Espresso Machine Reviews

Learn which espresso machines live up to their reputations and which ones fall down on the job.

Looking for espresso machine reviews? Here are our latest reviews of some of the top esspreso maker brands.

DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker - This compact machine looks good on your counter and has a fast heat up time and a good frothing wand. The price is very reasonable as well. Use small espresso cups with this model as the frothing wand doesn't give you a ton of room.

Imusa Espresso, Cappuccino Maker - This is a very inexpensive machine that does a fairly good job of making espressos and cappuccinos. It heats quickly and does a nice job of frothing the milk. For the price we are really impressed with how well this coffee maker works.

DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker - Again a great value for the money. This machine heats and works well and is very inexpensive. There is a slight learning curve with the frothing want but once you get the hang of it you can have a nice frothy cappucino or espresso.

Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker - higher priced than the other coffee makers we have reviewed here and the reviews are mixed. You can make a great cup of espresso with this machine but it really needs to be cleaned regularly or it will get clogged. The time it takes to clean it may make you pass on this model.

Cuisinart EM-100 1000-Watt 15-Bar Espresso Maker, Stainless Steel - again this is one of the pricier models but this one seems to be worth the extra money. You can make single or double shots with it. It heats fast and makes a nice foamy cup. You can also make several espressos while steaming milk, which is a nice feature. There are two things that I don't like about this model. Number one is that the frothing wand is a bit to long so you have to tip the cup a bit to get it out. And the second is that you can not tell when the pressure has been used so if you go to clean it, you may end up with hot coffee grinds all over the place. I see this as a pretty big safety issue.

Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker - uses ESE pods and can make single or double shots of espresso. For the money this is a great machine if you like to also make lattes and cappucinos. Since it uses pods it can make a fast cup of coffee which is great if you like to have a quick cup before heading out to work. Another nice thing is that it is stainless steel so it is truly a solid machine. It is nice to see that in these lower end machines. This may be the best espresso machine that you can buy for under $300 in terms of quality.