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There’s nothing quite like a good quality espresso. But with machines costing upwards of $500, it feels like such an expensive, luxury item. Nobody has one in their home, right? In 2021, you couldn’t be more wrong thinking that.
To prove it, I thought I’d do a run through my thoughts on the best espresso machine under $200. Yup, you read that right, you can start drinking endless cups of espresso right in your living room for just $200!
I’ve been a barista now for decades, and I was skeptical as well. I’m used to using machines that cost thousands. But I was pleasantly surprised by some of the machines I’m going to talk about in this post.
Very quickly, the Delonghi espresso and cappuccino machine Delonghi espresso and cappuccino machine stood out to me. With a professional 15 bar pressure pump, adjustable or removable bottom tray for larger cups and advanced, powerful controls that allow you to truly customize your cup of espresso caught my eye.
But not everyone wants fancy controls. I get it, you don’t always want to fire up the rocket ship in order to make your morning cup of joe. Which is why I’ve included some super simple pod coffee machines as well, all of which produce an espresso that will rival a traditional espresso maker.
Let’s dive right in!
At A Glance – Best Espresso Machine Under $200
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1. DeLonghi 15-Bar Espresso & Cappuccino Machine – Best Overall
Brew like a real barista without leaving your kitchen. The DeLonghi 15-Bar Espresso Machine will make you feel as if you’ve been whisked away to Italy with every cup.
The multifunctional machine brews single or double espresso with professional-quality results. The 3-in-1 filter holds one or two shots and an additional holder for a convenient espresso pod.
The DeLonghi 15-Bar Espresso Machine also makes scrumptious lattes or cappuccinos customized to your preference with advanced controls. Any milk or cream of your choice is whipped to an evenly textured froth thanks to the manual steam frother.
For those who like taller cups or larger drinks, the bottom tray is adjustable and removable to accommodate various cup sizes.
Coffee lovers who enjoy entertaining appreciate that the DeLonghi 15-Bar Espresso Machine maintains optimal temperature and pours the perfect cup after cup without interruption. It’s also a sleek, attractive, and compact machine that won’t consume your counter space.
Product Overview
The multipurpose machine creates an atmosphere of an elegant cafe from the comfort of home at an affordable price.
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2. Coffee Café Barista Espresso & Cappuccino Maker – Best Frother
Whip up frothy, foamy dreams with Cafe Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker by Mr. Coffee. The semi-automatic 3-in-1 machine features a professional-grade 15-bar pump system to brew tasty espresso with every pour. The lattes are especially delightful, creamy, and rich.
Brewing a single or double espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes is a snap with simple one-touch controls. The automatic milk frother allows an amateur to create coffee concoctions like an experienced barista. And the removable reservoir lets you store leftover milk in the fridge.
Cafe Barista is easy to use because everything is done with the press of a button. It even has a self-cleaning cycle to ensure your coffee beverage tastes fresh and fabulous every time.
Product Overview
This terrific 3-in-1 machine is for folks who like to keep things hassle-free and no-fuss. It’s a lovely addition to a new home, apartment, or dorm, and makes a great gift.
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3. NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2 – Most Simple and Convenient
The Dolce Gusto Genio 2 from Nescafe is convenient and compact yet versatile in its offerings. It’s an automatic capsule coffee maker for single cup beverages that’s easy to use and portable.
There are 15 cafe-inspired flavor varieties for the Genio 2 exclusively from Nescafe Dolce Gusto. The individual pods range from intense espresso or Starbucks Veranda Blend Americano to coffeehouse favorites like cappuccino, latte, and caramel macchiato. There is also a nice sampling of delicious decaffeinated options.
The Genio 2 is simple to use. It has an LED display interface that allows you to control the amount and boldness of your brew. Its 15-bars of pressure maximizes the tempting aroma and richness. The capsules offer plenty of choices without the hassle or mess of grinds.
Nescafe’s Dolce Gusto Genio 2 is ideal for busy people who are always on the go and don’t want to fuss with froth and grinds but still want that delightful authentic coffeehouse taste.
