If you want to make a variety of espresso drinks at home with ease, you’ll need a $1,000 budget. Investing a full grand affords an espresso machine that brews great espresso, includes a built-in grinder, and comes with other features or is even fully automatic.
You can buy a machine to last years without any complaints. I’ve tested a fair number of espresso machines and narrowed the list to the seven best espresso machines under $1,000. My top choice is Breville Barista Touch because of its automatic steam wand and built-in grinder.
UPDATE: since this article was originally published, the price of the Barista Touch has increased to above $1,000 (thanks, inflation).
The list includes different options, including excellent super-automatic espresso machines. Lastly, I’ll include a buying guide, so you’ll have all the necessary info to choose the best espresso machine for you.
Top Seven Espresso Machines Under $1,000
| Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
| Check First In CoffeeCheck Seattle Coffee Gear | |
Top Pick  |
| Check Seattle Coffee GearCheck Breville | |
Runner Up  |
| Check Seattle Coffee GearCheck Breville | |
 |
| Check Amazon | |
Best Super Automatic  |
| Check Seattle Coffee Gear | |
 |
| Check Amazon | |
 |
| Check Flair Espresso |
1. Rancilio Silvia
Rancilio Silvia highlights:
- Semi-automatic espresso machine
- 58mm portafilter
- Single boiler with connected group head for temperature stability
- Professional steaming knob controls pressure
Rancilio Silvia has been around for more than 20 years, and it’s one of the most popular home espresso machines. This device will last for years and produce quality espresso.
The build is impressive — it’s made of iron frame and stainless steel panels. There’s a brass boil burner that’s lead-free and thermal wrapped. Moreover, you can adjust the brew pressure on Silvia via the OPV valve. The adjustable pressure gives you a method to dial in your espresso in a way other machines cannot.
The heating system stands out the Silvia. This is a single boiler espresso machine, and it can hold 12 oz, which is one of the largest available on the market for home espresso machines. That means you’ll have plenty of perfectly heated water, so you get nice extraction when pulling shots.
This coffee machine also comes with a commercial-grade group head, so the heat remains stable during the brewing process, which ensures full extraction. It also comes with a 58mm Rancilio patented portafilter. The portafilter is ergonomic, and it helps achieve maximum extraction, so you get a flavorful espresso.
Because this is a single boiler device, you can’t brew and steam simultaneously. However, the wait time between these actions is short.
One drawback of the Rancilio Silva boiler size is it takes around 10-15 minutes to heat up initially, which is longer than most machines and causes a big delay in starting your morning.
Silvia also has a flexible stainless-steel steamer. You have a full range of motion and can produce steamed milk in different milk containers. The steamer has a commercial-grade steam knob, and you can choose between several power adjustments. The steam wand doubles as a hot water dispenser, so you can also make tea and hot chocolate.
Who is it for? Rancilio Silvia is a perfect espresso machine if you’re looking for a long-term investment, as it’s built to last for years. It has a professional steam wand for latte art, but requires some work on the user’s part, so there’s a learning curve.
Pros
Large single boiler system for good temperature control
58mm portafilter
2L water tank
Commercial grade group head
Cons
No grinder
Long heat up time
No PID controller
2. Breville Barista Pro
Breville Barista Pro highlights:
- Semi-automatic espresso machine
- Thermojet heating system
- Integrated conical burr grinder
- High-pressure steam wand
Breville Barista Pro is my next pick for the best espresso machines under $1000. Barista Pro has an impressive ThermoJet heating system that heats water via internal pipes in an aluminum block. The water reaches 190o F in three seconds, which is amazingly fast, especially seeing as many other espresso machines need at least a minute or more.
However, one drawback of Pro’s heating system is that you must flush water through the brew head to preheat. This means the start time is a little slower but still quite fast, especially if you need to pull multiple shots.
A stable temperature is achieved thanks to the PID. PID is a digital temperature control system that ensures the water temperature remains stable, so you can have consistent extraction every time.
