The Best ​​​Budget Espresso Machine

Our top choice for a budget espresso machine is the DeLonghi ECP3420. DeLonghi has been manufacturing excellent budget espresso machines for a long time, and they tend to excel and knowing where to take shortcuts and where to make your dollar count. It goes without saying that there will be sacrifices with a machine in this price range, and for the  ECP3420 that includes no milk canister, no water filters, and no mug warmer in this model. The milk canister is a bit of a disappointing omission given that the steam wand is of no use without one, but thankfully milk frothers are cheap and easy to find.

The same goes for the tamp, another surprising omission by DeLonghi. Unlike a milk canister, which can theoretically be replaced with any container you like, you really can’t make espresso without a tamp. That being said, most budget espresso machines come with plastic tamps that we always recommend replacing with stainless steel anyway. For all these omissions, however, DeLonghi still manages to offer multiple filter baskets, a steam wand, and a removable drip tray for easy cleaning or larger cup sizes. If you want the basics without the fuss or the financial burden, the  DeLonghi ECP3420 tops our list.

The DeLonghi EC702 is a little more flexible than the ECP3420. With this model, you can see that they wanted to more closely replicate the cafe-style espresso machine, and it’s nothing short of impressive that they were able to reasonably do that within this budget. One thing that sets this model apart is the top warmer, which is a great little feature rarely found in budget models. Not only does it look nice, but who doesn’t love a warm mug in the morning? The EC702 also comes with a stainless steel milk canister, a steam wand that includes a positioning handle, and a good sized water tank that’s easy to remove.

As with any budget machine, there are of course some sacrifices in the quality of materials. The tamp, steam wand and portafilter are all made plastic. While tamps are easy (and strongly recommended) replacements, there’s not a lot you can do about the portafilter or steam wand, so you’ll just have to take extra precautions to keep the machine in lasting condition. This model also gives you the option of ordering a set of espresso glasses with the machine. Overall this model gives you a surprising amount of flexibility for a solid, budget espresso machine.

Manual espresso machines are not as sought after among the budgeting espresso drinkers, namely because they tend to peak the interest of more invested connoisseurs who are a little more willing to fork over some extra cash for high quality coffee drinks. Manual espresso machines are known for their ability to make superb espresso, but they also require a little more skill and know-how to operate properly and get that great tasting coffee. The ROK EspressoGC is an impressive machine because it opens the door for more control/user involvement on a tight budget. The main difference with manual espresso machines is that rather than relying on a pressure pump, its the user who needs to give the right amount of pressure.

That means these machines are less forgiving, but a lot more fun to use. Their simplicity also means that fewer sacrifices need to be made in order to keep costs down. With a bit of practice, the ROK will produce higher quality beverages than most budget espresso machines can offer. It even comes with a milk frother and a storage container for storing or transporting this compact unit. It does take a little practice to use, and it requires some patience, so it’s not ideal if you want to making drinks for a lot of people. It also has a plastic portafilter spout which will inevitably have a relatively short life span. But overall, the ROK is a great way to get acquainted with a more hands on barista experience and a super low cost.

We often consider DeLonghi the masters of the budget espresso machine, so it’s no surprise that this third model made it on to our list. The most impressive thing about the EC155 is that it is one of the most compact, fully functional espresso machines that still has a milk frother. Its small, simple design makes it really easy to store, taking up very little real estate on your countertop, and is also super easy to clean.

One downside is that for such a small machine, between the frother and the grouphead it will require frequent water refills. Budget espresso machines also take more time to heat up, so even though it’s small, it will require some patience if you plan on brewing a lot of drinks with it. This model also has a fairly shallow drip tray that will need to be cleaned out frequently, and it is heavy on the plastic materials. But the fact that DeLonghi has designed a machine of this size and price without sacrificing the milk frother is certainly an impressive feat that any super-budgeter will want to take advantage of.

The Hamilton Beach 40714 is another impressive model that somehow manages to give users both espresso and milk frothing options at an outstandingly low price. As one of the least costly espresso machines on the market, we were rather impressed with its performance and features. It has an easy-to-fill water reservoir and comes with a combination scoop/tamp. While we are universally unfavoring of the plastic tamps, we did find the scoop/tamp combo a neat little tool that would be perfect were it made of something a little heavier and more durable.

The Hamilton Beach also does not come with a milk canister, so you’ll want to get one of those if you want to take advantage of the milk frother. This model is not the most stylish of the group, but it has an easy to read front end interface that makes it very user friendly. It also has some useful directions for inserting the portafilter, which is a great feature for beginners. So if saving money is your top priority, the Hamilton Beach is about as affordable as you can dream of for a proper espresso machine. 

You might be wondering why we’ve added the Bialetti to the list, seeing as it is not actually a traditional espresso machine like the rest of the list. It doesn’t brew true espresso, nor does it come with a milk frothing option. However, it does make a distinctly flavourful coffee and gives users a unique, hands on experience that a lot of people seek when they’re looking for espresso machines. These similarities are what made us put the Bialetti on the list. It’s here for those who may have come in looking for an espresso machine and found that what you wanted was actually something a little simpler.

There are two main advantages to the Bialetti. One is that it is by far the most affordable. This classic coffee machine is a simpler design with less moving parts, thus is can inevitably be less expensive. It’s also a great alternative if you want a unique coffee machine but are not really willing to sacrifice coffee quality. The Bialetti allows you to make strong coffee that is arguably on par with the quality of budget espresso by comparison to ultra high end machines. So for “not espresso but something like it,” the Bialetti is an easy, portable, fun coffee maker.