Product Overview
Dolce Gusto Genio 2 by Nescafe is a perfect coffee maker for those that seek simplicity without sacrificing variety. It’s also compact and economical.
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4. Nespresso Essenza Mini Original – Best For Pods
Nespresso has garnered a cult-like following for its decadently rich espresso flavors, sophisticated design, and exceptional convenience. The Nespresso Essenza Mini Original machine by Breville is compact, portable, and delivers a heavenly espresso.
At under six pounds, the latest single-serving Nespresso machine is also the smallest. It’s perfect for people who travel often and cannot live without their morning jolt of espresso. The Essenza Mini Original won’t take up much room in your suitcase or your countertop.
The extraction system provides 19-bars of pressure for a professional-grade cup with each brew.
The Essenza Mini Original by Breville is as simple to use as it is powerful. The temperature takes only 25 seconds to reach the optimal heat for brewing espresso with a single touch. Two cup sizes, Espresso (1.35 oz) or Lungo (5 oz), are available at the press of a button.
As a bonus, the Nespresso Essenza Mini Original comes with an assortment of delectable Nespresso capsules for you to sample and enjoy hot or over ice.
Product Overview
For the Nespresso lover, avid traveler, or coffee aficionado who wants a simple, sleek machine that delivers a superior espresso, the Nespresso Essenza Mini Original by Breville is an excellent option.
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5. DeLonghi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine – Best on a Budget
Do you want to enjoy the authentic flavor of coffeehouse-style espresso beverages, but even under $200 sounds out of your means? DeLonghi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine is the ideal choice for budget home brewers.
You can create your favorite cappuccinos, frothy lattes, and single or double shots of espresso from your kitchen countertop. The professional barista quality 15-bar pump delivers the right amount of pressure for a delicious taste.
The DeLonghi Stilosa has a manual milk frother for making micro-foam lattes, textured cappuccinos, and creamy flat whites. The durable stainless steel boiler lasts years, even with daily use. It includes a portafilter and two filters for single or double espresso shots.
Product Overview
The main difference between the DeLonghi Stilosa and other more expensive, fancier models is that the Stilosa is a manual espresso machine instead of automatic or semi-automatic.
But if you are willing to sacrifice a few bells and whistles, you’ll enjoy this reliable espresso maker and appreciate the money you saved.
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6. Brewsly Compact Professional Coffee Machine – Most Adjustable
Brewsly’s Compact Professional Coffee Machine is for the espresso drink connoisseur who knows what they like and is eager to make masterful cups like a barista from the comfort of their home.
It has the most adjustable settings so that you can customize every cup to your unique preference. Brewsly’s Coffee Machine uses 15-bar coffee house-quality pressure, with a visible gauge and controls so that you can adjust to your liking.
You can achieve the perfect froth you’ve always wanted and even create artful designs thanks to the milk frother wand. The double temperature control feature allows the water and milk to be heated and steamed separately. That enables more texture options for the milk from a latte’s micro-foam to a cappuccino’s dryer froth.
The drip tray is removable to accommodate taller mugs or glasses. It’s also got a 2-in-1 filter holder that controls the espresso delivery for one or two shots. Its sleek stainless steel body takes up half the counter space of most coffee makers.
Product Overview
Brewsly’s Compact Professional Coffee Machine is a superb espresso machine for those who want to recreate an authentic cafe experience and understand their tastes and preferences.
Honorable Mentions
Gevi 15 Bar Fast Heating Espresso Machine
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Whether you need a new espresso machine for your home or an office shared with ten people or less, then the Gevi espresso machine might be the perfect espresso machine you’ve been wanting. The machine suits any environment while simultaneously delivering high-quality flavors at great consistency and speed. Plus, being newbie-friendly.
Moreover, the semi-automatic 2-in-1 espresso machine claims to help you whip up the best lattes or single shots every morning due to its built-in milk wand and 15-bar Italian-made pump, which allows it to produce the smoothest crema and balance. At 1350W, this is enough power pressure to get the best out of your espresso beans.