Barista Pro also has low-pressure pre-infusion, which pushes water through the beans at a lower temperature. This hydrates the coffee grounds, and the puck is in a perfect state for extraction. You get a flavorful espresso with a rich crema.
Another feature that I loved on Barista Pro is the grinder. This espresso machine comes with an integrated conical burr grinder with 30 settings. The extra settings provide more flexibility to dial in the espresso and get the right grind size for your beans. It’s also easy to use with a side dial.
Place the portafilter under the grinder, tap it in, and you’ll get a preset amount of grinds. There’s less mess with the holder, and eventually, you’ll find the grind time that gets the exact weight you need, which also saves time from using a scale.
The Barista Pro is easy to use. There is an LCD on the front panel where you can program the water temperature, shot volume, and pre-infusion time for one and two-cup sizes.
Lastly, the milk wand has four holes instead of the standard one hole and easily achieves high pressure, which means it can create a good microfoam in about 30 seconds. You can even work on your latte art.
Who is it for? Breville Barista Pro is a good choice for both beginners and professional baristas. It’s easy to start pulling great shots while leaving room to learn and perfect the craft . But, this isn’t the best choice if you already have a grinder. You’ll end up paying for a feature you already have.
Check out our full Breville Barista Pro review.
Pros
Built-in grinder with 30 settings
Thermojet heating system has 3 seconds heat up time
Four-hole steam wand creates good microfoam
PID and pre-infusion guarantee optimum extraction
Cons
You have to flush the brew head before every shot
No cup warmer tray
3. Breville Barista Touch
Breville Barista Touch highlights:
- Semi-automatic espresso machine
- Thermojet heating system
- Integrated conical burr grinder
- Automatic steam wand
Here’s another Breville device: Barista Touch. The Touch also has Breville’s most advanced Thermojet heating system, and it’s ready to brew in only 3 seconds. I had to wait only one minute from the time I pressed the power button until I had my first sip of coffee, which is one of the fastest brewing times on the market.
The Barista Touch has a major convenience option over most other machines: a touchscreen display. You can see info about grinding time, control the grind settings, choose espresso strength, milk temperature, and brew eight different drinks.
You can grind directly into the portafilter and set a grind time like the Barista Pro, which also means less of a mess.
You can also save your drink preferences under specific names, each with its own image. Apart from these eight drinks, there are five pre-programmed drinks: espresso, Americano, latte, cappuccino, and flat white. There’s also a hot water dispenser, so the overall drink choice is impressive.
Barista Touch comes with a PID, which ensures the temperature stays stable and doesn’t jump up and down, providing consistent extraction and flavorful espresso. The low-pressure pre-infusion allows the coffee to bloom before extracting flavors at nine bars of pressure.
Another similarity with the Barista Pro is the integrated burr grinder with 30 settings. You’ll have control over the grind size for optimum extraction of flavors and aromas.
The last big upgrade on the Barista Touch is the steam wand, which is an automatic wand. The drip tray has a built-in temperature sensor that can register when the milk has reached the right temperature. You can walk away once you’ve set the milk container and started the steaming.
The wand has 10 texture settings, ranging from basic heated milk to dense, airy cappuccino foam. When you lift the wand and remove the jug, the Touch sprays out some water to clean the wand. Pretty neat.
Who is it for? Breville Barista Touch is a great choice if you want an espresso machine with plenty of drink options. It’s also good if you want a machine that’s easy to use and has automatic features but still gives you control over the brewing process.
Check out our Breville Barista Pro vs. Touch comparison.
