Best Espresso Machines for Lattes: We Made and Drank Hundreds to Find Out

Once you’ve settled on purchasing a new espresso machine one of your end goals is probably to recreate a perfect cafe latte at home without the cost or time sink of going to the coffee shop. It’s easy to assume that a more expensive, powerful machine can make a better latte, but the reality is a bit more complicated than that. The best machine for you will be the one that is best for your skill level, and we’re here to help you understand what that means.

What's the Best Espresso Machine for Lattes?

The short answer really depends on your skill level. If you’re looking for pre-programmed drink options, all-in-one simplicity (as in, grinder and brewer in the same unit), automated dosing with no dial-in process, and automated milk frothing, then the Philips LatteGo is the machine for you. Jake, one of our experts, says the LatteGo is “truly just a one-touch latte or cappuccino” system. If you are interested in learning to steam your own milk, the Dileta Mio’s thermoblock steam wand is a bit gentler and easier to work with than a traditional heat exchanger or dual boiler. For users wanting to future proof their coffee bar from a features perspective, the Fellow Series 1 is a machine that you can really grow into, with pressure profiles pre-programmed for newer users, and the ability to add your own. Sean found the microfoam from the Series 1 “super consistent, almost no large bubbles." Finally, the LELIT Bianca delivers powerful steaming and full flow control with its dual boiler approach, though it may be a lot for a new user to handle.

How We Tested These Latte Machines

We hand test every machine that comes through our doors. That means hundreds of machines, and thousands of drinks. The recommendations in this article are born out of that testing, as we have a range of skill levels in the office and are constantly thinking about how machines will work for different types of users.

Our process starts with our Product Lead testing every machine with the same steps: unboxing, reviewing documentation, first time setup, checking heat up times, dialing in, then diving into the features. Next, our video host for our Crew Review thoroughly tests the machine and works with it as if it's theirs (sometimes even taking the machine home to live with it for a period of time). For reference, Jake hosted our Philips 5500 LatteGo review, Sean covered the Fellow Series 1, and John reviewed the LELIT Bianca.

We measure stats like steaming time, espresso quality, ease of use, workflow, temperature consistency, build quality, maintenance requirements, and more to arrive at our conclusions. Each of these machines was also tested on its own first, not for this comparison.

What Actually Matters in a Latte Machine?

So you know your main focus is lattes, but what actually matters for this drink? First there’s the espresso. This is the foundation of most cafe coffee drinks, and brewing consistent shots is key for lattes or cappuccinos. You’ll want a machine that brews consistent espresso that you like. The other half of the drink is the milk, so naturally the best latte machine is going to be one that can produce good microfoam and milk temperatures. The biggest thing to consider when making a machine choice is do you want to steam yourself or get help from the machine. Automatic systems may not have the fine control needed for truly exceptional milk quality, but they steam consistently and are good enough for most users, plus there’s no learning curve. A manual steam wand takes more effort, but once you learn the technique you can steam true cafe quality milk. If you do decide to go the manual route, worry less about finding a powerful steam wand and more about finding one that affords control as you learn. Less power means a longer time to heat the milk, but this also means you’ll have more time to work the microfoam.

Is a More Powerful Steam Wand Always Better for Lattes?

More steam wand power means more pressure, and that means a faster steam. When you steam milk, you’re injecting super hot moisture and air into the milk, which heats it and creates microfoam. With a powerful wand you’ll usually have less than a minute before the milk starts to scorch, meaning that you have to know the steaming technique to get that microfoam built before it gets too hot.

A gentler steam wand will take longer, but that means you’ll have more time to hear, see, and feel the foam develop. For this reason, if you’re looking for the best espresso machine for beginner lates then a slower wand will give you better practice, and you likely won’t need the speed unless you’re brewing multiple lattes every morning.

Can You Brew and Steam at the Same Time?

Thermoblock vs. Heat Exchanger vs. Dual Boiler

To start off, it’s important to know that automated systems like on the Philips 5500 LatteGo do not typically allow for simultaneous brewing and steaming. With that out of the way, different boiler configurations are really the key to this ability. Thermoblocks depend entirely on the setup. With the way the Diletta Mio works, there is a separate circuit for steaming that is heated by a thermoblock, so you can brew and steam simultaneously. The tradeoff with a setup like this is that the steam is usually a bit gentler and less powerful (which is a benefit if you’re new to steaming milk). The Fellow Series 1 uses a thermoblock to heat its water as well, but it is not designed for brewing and steaming at the same time. A heat exchanger machine is quite unique, with a tube that runs through the boiler, siphoning water from the boiler and heating it further. This type of machine absolutely allows for simultaneous steaming and brewing. We don’t have any machines like this on our list today, but for reference Sean has said “I would say that about 80% of my customers would be perfectly happy with a heat exchanger.” Finally, dual boiler machines have a separate boiler for brewing, and one for steaming. This is the way that the LELIT Bianca is configured, and dual boilers for lattes offer significantly more steaming power. So for a thermoblock vs. a dual boiler, you’re really looking at less power, but easier to control vs. higher power and needing to know the technique. Single boiler lattes taste the same if you know the technique, there will often just be a bit of a wait between steaming and brewing (unless your machine has a heat exchanger).

Steam Wand, Guided Steaming, or Press-a-Button Milk?

Any espresso machine with a milk frother can steam milk, but an automatic latte machine offers this with a push of a button. Automated milk systems found on superautomatic machines are often simpler than you might think. They are programmed to shut off after a set amount of time when milk has reached a certain temperature. These systems are designed to steam at a consistent texture and temp every time, and while they may offer a bit of programmability they won’t operate outside of their potential range.

Guided steaming, like what you’ll find on the Fellow Series 1, gives you the best of both worlds. These systems differ from machine to machine, but they generally will shut off after a set time or when the milk reaches a certain temperature to help you, but you can still control the process once you understand the technique. As a bonus, some machines (like the Series 1) even perform an auto-purge after steaming. Purging like this is a necessary step to prevent buildup in the wand, and it can be easily forgotten by new users.

Our Latte Machine Picks

Latte Machine FAQs