Save $100 on Our Top-Rated Espresso Maker

Good Buy 2020, hello savings! Limited quantity, shop early. [America's Test Kitchen Shop] [View in a Web browser]( [Good Buy 2020 Sale: Grab-it deals like this daily.]( [Limited Quantities! Save $100]( SAVE $100 on Our Top-Rated Espresso Machine Breville Barista Express $699.95 $599.95 FREE SHIPPING [BUY NOW]( Be your own barista. We love a café trip as much as anyone else. The smell of freshly roasted coffee. The pastries. The music. There’s nothing like picking up your daily brew and going off into the world with a hot cup of coffee in hand. But there’s also something enticing about the convenience of being able to prepare quality coffee at home. It’s an economical way to get your daily caffeine energy boost and what’s more convenient than home self-service? We’ve tested coffee makers in the past, but espresso machines are totally different. They’re what’s needed to prepare espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes. Espresso requires a different preparation method (water is forced through the grinds with intense pressure). With so many models on the market, it’s hard to know what product will deliver the rich, bold espresso shots you’re looking for. Lucky you–we can help you out. Best for DIY Types highly recommended Breville Barista Express This handsome machine is perfect if you want the convenience of built-in grinding and automatic weighing of coffee, as well as push-button brewing, but you don’t mind some hands-on work. You must learn to tamp properly and move the portafilter of grounds from the grinder to the brewing position. A simple gauge provides excellent feedback, quickly teaching you to dial in the best grind setting and tamping pressure (pro tip: Tamp on a scale, aiming for 30 pounds of pressure). This process soon became intuitive and easy. We loved that the machine came with everything you need—tamper, milk-frothing jug, and portafilters for single and double espresso—and had a hidden drawer to store it all. REVIEWED IN COOK’S Illustrated July 2017 [We maintain strict objectivity in all testing. Learn more →]( Cleanup: ★★½   Ease of Use: ★★½   Milk Froth: ★★★   Espresso Quality: ★★★   KEY: good ★★★ fair ★★ poor ★ [Limited Quantities: Buy Now. SAVE $100.]( How we tested espresso machines We tested six automatic espresso machines priced from about $400.00 to about $1,000. We used Peets Arabica Mocha Java coffee and the Arpeggio proprietary roast for the Nespresso pod machine. We used tap water and coffee beans roasted in the same batch to ensure consistency in our testing. All of the models had built-in coffee grinders (except the pod unit), and all could froth milk for cappuccinos and other milk-based espresso drinks. Units were rated based on coffee quality, milk frothing abilities, ease of use, and clean up. Before we began our testing, we consulted the user manuals for all units to understand how the machines worked. Espresso Quality We learned that the key to quality espresso was how fast the water could pass through the grinds. Machines where the water dribbled out too slowly produced harsh, sour-tasting espresso. (This was due to the grinds being too firmly packed in units where you have to tamp down the coffee.) On the flip side, units where the water passed through the grinds too quickly created watery, thin espresso. Our goal was to extract espresso with steady streams that created a foamy, marbled crema. After some tinkering with the grind sizes, temperature settings, and other features, we figured out how to produce high-quality espresso. We favored the models that repeatedly produced espresso shots with good flavor, body, and crema. Ease of Use No surprise, the models varied greatly in how user-friendly they were. Some featured overly simplistic displays, while others had rows of complicated symbols. In both instances we had to consult the user manual to decipher what the symbols meant. (Which isn’t exactly practical if you’re in a rush to get your morning beverage.) Aside from the displays, the grinders of the machines posed equally frustrating challenges. Some of the grinders struggled to release the beans at all to the blades, while others that did release the beans didn’t release enough to produce an espresso with a thick, full consistency. We found that by switching to medium-roast beans with dry surfaces the beans could more easily drop down to the blades. The grinder wasn’t an issue with the pod machine since the beans had already been ground, but the coffee this unit produced lacked body and flavor. (However, this model did produce a rich, thick, long-lasting crema.) We preferred the models with fewer buttons and adjustable settings. Milk Frothing We prepared cappuccinos in all of the models, singly and in succession. We rated the milk froth on texture and its finished quality. Cleanup We evaluated how easy it was to empty the coffee grounds (or pods), drip trays, and milk-frother attachments; we also considered their cleaning and descaling abilities and their filters. We preferred the models that were easy to maintain. [Limited Quantities: Buy Now. SAVE $100.]( Winning traits of our top-rated espresso machine for DIY types • Offers a more hands-on espresso preparation experience • Features a built-in grinder • Automatically weighs coffee • Simple gauge signals the best grind setting and tamper pressure (no more guessing!) • Included must-have accessories: tamper, milk-frothing jug, portafilters, and storage drawer [Good for You, Good for Gifting]( Don’t miss your chance to save $100 $699.95 $599.95 FREE SHIPPING [BUY NOW]( [Good Buy 2020 Sale: Keep your eyes on your inbox for big savings (and better cooking) ahead! Coming 12.04: Buy One, Get One for $10 Books]( Objectivity first, last, and always. America’s Test Kitchen does not accept advertising and conducts equipment tests without the knowledge of product manufacturers. Exclusive equipment offers are sourced only after the test results have been published in our magazines and on our websites. 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