Pros
Automatic milk wand
Easy touch screen with customization options
Brews eight different drinks
Built-in grinder
Cons
No simultaneous steaming and brewing
4. DeLonghi ESAM 3300
DeLonghi ESAM 3300 highlights:
- Super-automatic espresso machine
- Panarello steam wand
- Front-loading system
- Double boiler espresso machine
DeLonghi ESAM3300 is one of the best super-automatic espresso machines under $1000. It has a front-loading system, which makes it very easy to use. You can access the water tank, drip tray, and coffee grounds container from the front. The spout height is also adjustable, so you can fit cups of different sizes.
Another feature that makes it easy to use is the removable brew head. You can clean the brew head more thoroughly, and it’s easier to replace in case it breaks down.
This espresso machine also has a built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder with 13 settings. However, ESAM3300 struggles to pull a shot with the last two settings (the pump can’t push water through very finely ground coffee beans), so you won’t use them much in reality.
You’ll need coarser coffee grounds. Another thing I noticed is that the grinder is very loud, which isn’t ideal for late at night, or first thing in the morning.
ESAM3300 has dual stainless steel thermoblock boilers, which means there’s a separate boiler for both steaming and brewing. However, you won’t be able to do both actions simultaneously. But the machine comes with an Instant Reheat feature, so you can perform the actions one after the other with almost no wait time.
The steam wand is a manual Panarello that can rotate to 180 degrees. Panarello has a small air intake hole that sucks in air and releases it into the milk.
You can adjust the foaming and steaming levels, and you can detach the plastic sheath and use a stainless steel pipe to get microfoam for lattes. DeLonghi also has a patented cappuccino system, which creates rich, creamy froth.
Who is it for? This is a good entry into the world of super-automatic machines. It’s a good option if you don’t want to do all the work yourself (measure, grind, and tamp). It’s not a good choice if you want to practice latte art or want a higher-quality build and high-tech features.
Check out our full DeLonghi ESAM3300 review.
Pros
Cup warmer tray
Easy to use
No wait time between steaming and brewing
Cons
Plastic build
Loud grinder
Weak milk frother
5. Philips 3200 LatteGo
Philips 3200 LatteGo highlights:
- Super-automatic espresso machine
- AquaClean filter
- Automatic milk frother
- Ceramic grinder
If you want a fully automatic espresso machine under $1000, Philips 3200 LatteGo is one of the best. This espresso machine is easy to use. It also has a front-loading system and plenty of removable parts (water tank, drip tray, coffee puck container), so it’s easy to empty and maintain.
What sets it apart is the AquaClean filter located in the water tank. If you brew 2 cups a day, you’ll only have to descale the espresso machine after 5,000 cups, which is about seven years.
Philips 3200 LatteGo can brew five different kinds of espresso drinks, plus hot water. There’s an intuitive touchscreen display where you can choose what drink you want, along with the strength and volume.
The LatteGo milk system is automatic milk frothing, which means you can get frothed or steamed milk with a press of a button. It’s easy to use as the LatteGo system is one container that you fill with milk and clip to the machine.
Then, choose the milk froth level with your beverage, and push a button to start frothing. The device will mix air and milk at high speed in the frothing chamber, and once it’s done, the milk is automatically poured into your cup.
The milk holder has notches that tell you how much milk to pour. I also liked that there aren’t any tubes where the milk can get stuck and spoil. The cleaning is extremely easy. All you have to do is detach the milk container and rinse it underwater.
However, there are some things I didn’t like about the frothing system. The lid is too flimsy and flies off easily. More importantly, the LatteGo system only creates thick and creamy foam. There’s no thin microfoam for lattes, which also means no way to work on latte art.
LatteGo 3200 comes with a ceramic flat burr grinder. Ceramic grinders are among the best. They are extremely precise and last for years. You can choose between 12 grind sizes and customize your shot — increase the strength and lower water volume.
Who is it for? If you’re looking for a super-automatic espresso machine with an automatic frother and a high-quality grinder, this is the one.
Check out our full Philips 3200 LatteGo review.
