump
• Automatic steam wand with adjustable milk temperature and foam level
• 1.9 L (64 fl oz) tank; about 7.7 × 12.6 × 12.2 in
• Wirecutter calls it a former top pick and "still a solid machine", but found dialing in harder than its current picks

Sources: Breville BES500 · Breville manual (PDF) · Wirecutter: The Best Home Espresso Machine (updated Mar 17 2026)

Breville Bambino (BES450)

Good fit for: A first machine on a tighter budget, if you're happy to steam milk by hand.

• Same 54 mm portafilter platform and ThermoJet heating family as the Bambino Plus
• Manual steam wand (no automatic milk texturing or auto-purge)
• Smaller and lighter than the Plus; Wirecutter found its shots less consistent than the Plus

Sources: Breville BES450 · Wirecutter: The Best Home Espresso Machine (updated Mar 17 2026)

Breville Barista Express (BES870)

Good fit for: Beginners who want an all-in-one with a built-in grinder.

• Integrated conical burr grinder, 16 grind settings, adjustable dose
• 54 mm stainless portafilter; single- and dual-wall baskets
• Integrated tamper, Razor dose-trimming tool, pressure gauge
• 360° steam wand and dedicated hot-water outlet; about 15.9 × 13.1 × 12.4 in
• Wirecutter calls the built-in grinder "adequate"

Sources: Breville BES870 · Breville manual (PDF) · Wirecutter: The Best Home Espresso Machine (updated Mar 17 2026)

Gaggia Classic Pro E24

Good fit for: Hands-on learners who want a durable, repairable, upgradeable machine.

• 58 mm commercial-standard portafilter, so standard 58 mm baskets and tampers fit
• Lead-free brass boiler (3.5 oz) and brass group; 3-way solenoid valve
• 15 bar Ulka pump, OPV calibrated to 9 bar; commercial-style two-hole steam wand
• 72 oz tank; made in Italy; needs a separate grinder and (per Wirecutter) a better tamper
• Wirecutter's current budget pick (Classic Evo Pro)

Sources: Gaggia North America · Whole Latte Love · Gaggia (Italy) · Wirecutter: The Best Home Espresso Machine (updated Mar 17 2026)

De'Longhi Dedica (EC685)

Good fit for: Very small counters.

• About 149 mm (5.9 in) wide; Thermoblock heating; 15 bar pump
• 1.1 L tank; manual frother; accepts ground coffee or ESE pods
• Honest caveat: Wirecutter got muddy, under-extracted shots in its testing

Sources: De'Longhi EC685 · Wirecutter: The Best Home Espresso Machine (updated Mar 17 2026)

De'Longhi Stilosa (EC260BK)

Good fit for: Trying espresso at the lowest entry cost.

• Compact manual machine, 15 bar pump, stainless boiler, manual milk frother (per listing)
• Expect limits: pressurized-basket workflow; a separate grinder helps

Sources: Amazon listing (De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK)

CASABREWS CM5418

Good fit for: Budget buyers who want a pressure gauge and steam wand.

• Compact, steam wand, built-in pressure gauge, 34 oz tank (per listing)
• Listing advertises a "20-bar" pump; pump rating is not the same as brew pressure (about 9 bar is typical for espresso)

Sources: Amazon listing (CASABREWS CM5418)

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