7 best budget espresso machines of 2025

Once you discover the beauty of espresso, brewing traditional drip coffee at home everyday just doesn’t seem like enough. There’s a time and a place for a regular cup of coffee and for a shot of espresso — and sometimes you need something quick and strong. Too many coffee drinkers (including me, back in the day) falsely believe the perfect shot of espresso can only be enjoyed at a coffee shop. However, today’s budget espresso machines make it easy and affordable to enjoy espresso every day of the week (if you want to).

Whether you’re new to brewing espresso at home or just want to invest in an economical espresso machine, these 7 best budget espresso machines are for you. We’ve scoured the market to find the most trustworthy and reliable espresso machines that won’t break the bank. Investing in a quality budget espresso machine can transform your life, allowing you to enjoy a shot of espresso whenever you want — or even start crafting espresso-based drinks at home, like a cappuccino or latte. If you’re in the market for a budget espresso machine, you’ll want to start here.

****Best budget espresso machine overview****

Best overall: Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine
Best value: Cuisinart Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine
Best retro budget espresso machine: Haden Barista Brew Espresso Machine
Best pod-compatible: Nespresso Vertuoplus Espresso Machine
Best manual: De’Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine
Best multi-use: Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System
Best with steam wand: CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine

What to consider

When shopping for a budget espresso machine, you’d expect to have a limited selection. However, you’ll soon be faced with the reality of hundreds of models to choose from. While ample selection is always a good thing, it can be a bit overwhelming to the first-time buyer or the buyer who appreciates simplicity. When shopping for a budget espresso maker, I recommend considering a few key aspects.

First, consider if you prefer a pod-style or traditional brewing system and alongside that, consider if you prefer an automatic, manual, or semi-automatic operation. This also makes you think about how often you’ll use your espresso machine and how much time you have to commit to using it each time. While an economical choice is at the top of your list, don’t ignore other key purchasing factors like ease-of-use and ease-of-cleaning. Also, don’t forget to consider water tank capacity if you hate filling up your water reservoir as much as I do.

How we tested

I tried and researched a variety of different budget espresso machines for an unbiased selection. From pod-style to multi-functional 2-in-1 machines that also brew coffee, these 8 were selected with your needs in mind. Each tested budget espresso machine was tested several times to allow for potential malfunctions and give time to explore all features. In testing each machine, I paid extra attention to common flaws noted in reviews to allow time to gather my own thoughts on each maker. Each of these budget espresso machines are manufactured by some of the top espresso brands on the market.

Why trust us

I love espresso and I believe everyone should be able to enjoy a killer shot of espresso or espresso beverage at home. The world of espresso machines can be overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to invest a small fortune in order to brew great espresso at home. I’ve tried dozens of espresso machines and have done hours of research to narrow the best budget espresso machines on the market. I recognize that every espresso machine comes with pros and cons and that there’s no one-size-fits-all option. We’ve selected these 8 best budget espresso machines with the most common needs of users in mind.

Best overall

Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine

I’m a sucker for a shiny and sleek espresso machine — especially by Breville. But the Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine earns its title as best overall budget espresso machine because of much more important attributes than it’s aesthetics. The Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine may be on the higher end of the budget price range, but it’s worth every penny. You really do get barista-quality performance from this compact espresso maker.

Using the Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine was seamless, right from opening to brewing. Whether you’ve had many espresso makers in your day or are trying this for this first time, Breville makes the process easy to learn. The on-demand tutorials provided by Breville are also of great assistance for visual learners.

There’s a lot that sets this espresso maker apart from other budget options, however, the most notable is the quick heating. Within just three seconds, the machine reaches optimal extraction temperature for the best-tasting espresso without a long wait. After using this machine for two weeks, I had little-to-no complaints about the brewing process. It’s consistent and reliable. I enjoyed making lattes and cappuccinos with the powerful steam wand too, which created a microfoam that looked (and tasted) professional. Unlike other budget espresso machines I’ve tried, I appreciated the powerful nature of the steam wand attached to the Bambino espresso machine.

