Espresso machines under $1000 are usually somewhere between mid-range and high-end machines, so you can expect that they will make you some really good coffee drinks. When it comes to the best of these espresso machines, you can expect them to be durable, easy-to-use, and to produce great results. Therefore, let’s take a look at what some of the best machines under $1000 are.
#1 Breville the Barista Express – Best Choice
Breville the Barista Express is perfect for anyone who likes machines with portafiters and an integrated bean hopper with a large capacity. With this machine, you’ll always enjoy in your espresso because of the constant brew temperature. Furthermore, the Barista Express also has a milk frother, so you’ll be able to add milk froth into the espresso and turn it into a great milk-based drink.
The burr grinder of the Barista Express can grind the beans at the level of your preference and the ground coffee will then fall directly into the portafilter locked into the grinding cradle of the machine. There’s also a grind amount dial on the machine that lets you control how much coffee you want the grinder to grind. This machine allows you to make double and single espresso shots.
Key features:
- Dose-control grinding
- Multi-level grinder
- Constant temperature of the brew water
- Milk frother
- Pre-infusion
Pros
Great espresso
Great milk foam
Dose-control grinding lets you adjust the strength of the coffee
Cons
Nothing for this product
#2 De’Longhi ECAM22110SB – Best value
Great espresso machines come with great programmability, and the De’Longhi ECAM22110SB offers you to program the temperature of the water, the coffee strength, and the cup size. The espresso that comes from this affordable machine tastes delicious because of the 13-level grinder. The grinder let’s you choose how coarse you want your coffee to be grinded which influences the coffee extraction.
This espresso machine works with both coffee beans and pre-ground coffee. It also has a milk frother that is manual and that can make great foam for the many cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos you’ll want to have once you buy the ECAM22110SB. The espresso machine also has adjustable coffee spouts that can accommodate shorter and taller cups.
Key features:
- Cappuccino system
- Adjustable coffee spouts
- 13-level grinder
- Works with pre-ground coffee
- Programmable temperature, coffee strength, and cup size
Pros
Great manual milk frother
Consistent brew temperature
Fantastic macchiato, latte, and cappuccino
Cons
Small water reservoir
#3 Rancilio Silvia – Premium Pick
The simple Rancilio Silvia is an espresso machine with rocker control buttons that are easy-to-use. By pressing one of the buttons, you’re telling the machine to make you an espresso or steam and froth your milk. To steam or froth the milk on the Rancilio Silvia, you’ll have to use the manual steam wand and the steam dial that are on the machine.
This espresso machine can make you single and double espresso shots, with the ground coffee being in a portafilter during the extraction process. The portafilter has an ergonomic handle and is, therefore, very easy-to-use; locking it into the commercial grade group head is also not an issue. Even though the Rancilio Silvia works with ground coffee, you can buy a pod and capsule adaptor separately and use your favorite pods and capsules on the machine.
Key features:
- Manual steam wand
- Portafilter
- Steam dial
- Control panel with rocker buttons
- Commercial grade group head
Pros
Portafilter with an ergonomic handle
Easy-to-use control panel
You can buy a separate pod and capsule adaptor with the machine
Cons
Nothing for this espresso machine
#4 Jura Ena Micro 1 – Best for espresso only
The Jura Ena Micro 1 is a great espresso machine if you are into espresso coffee drinks. This machine makes great espresso, ristreto, and coffee and the drinks are also programmable. On the Ena Micro 1, you use one button to get the coffee drink that you want. However, if you decide to program the strength or the cup size of the drink, you can do that with the help of the three buttons on the top of the machine.
This espresso machine uses a multi-level grinder to grind the coffee beans that you like, which means that you can choose the grind size of your coffee. The machine has a sleek design, is very easy-to-use, and it is very compact measuring only 9 x 12.7 x 17.5 inches.
Key features:
- Coffee drinks at the touch of a button
- Multi-level grinder
- Three coffee drinks
- Three cup sizes
- Two coffee strengths
Pros
Compact
Easy-to-use
Great design
Cons
Makes only single shots
Doesn’t make milk-based drinks
#5 Jura Impressa C65 – Best automatic espresso machine
If Jura is your favorite brand of coffee makers and espresso machines, the Jura Impressa C65 could be the right machine for you. The machine has a menu dial that lets you select the options from C65’s menu. This is a one-touch machine, which means that your coffee will be ready if you press one button only. The coffee spouts on the C65 are adjustable, and you can fit shorter and taller cups underneath them.
