It’s time for another of our Top 3 of the Year lists for 2024, this time covering semi-automatic espresso machines! Semi-autos are one of our most exciting categories because they really are the ultimate kind of machine for the espresso enthusiast. Today’s list specifically looks at semi-autos under $1,500. We break it up this way because the higher end machines ARE the biggest and the best, but for many users a more affordable option may provide more bang for your buck. As with our other lists, this Top 3 is broken down into a fan favorite, our pick for best features, and our ultimate pick. We’ll also include an honorable mention. Let’s jump in!
Fan Favorite - DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus Espresso Machine
The Maestro Plus is a fresh update to the classic DeLonghi Dedica. The Dedica holds a special place in many veteran espresso enthusiast hearts due to its low price point, surprising capabilities, and signature look. The Maestro Plus honors all of these points while providing an excellent set of modern accouterments.
The older Dedica machine offered little in the way of programming or control. While it was a great budget option boasting solid performance for its price, it didn’t do much beyond that. The Maestro Plus gives you temperature control, automatic shot timing, and temperature sensitive automatic milk steaming. Even more exciting, the Maestro Plus features both pressurized and non-pressurized portafilter baskets, giving you a forgiving basket to work with as you learn and a more precise option for once you’ve mastered your shots. The machine does all of this without sacrificing the low price point and small footprint of the original Dedica.
These features combine to earn this machine our Fan Favorite slot pretty handily. We absolutely recommend this machine for any newer user looking to get their feet wet with semi-automatic espresso brewing.
Best Features - Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine
With PID controlled temperatures and a host of rich control options, the Lelit Victoria is another high-value machine that offers much more than is typical of its price point. Starting with a solid, compact frame that houses consistent and quality components, this machine also has big, tactile buttons, a large, easy to read pressure gauge, and clear and intuitive temperature controls right on its face. We also love smart bits of design like the raised shot glass surface on the drip tray, which helps prevent splashing without creating a cramped workspace. All of these controls make it easy to get started working with your Lelit Victoria, but there’s even more to love about this machine.
By accessing the Lelit Control Center app you can control even more elements of your Victoria. Adjustable pre-infusion gives you the ability to tease extra nuance from your shots, while quick temp adjusts can be handled from the app too. Finally, cleaning assistance like automatic backflushing programs are much easier to initiate from your phone than by pressing a combination of hard to remember buttons like many machines.
If you’re looking for a machine in this price range that blends performance, design, footprint, and extensive control then the Lelit Victoria is an excellent way to go.
Ultimate Pick - Diletta Mio Espresso Machine
The Mio earns our Ultimate Pick here because it really is the ultimate espresso machine under $1,500. Hand-built, carefully designed, and stunning on a countertop, this machine feels like it should be in a category with much higher-end options. The Mio achieves this level of quality by sticking to what matters most - performance and reliability. With core basics like PID controlled temps and a commercial style 58mm portafilter, you’ll get high quality shots from the Mio with just a bit of practice. What it doesn’t have is all of those programming bells and whistles, but if your goal is excellent espresso then we don’t think you’ll mind. Instead, handy features like the energy saving eco mode, shot timer display, and easy to access OPV valve make this machine the perfect choice for the enthusiast that wants to focus on pulling great shots.
That great performance is also available in a beautiful package. While this machine stuns in stainless, you can also get it in a black or white powder coat, which are both gorgeous options and fit with a variety of kitchen designs. In many ways, this machine is the simplest on our list, and yet it is also an easy choice for our Ultimate Pick!
Honorable Mention - Breville Barista Touch Impress
The Breville Barista Touch Impress is a fascinating machine that offers more automation than any other entry on this list. While it is built on the long-standing Barista Touch platform, its additional automatic tamping elevates this machine even more than its earlier models. Tamping is often one of the trickiest bits of espresso brewing to get right. It’s the only process that is 100% between you and your coffee, and for many finding the perfect tamp pressure can make dialing in very difficult. The Barista Touch Impress assists with this by providing a consistent tamp with the pull of a lever. Its smart design will even help you diagnose any issues with that tamp, such as an overfilled portafilter, and the grinder will adjust for future shots. This paired with the extensive guidance and automation that the touch screen that gives this machine its namesake makes for a really fantastic option for those looking for a sweet spot between the automatic nature of superautomatic espresso machines and the hands-on precision of a semi-automatic machine. All of this makes it very easy for us to give it an honorable mention nod on this list!
If you’d like to see these machines in action and learn more about them you can check out our video version of this list below!