Best value

Cuisinart Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine

Cuisinart is a staple in American kitchens, but I often don’t think of Cuisinart when thinking about coffee or espresso makers. Instead, my mind goes to kitchen knife block sets and cutting boards. However, Cuisinart’s recent releases have completely changed this idea. The Cuisinart Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine is perfect for small spaces and surprised me immediately after taking it out of the box. Even though this espresso machine is small, it’s quite powerful. I’ve never had an espresso machine that takes up as little space as this one.

This recent release has quickly become one of my favorite budget espresso machines. For under $250, there’s value jam-packed into this espresso machine. My favorite part about this maker is how quickly it heats up the water and brews the espresso. The 52 mm stainless steel bottomless portafilter is smaller than normal, but not too small. It’s just the right size. The water resevoir is over 50 ounces too, which is pretty solid for an espresso machine that is this slim.

Overall, the Cuisinart Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine wins best value for budget espresso machines because it has so many great features jam-packed into a machine that is under $250. This machine has a powerful built-in steam/frothing wand and even has a cold extraction feature (a unique feature I haven’t seen on other affordable espresso machines). If you’re looking for quality, ease-of-use, and reliability, don’t sit out on this recent release.

Best retro budget espresso machine

Haden Barista Brew Espresso Machine

Haden’s Barista Brew Espresso Machine not only brews great espresso with a thick crema, but it’s also got a unique retro look. This fun espresso machine is perfect for adding style vintage or retro kitchen without spending a ton of money. The colors are also unique, such as the copper/black and ivory/copper color combinations.

The Haden’s Barista Brew Espresso Machine has a 20-bar pressure system which allows for optimal espresso extraction. The large water tank is great too, which eliminates the number of times throughout the week you have to keep refilling it. The “keep-warm” function is also a nice added bonus.

Best pod-compatible

Nespresso Vertuoplus Espresso Machine

Simple and affordable, the Nespresso Vertuoplus Espresso Machine wins as best budget espresso machine for a pod-style brewing system. Vertuo pods are easily accessible in grocery stores or online and allow for easy espresso brewing without having to dose espresso.

Each pre-packed pod works well in the Vertuoplus, making it possible to brew espresso at the literal touch of a button. You can also brew larger coffee pods (larger than espresso size), making the Vertuoplus a great option as a multi-functional brewer too. While pods do limit the brands of coffee you can buy, this budget espresso maker is the ideal choice for the user who wants to enjoy a mess-free, fast, and easy cup of espresso at home.

Best manual budget espresso machine

De’Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine

De’Longhi’s espresso machines are a big hit in professional categories, yet many shoppers forget they offer affordable, budget espresso machines too. The De’Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is the perfect affordable espresso machine for home use.

It’s sleek and compact design works in a variety of kitchen and office settings. The integrated Thermoblock technology provides fast and precise brewing and stable temperature control — allowing you to brew a great shot of espresso with ease. The easy-to-use steam wand is also a great addition, if you’re planning on making creamy espresso beverages.

Best multi-use

Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System

If you’re in the market for the best budget espresso machine but also want a new coffee maker, the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System could be of interest. This 2-in-1 multi-use machine brews both regular coffee and espresso, giving you flexibility while saving counter space.

To brew espresso, simply use the mess-free pod system with espresso capsules (1.35 oz, 3.75 oz, or over ice). Ninja is amongst the best brands in the coffee and espresso world, so you can’t go wrong with this maker. The all-around multi-use of this machine is not only practical for those on a budget, but it also makes it easy to go back and forth between brewing various types of coffee without taking up additional counter space.

Best with steam wand

CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine

For under $100, you can’t beat the CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine. This tiny, yet mighty espresso machine is great for beginners who want to learn the art of espresso making. This budget espresso machine is easy to learn to use and also includes a steam wand to allow you to make steamed milk for various drinks lattes and macchiatos.

While it may not heat up the quickest or have professional-grade quality, the CASABREWS 3700 Essential Espresso Machine is an all-around solid choice for a reliable shot of espresso on a budget. If you’re into fun, vibrant kitchen appliances, I also like the bold colors available for this espresso maker (like the pastel green or baby blue). More importantly, however, is that this affordable espresso machine comes with everything you need to brew espresso (except for a bean grinder)