The Jura Impressa C65 uses a 15-bar pressure pump to make you great espresso by optimizing the extraction of the coffee. The machine has a milk frother which froths the milk to the point it turns into a silky foam. Therefore, you’ll have a blast with the C65 if you enjoy espresso as much as you enjoy cappuccino. Furthermore, the C65 has a hot water function which is great for making tea or hot cocoa.
Key features:
- Menu dial
- Milk frother
- 15-bar pressure pump
- Hot water function
- Adjustable coffee strength
Pros
A simple machine
Great milk frother
Adjustable coffee spouts
Cons
The way the menu is might be confusing for some
Not many grind levels
#6 De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica
The De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica is here to start your morning with a really nice cappuccino, latte, flat white, or macchiato. This espresso machine has a Direct-to-Brew system and relies on a 13-level grinder to grind your favorite coffee beans. The coffee spouts on the ESAM3300 Magnifica are adjustable, and they can accommodate cups as tall as 4.25 inches.
This espresso machine can make you single and double espresso shots with the help of its easy-to-use control panel. The coffee drinks made by the ESAM3300 are programmable. That said, you customize the drinks by programming the strength of the coffee and adjusting the cup size of the drink.
Key features:
- Patented Cappuccino System
- Direct-to-Brew system
- 13-level grinder
- Makes one or two espresso shots at a time
- Adjustable coffee spouts
Pros
Makes great cappuccinos
Simple to use
Programmable coffee drinks
Cons
Noisy when grinding
The milk frother froths the milk a bit slowly
#7 Gaggia Brera
The Gaggia Brera can make you a lot of coffee drinks with or without milk and it will also let you customize them. This machine uses the Panarello steam wand to froth the milk and create nice foam for your favorite milk-based drinks. Its LED display and push control buttons are, furthermore, very easy to understand, which means that it is not hard to use the Gaggia Brera.
The Gaggia Brera has a front made of stainless steel, which is great for preventing any corrosion at the places where water and coffee are likely to spill. The coffee spout on the espresso machine are height-adjustable, and you can fit any cup that is from 3.25 to 4.5 inches tall. The brew group of the Gaggia Brera is, furthermore, removable, which makes the machine easy to clean.
Key features:
- Panarello steam wand
- LED display
- Push control buttons
- Height-adjustable coffee spout
- Front made of stainless steel
Pros
Programmable coffee drinks
Buttons are easy to understand
Removable brew group
Cons
Mostly made of plastic
Works kind of slow
#8 Saeco Incanto Plus Espresso Machine
The Saeco Incanto Plus espresso machine lets you make nice milk-based drinks and prepares espresso and lungo at the touch of a button. The machine uses ceramic grinders to grind the coffee beans that you put in the bean hopper. Ceramic grinders do great in preserving the aroma and flavor of the coffee because they don’t heat up much during the grinding process. Furthermore, there’s an option for pre-ground coffee if you want to have a cup of decaffeinated coffee.
This espresso machine uses the Classic Milk Frother to make cappuccino, latte, macchiato, and other milk-based drinks. You can make all the drinks on this machine according to your preference by customizing the coffee strength. There’s also a hot water option which you can use when you feel like having tea or hot chocolate. The boiler on the Saeco Incanto Plus heats up quickly, which means that you won’t have to wait long before your drink is prepared.
Key features:
- Ceramic grinders
- Classic Milk Frother
- Powder Option
- Programmable switch off time
- Espresso and lungo buttons
Pros
Boiler heats up quickly
Works with coffee beans and pre-ground coffee
Programmable coffee strength
Cons
Requires a bigger clearance so that you can open the reservoir and the bean hopper
#9 illy 60254 X1 Espresso Machine – The beauty
The beautiful illy 60254 X1 espresso machine is made of metal and is very durable. Its small dimensions also make it very compact and suitable for even those kitchen counters that lack on space. The machine works with a portafilter and has simple control buttons, which means that it is very easy-to-use.
The illy X1 works with iperEspresso capsules, so if you want to make espresso on it, you’ll have to buy these kind of capsules. This espresso machine has a steam wand for your cappuccinos and lattes, but it can also dispense hot water for your tea and hot chocolate. Furthermore, the illy X1 lets you customize the coffee volume and it has a removable cup support tray in case you need to accommodate a larger cup underneath the portafilter.