Pros
User-friendly and good for beginner baristas
Descaling necessary after 5,000 cups
High-quality ceramic grinder
Easy maintenance
Cons
No option to make latte art
Milk frother only crates dense foam
Loud grinder
6. Gaggia Anima Prestige
Gaggia Anima Prestige highlights:
- Super-automatic espresso machine
- Cappuccinatore milk frothing system
- Ceramic grinder
- Brews six drinks
My last pick for the best espresso machines under $1,000 is Gaggia Anima Prestige. Gaggia has been manufacturing and improving Anima for years, so it’s a top-notch device.
You can brew six drinks with Anima Prestige and modify each of them: choose between five levels of coffee strength and three levels of temperature, and adjust milk length when you want a milk-based drink. There’s also a hot water dispenser when you want tea.
Anima Prestige has a Milk Circuit Quick Clean. This espresso machine has an automatic milk frother that cleans automatically, which means good hygiene and less work for you.
There’s also a ceramic burr grinder with five settings, which can grind coffee beans for a perfect espresso.
The water reservoir is 60 oz, so you can brew several drinks without having to refill. There’s also a drip tray that holds up to 24 oz, so you don’t have to empty it all the time. The coffee container puck can hold 15 used pucks. This could be the best option if you plan to use it as a home espresso machine in a large coffee-drinking household or a workplace.
Gaggia Prestige lets you know when the water is low and when to add coffee beans to the hopper, so there’s minimal thinking and work required on your part.
One thing to note is that the water reservoir and bean hopper are top-loading, so you’ll have to keep it somewhere with a lot of vertical space.
Finally, this espresso machine has one boiler, which means no simultaneous brewing and steaming.
Who is it for? This is a great choice if you want a perfect espresso, latte, or cappuccino with a press of a button. It’s also a good choice if you don’t want to worry about cleaning the machine. It’s 100% automated, and there’s little input needed.
Check out our list of best Gaggia espresso machines.
Pros
Programmable drink options
Automatic milk frothing
Has a milk carriage and a steam wand
Self-cleaning function
Cons
One boiler
Top loading
Large footprint
7. Flair 58
Flair 58 highlights:
- Manual espresso machine
- Brew head heating system
- 58 mm portafilter
Here’s something completely different from the semi and automatic machines I mentioned above: a manual espresso machine. It’s called a manual, but in reality, it’s more of a semi-automatic.
What’s great about a manual machine like the Flair 58 is you get full control over the espresso, including water temperature and pressure. You can make sure to generate nine bars of pressure (many others are over-pressured) which leads to an even extraction and flavor.
The downside of manual machines is the work required, including preheating the brew head. But not with Flair 58. It has an electronic temperature control system, which ensures thermal control and speedier brewing. However, this system only heats the brew head, not the water, so you’ll need a kettle. Flair 58 has three temperature levels 185 (low), 194 (medium), and 203 (high) degrees, and takes about five minutes to heat.
As the name says, Flair 58 has a commercial grade 58 mm portafilter. This is a big plus, as not many other manual machines have a professional-grade portafilter. It also means you can use tamper and precision filter baskets with this device.
Flair also includes a bottomless portafilter, which I loved using to monitor the shot during the extraction.
The Flair 58 has an ergonomic handle that makes it easier to apply pressure and a pressure gauge. While the Flair 58 certainly requires more effort and learning than other options on this list, it’s easier than other manual machines. The handle and pressure gauge makes it easy to get the hang of generating nine bars of pressure for each shot.
Who is it for? Flair 58 is an excellent choice if you want a machine that creates a flavorful espresso but are on a budget. It’s more affordable than most semi and super-automatic machines and gives you complete control over the brewing process, if you’re willing to do more work.
Pros
Professional grade portafilter
Electronic heating system
Small footprint
Cons
No milk frothing options
Requires a lot of work on your part
What to Consider When Buying an Espresso Machine Under $1,000
Type of Espresso Machines
There are three different types of espresso machines, where you choose the amount of work to put in against the potential perfection you can get out with control.