If you also live alone or have a large family or usually have guests over, it’s the perfect little friend to host in tea rooms, parties, and even cater to your simple pleasure. In a shiny stainless steel coating, the machine is highly durable and squeezed into any average counter-size area.
When it comes to control, you have full power as the dual temperature control is designed to be easy and accurate. We recommend extracting coffee at 198 Fahrenheit and steaming it at 212 Fahrenheit. Plus, you’re guided by the indicator light, clearly-labeled buttons, and see-through water tank.
Krups Opio Steam and Pump Coffee Machine
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The Krups Opion steam and pump coffee machine will sit happily in your home or office. But is it actually worth the money? It has some nice features, including 15 bars of pump pressure for that authentic espresso flavor, 1.5 ltr water tank, easy to use steam nozzle for frothy milk and a host of adjustable settings for a tailored coffee just for you.
Ultimately, this machine is a ‘does what it says on the tin’, so if you’re not looking for a rocket ship this might be a good option for you. What bothers me most, is that the manufacturing quality of this Krups machine doesn’t seem as good as what we’re used to.
Krups were always known for producing good quality products with good quality materials. While this one seems a little lighter and flimsier than their previous machines. It used to be that you’d by one and it would last at least a decade.
It’d be interesting to see if this one lives up to that. Nevertheless, for as long as it lasts, the Krups Opio will give you a fantastic cup of coffee that’ll have you jumping out of bed in the morning.
Home Espresso Machine Buying Guide
Before purchasing a home espresso machine, there are a few guidelines to look for to ensure that you choose a high-quality specialty coffee maker that suits your tastes, preferences, and needs. Some things to consider are:
Pressure Pump
The pressure pump is the most essential feature of an espresso machine. It gives the espresso that great taste by unlocking the flavor and aroma.
The pressure is measured in bars. Your machine should have no fewer than nine bars. More pressure power means that permits using a finer, more flavorful grind.
Too much pressure creates over-extraction and produces a bitter taste. That is why 15-bar espresso machines are considered an ideal middle ground.
Boiler
The boiler heats the water to the right temperature for brewing. The more sophisticated machines can achieve the ideal heat in seconds. Manual machines take longer.
Cheaper espresso machines use materials like aluminum which is fast heating and best for single shots. More expensive models use stainless steel boilers. Those are superior for repeated shots and also reduce the possibility of a metallic taste.
Portafilter and Filters
The filter and portafilter are where you put the coffee grounds before brewing them.
Pressurized portafilters inhibit water flow to achieve optimal pressure. The portafilter also controls the option for a single or double shot of espresso.
You may notice that some espresso machines feature both filters and portafilters. That is due to the popularity and convenience of single-use capsules or coffee pods.
Water Reservoir
The size of the water reservoir will determine how much espresso you can make without refilling and reboiling. Most non-commercial espresso machines can brew 6-8 cups per full water tank which is typically more than sufficient for home use.
Frothing Ability
If you desire cafe-style variety and want to make more than single or double shots of espresso with your machine, you’ll want to ensure your espresso maker has a frothing ability.
Some machines feature automatic frothers that are almost fool-proof and great for beginner home baristas. Others are manual and require experience or trial and error.
Style and Design
Not everyone enjoys the same cup of coffee. In the same way, espresso machines aren’t one-size-fits-all products. The perfect at-home espresso beverage maker will accommodate your preferences, needs, and style.
Some machines have features like frothers for folks who crave cappuccinos and lattes. Others opt for a compact, portable design made for single-use coffee pods. They come in various shapes, sizes, and styles to compliment your kitchen.
Final Thoughts
So there we have it, the best espresso machines under $200. While I definitely think the De’longhi espresso and cappuccino maker is for sure the best bet for your money, any on this list would get you drinking better coffee in the morning.
Many of the features in this coffee machine are ones I’ve found in much more expensive machines. The advanced controls really are quite powerful, and from the research I’ve done about it I, people only have good things to say about it. It seems to last quite a long time too, and we all know coffee machines can be a little temperamental.
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