Key features:
- Works with iperEspresso capsules
- Steam wand with hot water function
- Metal body
- Has a portafilter
- Has a cup support tray that is removable
Pros
Makes milk-based and coffee based drinks
Coffee volume can be customized
Durable and compact
Cons
Doesn’t work with capsules that are not illy iperEspresso
#10 La Pavoni 8-Cup Lever-Style Espresso Maker – The ‘Man of Steel’
If you want an interesting-looking espresso maker in your home, you could take a look at the La Pavoni. This is an 8-cup lever-style espresso maker which lets you manually use the lever to customize your espresso. However, the La Pavoni doesn’t make espresso only. This espresso maker makes great milk-based coffee drinks with its traditional steam wand.
The La Pavoni can make you one or two shots of espresso, and it comes with a tamper, filter baskets, a measuring spoon, a screen, and a screen holder. It is a very durable espresso maker because it is made of steel. Furthermore, the La Pavoni is very compact and will fit almost every kitchen counter out there.
Key features:
- Traditional steam wand
- Lever
- Single or double espresso shots
Pros
Durable because it’s made of steel
Interesting design
Compact
Cons
The steam wand doesn’t swivel
No three-way solenoid valve
FAQ
Is a coffee maker and an espresso machine the same?
No, they are not the same. There is a big difference between them when it comes to how they brew the coffee. In a coffee maker, the coffee beans are grinded more coarsely and the water that brews them doesn’t press on the coffee like the water that makes the espresso in espresso machines. Therefore, a coffee maker makes you coffee, a drink with more water and less coffee, and an espresso machine makes you espresso, which is thicker and richer than coffee because it has more coffee and less water in it.
How often should I descale an espresso machine?
That would depend on whether the water in the water tank of the espresso machine is filtered or not. If you’re using a filter for your machine, you’ll probably need to descale it once a year. However, if your espresso machine doesn’t have a water filter, you’ll need to descale it more frequently, like every month or two. Nevertheless, you should check the manual that comes with the espresso machine that you’ve bought to see what its manufacturers recommend.
Things to consider when buying an espresso machine
The beverages the espresso machine makes – Depending on what kind of coffee drinks you prefer, you should pick an espresso machine that can make those drinks. If you like milk-based drinks, you should go for an espresso machine that has a milk frother. On the other hand, if you prefer drinking espresso and ristreto, you should search the market for an espresso machine that makes these kind of drinks only.
Features of the machine – There are espresso machines that have great features such as programmability of the drinks, milk frothers, hot water function, bean hoppers and grinders, and more. You should always be looking for a machine that has the features that you think could serve you. However, you should also be looking for a machine that can offer you customization of your drinks.
Is it easy to use it – Your espresso machine should be easy-to-use or otherwise you’ll have a hard time every time you’ll try to make espresso on it. With a machine that is hard to use, you’ll end up preparing your coffee drink very slowly and you’ll lose time. Now, you’ll have to put in some effort into learning how to operate your machine. However, this effort shouldn’t make you never use the espresso machine again.
The durability of the machine – Before you buy an espresso machine, you should ask yourself how durable it is. Usually, machines that are made of metal and stainless steel are much more resistant to damage and corrosion than machines made of plastic. Therefore, look for a machine that is made of metal or that at least has very little plastic in its construction.
How much the machine costs – How much money you’ll have to spend for buying the espresso machine also matters. Of course, this will depend on how much money you actually can afford spending. However, if you can find the features and the quality of features that you’re looking for in a machine that’s not very expensive, you will probably have no reason to buy some other machine with the same features and quality of features that costs a fortune.
The size of the machine – It’s always great to have an espresso machine that is compact and that can fit in different spots in your house. Of course, which dimensions your machine should have will have to do with how much space you have on your kitchen counter or anywhere else you want to place it. Also, mind how much clearance you’ll need for your machine because there are parts on it that will have to sometimes be removed.
How many coffee drinkers will make coffee on the machine – If you live in a household that has a lot of coffee drinkers, you’ll probably need to get a machine with a larger water reservoir and—if the machine has a bean hopper— a bean hopper with a greater capacity. On the other hand, smaller machines are great for you if you live in a smaller family or are buying it for yourself only. The same things apply for the espresso machine you’re buying for your workplace.
Conclusion
All the espresso machines that we mentioned in our list of best espresso machines under $1000 are great. However, our top pick is Breville the Barista Express espresso machine. This machine has many interesting features, is very durable, and brings a good bang for the buck. However, the other nine machines are also great, and if you prefer any of them more than the Barista Express, you should consider buying the machine that you like.