Best espresso machines 2025: expert-tested for all budgets

Buzzing to find out which espresso machines are the best for getting your caffeine fix? Read on for our Best Buy recommendations and expert buying advice.

A traditional espresso machine uses ground coffee and is perfect for creating that authentic coffee shop experience in the comfort of your own home.

Technically, other types of coffee machines are espresso machines too, because they make espresso. However, here we use 'espresso machine' to refer to traditional manual or pump-style espresso makers, as well as automatic espresso machines that use ground coffee.

Go to our coffee machine reviews to discover all the models we've tested.

Best espresso machines for 2025

We've selected some of the best espresso machines from our rigorous coffee machine tests, which include a blind-taste test by our coffee experts.

Unlock our expert recommendations below by logging in or, if you're not a member, join Which? to get access to all our rigorous reviews.

Espresso machine reviews by type

• Espresso machines with automatic milk frother
• Espresso machines with manual milk frother

Espresso machines by price

• Espresso machines under £100
• Espresso machines under £200
• Espresso machines under £300

Why you can trust our espresso machine reviews

We work for consumers, not brands. Our rigorous tests and expert recommendations help consumers to make better decisions – and drive up product standards.

That's why we don’t accept free product samples from companies or PR representatives. We buy everything ourselves from the shops, just as our members do.

This helps to ensure that our reviews are 100% impartial and unbiased, so you can trust what we say.

As well as speed, our independent lab and expert taste tests rate:

• the quality of espresso, taking into account the taste, aroma, appearance and temperature of the drink
• the milk-frothing system (if there is one), taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of a cappuccino, how thick the froth is and how well it blends with the coffee
• how easy it is to prepare the machine for use, what it's like to clean and descale and how simple the instructions are to follow.

Each aspect is rated on a seven-point scale by three laboratory assessors, so you know our ratings are unbiased and not based on one person's opinion alone.

To learn more about how we go the extra mile for our tests, read our page on how we test coffee machines.

Where to buy espresso machines

Get an espresso machine with express delivery, or choose another option to suit you. Here are some of the most popular retailers.

• Amazon offers espresso machines from brands including DeLonghi, Sage and Swan. Standard delivery is free for Amazon Prime members on all orders, and on orders of more than £35 for non-members.
• AO has espresso machines from DeLonghi, Smeg, Swan and other brands. AO Five Star members get free and unlimited deliveries, while delivery costs vary for non-members, depending on the product and delivery method.
• Debenhams may no longer be a high street fixture, but its online shop stocks brands such as Cooks Professional, Smeg and Swan. UK supersaver delivery takes five to seven working days and costs £2.99. All delivery options are free for Debenhams Unlimited members.
• John Lewis sells brands such as DeLonghi, Sage and Smeg. UK delivery within two to five days, 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, is free on orders of more than £50; otherwise it's £4.50. Click and collect is free on orders over £30, or £2.50 if you spend less. You can collect from Waitrose, selected John Lewis shops, Shell stations and Booths stores. Need it in a hurry? Next-day delivery is available for £7.50.
• Robert Dyas sells machines from the likes of Ariete, Dualit and Smeg. Some models are online exclusives, so it's best to check before popping to your local branch. Delivery is free on orders over £30 with code FREEDEL30. However, it does not deliver to the Scottish Highlands, Scottish Isles, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

How to buy the best espresso machine

There are a few key questions you should ask yourself before you buy an espresso machine.

• Are you happy to get hands-on to make your perfect coffee? It may take a bit of practice to get used to measuring out and preparing ground coffee yourself, but once you get the hang of it, you'll have the freedom to experiment with different blends.
• Do you need additional features such as a milk frother? You can choose an espresso machine that has a manual milk frother built in, but you needn’t let that dictate your choice, as you could buy a separate freestanding milk frother. You might also want to invest in a coffee grinder. See our round-ups of the best milk frothers and the best coffee grinders.
• Do you want to be able to use ESE pods? To make cleaning up easier, some espresso machines can take ESE pods (easy serve espresso pods) as well as ground coffee. These single-use coffee pods look a bit like tea bags filled with coffee. Normally containing around 7g of coffee, they're designed to do away with the faff of having to measure out and tamp your coffee before making it, and they make cleaning up afterwards easier, too. Many brands manufacture ESE pods, and they can be used in many brands of machine – check the manual to see whether yours is compatible. You can dispose of used ESE pods in your organic food-waste recycling bin.

Find out which coffee machine brands are the most reliable.

Best espresso machine features to look for

Beyond making great espresso, there are a few things you should expect from a good espresso coffee machine.

Ability to accommodate large cups

If you like to make your latte in a glass or use other non-standard-sized cups, look for a machine that can accommodate this through, for example, a removable drip tray.

Accessories 

If you like the hands-on barista experience, check if the machine comes with the necessary accessories (such as a stainless steel milk jug, tamper and so on).

Attractive but practical design

Many espresso machines have a traditional look, with old-fashioned dials and controls that leave you to decide the length and strength of your drink.

A light-coloured machine may take some extra effort to keep clean, as they can get mucky during coffee making and milk frothing. 

Some of the machine's removable parts, such as the portafilter or filter basket, may also be dishwasher-safe, so it's worth checking the manual for guidance. 

Automatic milk frother and milk tank

These days, most traditional espresso machines have a steam wand for frothing milk so you can make milky coffees, such as lattes or cappuccinos. But some do come with a milk tank for automatic milk frothing, to make things less messy.

Cup warmer

Some espresso machines use heat from the boiler to warm the plate on top of the coffee machine, where cups can be placed to warm them gently before use.

Double filter basket

If you prefer a larger double espresso, opt for a machine with a double filter basket (the small container that holds the ground coffee and is placed in the portafilter).

Pressure (measured in bars)

This indicates the level of pressure used to push water through the ground coffee to make an espresso. 

Most traditional espresso machines range from 9 to 20 bars, which ensures your coffee is not under-extracted, with a sour flavour, or over-extracted, with a burnt flavour. 

It's not just the pressure that will affect the taste of your coffee, though. Other factors, such as the quality of coffee, brewing temperature and the size of the coffee grounds, will all contribute. 

See our best coffee machines advice for help choosing between pod, espresso and bean-to-cup machines.

What coffee should I use with my espresso machine?

The best type of coffee to use with your traditional espresso machine is a strong, dark roast. It should be finely and evenly ground so that the water can be pushed through it at the correct rate to get the best flavour.

Look out for ground coffee labelled 'espresso' or specifically designed for use in coffee machines – it's the same stuff as the regular ground coffee that you'd use with a cafetière or drip coffee machine, just roasted for longer and ground more finely. Alternatively, you can buy whole dark-roast beans and grind them yourself at home.

If you choose to grind your own beans, take care not to grind them too coarsely or you'll end up with sour, acidic-tasting coffee, caused by the water not being able to extract enough flavour (under-extraction). In terms of consistency, aim for a grind a little finer than table salt.

Coffee roast levels and what they mean

• Light roast – produces a milder coffee. Tends to be brighter, more acidic and have a toasted, grainy flavour. Retains the original flavour characteristics of the beans well.
• Medium roast – a medium-intensity coffee with fuller body. A good balance of intensity and flavour.
• Dark/Italian roast – stronger, more bitter-tasting coffee, often with intense smoky or woody notes.