It’s time for an annual favorite in our Best Of’s - Best Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines Over $1,500!
These machines make fantastic upgrade options for the user who’s looking to take the next step with their espresso. They could also be a powerful starting point for the new home espresso hobbyist who wants to start with a showstopper. We have three picks plus an honorable mention, so let’s dig into it!
The Diletta Alto packs a punch with a classic look. This dual boiler espresso machine has all of the features you would expect from a premium offering at this price point: PID temperature control, a shot timer built into the PID interface, an accessible OPV valve to customize brew pressure, as well as premium performance, look, and feel. These elements alone make this a fantastic machine that stands toe-to-toe with other machines in this category, but the Alto offers a couple of extra pieces that really put it over the top.
The low power eco-mode helps to solve the problem of high energy costs or fast startup. Using this mode keeps the boiler at a lower temp to save on power while still allowing for fast heatup times when you want to get brewing. The steam paddles are also innovative, with tap activation that you have to feel to understand, but is excellent to work with once you do. All of this comes wrapped in a hand-built package straight from Milan, Italy that easily earns this spot on our list. Also available with flow control!
Breville Oracle Jet Espresso Machine
The Oracle Jet is our most unique machine on this list and a great option for someone who wants to bring some automation into their espresso crafting without losing that hands-on feel. This machine uses a touchscreen to walk you through each step of the brewing process, with both built-in recipes and easily customizable options that will allow you to save and recreate your favorite drinks, even if they won’t be found on a cafe menu.
What makes this machine extra special is the way that it blends this automation with higher end performance like you’d expect from a semi-automatic machine. Superautomatics can be great for many users, but their small dosing size and rigid brew options can mean that you won’t get the same performance as you might out of a semi-automatic, but with the Oracle Jet you can get the best of both worlds. Automatic milk steaming, auto-dosing tamping, and a full-size 58mm group head seal the deal, making this machine an excellent choice to get started or add some simplicity to your espresso workflow.
The LELIT Bianca offers built-in flow control to its controls, giving you moment to moment control over your brewing pressure. This is definitely an expert-level feature, but it’s one we appreciate, and serious users will too. If you’re not familiar with pressure profiling and flow control, this type of paddle allows you to directly control water pressure as you brew, allowing you to slowly build pressure over the shot, or start with a higher pressure and taper it. It allows you to tease out unique flavors in your espresso, as well as “save” shots while you’re still dialing in your beans.
On top of this feature, the Bianca offers extra control like programmable pre-infusion and shot tapering through the LELIT Control Center, allowing you to save a profile you like and recall it with a lift of the paddle. Other smart design elements like an external water tank, commercial-style rotary pump for plumbing in, and attractive wood furniture make this a fantastic entry point for learning to use flow control, and possible the last machine you’ll ever need!
Honorable Mention: Rancilio Silvia Pro X Espresso Machine
Rancilio’s machines have often been featured on our year-end lists, and we wanted to give a shout out this year to the Silvia Pro X - a real evolution of their legendary Silvia platform. The Pro X offers all of the reliability and performance of the Silvia but with some extra accouterments that the base machine’s no-frills design leaves out.
For starters, the PID controlled dual boiler design cuts out the temperature surfing that the original Silvia requires, giving you temperature stability right out of the gate. Other features like a built-in shot timer, auto-on programming, and an adjustable pre-infusion setting bring this machine up to par with other modern offerings while still providing that solid commercial inspired design and performance that we’ve come to expect from Rancilio.
An excellent choice if you love that Rancilio style!
We hope you enjoyed our picks this year! Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments, and check out our video version of this list to see these machines in action.