If you're just getting started with a home espresso machine it can be challenging to decide what to buy. With a whole world of machines out there there's just so many choices to consider. We're here to help! In this article we'll offer up a few great starter espresso options perfect for any new user.
Delonghi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine
DeLonghi is a name you're probably pretty familiar with. This coffee gear manufacturer has a wide range of user friendly, solidly designed and built products. The La Specialista Arte Evo is what's called an all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine. This means that you'll control much of the espresso making process by hand, but the machine does have a pump that pushes water through the puck of espresso grounds. The all-in-one part refers to the machine's built-in grinder.
What does all of this mean for a new user? For starters - the grinder is perfectly designed to work with the brew unit, and the combination of machine and grinder gives the package a smaller footprint than separate machines and grinders. It also means that the Arte Evo is a great value. This is the most affordable machine on this list, and really does represent fantastic bang for your buck.
This is an easy to use machine for new users as well, as it provides preset drink settings to give you a bit more automation than a typical semi-automatic, while still giving you the option of more hands-on control. It even has a cold brew setting for chilled coffee drinks!
As great as this machine is for newbies, we've got a couple more options with even more automation...
Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine
Breville's Barista platform has been around for a long time, and it has earned its place in the pantheon of excellent beginner espresso machines. While the whole lineup is worth a look, we want to recommend the Barista Touch Impress today.
Similarly to the DeLonghi above, the Barista Touch Impress is an all-in-one machine that combines grinder, brewer, and milk steaming wand. Where this machine justifies its higher price tag is in its automation and ease of use.
Arguably the trickiest part of the espresso brewing process is the tamp. Tamping your portafilter requires finesse and practice, and you might ruin some shots as you learn. With the Barista Touch Impress you get a simple lever that will help you tamp evenly and at the right pressure every time. On top of this, the vibrant touch screen walks you through drink construction in a more intuitive and visual way than other all-in-ones. The Touch Impress even offers a robust automatic milk steaming system that makes getting perfectly textured lattes and cappuccinos a breeze.
If you're looking for even more automation than what the Touch offers, we have one more machine that might be right for you...
Terra Kaffe TK-02 Superautomatic Espresso Machine
Superautomatic espresso machines are the ultimate in automated coffee. These machines grind your beans, brew your espresso, and steam your milk with the touch of a button or two. All of this means that you don't have much to worry about aside from loading the machine with beans, filling the carafe with milk, and doing the requisite cleaning and maintenance.
The Terra Kaffe is a premium superautomatic machine that has a great modern look and an easy to use and read menu, but the best part about it is its full range of options. Most superautos just brew espresso, they can brew long shots and americanos, but not drip coffee. The Terra Kaffe doesn't quite get to traditional drip, but it does offer a low pressure brewing mode that gets most of the way there. This feature is in line with the programming and adjustability of all of this machine's recipes, which you can fully customize for each user. Even better, you can use the Terra Kaffe app control the brewing parameters and set up new recipes.
The TK-02 is the highest price machine on this list, but for well justified reasons. This is a higher end option to jump in with, but will likely be a part of your coffee setup for years to come.
Do these machines fit your needs? Let us know in the comments below. Make sure you check out the embedded video to see these espresso machines in action too!