Manual Espresso Machine
Manual machines are based on pressure. You have to pull a lever to create enough pressure to pull the shot.
Manual machines need the most input from you, which means there’s a lot of work required. You have to measure, grind the coffee beans, tamp, and work the lever. However, you have complete control over the brewing process.
Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
Semi-automatic espresso machines usually have a boiler, a portafilter, and a switch to start extraction. You also have to measure, grind, transfer the grinds to the filter basket, tamp, and then steam or froth the milk. Overall, there’s a high learning curve if you’re a beginner barista, but you can tweak the shot endlessly until it suits your preferences.
Most semi-automatic devices at this price point have a built-in grinder.
Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Super-automatic machines do all or most of the work for you. These are also called bean to cup. You press a button and get a shot of espresso. A super-automatic device grinds, tamps, and pulls the shot automatically. Some of them even steam the milk.
There are several super-automatic espresso machines in this price range, such as the Philips LatteGo 3200 and Gaggia Anima Prestige.
Heating Elements and Espresso Quality
Heating elements are one of the most important things for espresso quality. Here’s what you should know about them:
- Heating system — need something that can maintain 190-195 F temperature during the brew process. Our choices for espresso machines under $1000 usually have a single boiler or a thermoblock (like the Breville thermojet) heating system.
- PID — Is digital temperature control. Simple heating systems cause the water to overshoot and undershoot. PID ensures the temperature stays at the optimum levels, so you get consistent extraction. All espresso machines on this list (except Rancilio Silvia) have PID temperature control.
- Pump — Needs to create 9 to 15 bars of pressure. If the pressure is too low, the espresso will be weak and under-extracted, but if the pressure is too high, the espresso will be bitter and over-extracted.
In general, a boiler is better than a thermoblock, but Breville’s machines have advanced systems with a PID which does the job.
Steam Wand and Milk Frothing
Best espresso machines under $1000 either have a manual or automatic milk frothing system. This means you have to froth the milk yourself on some espresso machines, such as the Breville Pro.
However, others, such as Breville Touch and Philips LatteGo 3200, have automatic frothing, where you get milk foam or steamed milk with a touch of a button.
One thing to consider is how strong the steam wand is and what kind of foam it can create. For example, Philips LatteGo 3200 can only create thick foam for cappuccinos but not microfoam for lattes. Gaggia Anima can produce microfoam, but only if you detach the plastic part.
Size
Espresso machines come in different sizes, so you should know how much space you have before making a purchase. Measure the area where you plan to keep the espresso machine.
Check if the espresso machine is top, front, or back-loading. This will also determine if you can keep it under the kitchen cabinets or someplace with plenty of vertical space.
Cleaning and Maintenance
An espresso machine requires meticulous cleaning to work for years to come. Best espresso machines have removable elements, such as the water tank, drip tray, coffee puck container, and more.
Also, some of them, such as the Philips LatteGo 3200, have a water filter, so you won’t have to descale for years.
The steam wand also requires cleaning after each use. But, you can use an espresso machine with automatic self-cleaning, such as Gaggia Anima Prestige or Barista Touch.
Features
A home espresso machine can have several extra features, most notably drink programming. Many espresso machines in this price point allow you to adjust water temperature, choose grind settings, choose milk froth levels, set the timer, automatically turn the machine on and off, and other options that let you customize the espresso when brewing coffee.
Each espresso machine comes with various programming options, and the higher the number of programmable settings, the higher the cost.
Best Espresso Machine Under $1,000: Final Thoughts
$1,000 is a considerable budget, and you can buy a top-notch espresso machine at this level. To make the best decision, consider features that are important to you. For example, do you want to do the work yourself or want to get coffee with a press of a button?
How many programmable options do you want? Are you fine with cleaning the device, or should you get one with a self-cleaning option?
In case you’d like to check out something more affordable, we’ve curated a list of the best espresso machines under $500.
