Best Espresso Machines Under $1000: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

The Espresso Machines Under 1000 Dollars

1. Breville the Barista Express - Top Pick

Among the best espresso machines under 1000 dollars, the Barista Express is the one that will amaze you with its combination of functionality and style.

Some of the best features of the Barista Express are the built-in coffee grinder, the ability to prepare drinks for two people at once, and the manual milk steaming option. And you'll have coffee in no time: It takes less than one minute from filling the hopper with beans to enjoying your cup of espresso.

High functionality most often leads to an increase in the size of the espresso machine, but if you think a functional and compact espresso machine under $1000 is difficult to find, you are mistaken. The Barista Express is comparable in size to a microwave oven. It measures just 12 x 11 x 13.5 inches.

Even an aspiring home barista knows that the best beans for an espresso are the beans ground just before brewing. Breville's espresso machine has an integrated conical burr grinder for your choice of coffee. You will receive the required amount of freshly ground coffee, dispensed directly into the portafilter.

Use an intuitive dial to control the grind size. You can choose one of 16 grind settings, from fine to coarse, so you can brew the perfect espresso and espresso-based drinks.

The Breville BES870XL is not only a great choice for you, but also an opportunity to please your family and friends. The model can brew two shots at once. And so you don't waste time constantly refilling water and beans, the bean hopper can hold 0.5lb and the water tank can hold 67oz. That's enough for over 10 cups of espresso.

To prepare a delicious espresso, water temperature and pressure are super important. The designers of the Barista Express haven't ignored this fact. The espresso machine is equipped with a digital PID temperature controller that keeps the water at the right temperature so you don't get a burnt or ashy taste in your cup. And so the espresso will have a caramel color and a very good crema, the water is passed through the pre-ground coffee beans at a pressure of 9 bar.

Want to make a great latte at home? This is also possible with the Barista Express. The built-in steam wand allows you to manually froth milk. You won't have any problems, even if this is your first time steaming milk. With a little experimentation, you'll be able to create tasty, sweet milk froth.

This best semi-automatic espresso machine under $1000 is equipped with a Clean Me reminder, so you won't forget to service it correctly, thus extending the life of the machine. For the same purpose, it has an automatic cleaning cycle within the brew group.

2. Gaggia Classic Pro - Best for Home Use

The Gaggia Classic Pro is a compact, affordable machine for home use, but with the durability of professional models. Coffee expert James Hoffman noted this espresso machine in his review and named it one of the models he would choose for himself.

He noted that this is the build you'd expect from a premium espresso maker, and it brews a pretty good espresso shot that's not too acidic. The frothed milk has an excellent texture. This machine is a good value for your money.

You can watch a more detailed overview in Hoffman's video:

The Gaggia espresso machine has a simple, stylish design that will suit any interior. It is very compact and takes up just a little more space than your electric kettle at 9 x 9.5 x 14.2 inches. The robust case is made of brushed stainless steel.

It's not hard to find home espresso machine under 1000 dollars with a built-in steam wand, but not every one boasts a professional level of performance. The commercial grade, double-hole steam wand will texture milk to a velvety microfoam.

The RI9380/46 has a 58mm commercial-grade, chrome-plated portafilter. The set includes two filter baskets that allow you to prepare one or two shots at a time. This is very convenient if you are preparing drinks for family or friends.

The 71oz, top-fill water tank allows you to prepare more than 20 espresso shots without refilling.

In the morning, everyone wants to optimize their time to save it for sleep. The Gaggia Classic Pro is equipped with double heating elements that heat the boiler in just 5 minutes and the steam wand in just 30 seconds.

The Gaggia Classic Pro has three buttons: for switching on and off, for brewing coffee, and for steaming milk. Each switch has its own indicator light that shows when it's in use, which is a very convenient feature.

To maintain the intense coffee aroma and crema for a long time, you should brew your espresso in a pre-warmed cup. For this, the Gaggia Classic Pro has professional-grade capabilities. It has a built-in stainless-steel cup warmer that heats up to 120°F.

The machine is very easy to clean. It has a spacious 16oz drip tray, so you don't have to clean it after every cup. The model has a 3-way solenoid valve for cleaning the portafilter, just like you'd find in any commercial espresso machine.

3. Philips 3200 Series - Best for Lattes and Cappuccinos

Choose a drink and adjust its strength and volume on the touch screen, and the Philips 3200 Series will prepare your drink without any more work on your part. The LatteGo automatic system can even prepare a latte macchiato or cappuccino with one touch. This top-rated super-automatic espresso machine is an excellent option for those who want a delicious result every time.

The Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is the best super-automatic espresso machine under $1000. You can make espressos, cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, and Americanos. This super-automatic espresso machine delivers perfect results in no time.

The Philips 3200 Series is equipped with the LatteGo milk preparation system that gives you silky smooth milk foam. The two-piece LatteGo system mixes milk and air at high speed; it has no tubing or hidden parts, so you can clean it under the tap or in the dishwasher.

The robust ceramic burr grinder has 12 grind size settings, from ultrafine to coarse.

The touch screen display is intuitive and allows you to easily select your favorite coffee. You can also adjust the strength and volume of your drink using the menu.

The AquaClean water filter provides maximum efficiency for your fully-automatic coffee machine. The machine will tell you when it is time to replace the filter. You can enjoy purified water and can brew up to 5,000 cups before descaling. After installing the AquaClean filter, the limescale notification is automatically disabled.

The Philips 3200 Series one of the best super-automatic espresso machines under $1000 and allows you to enjoy various espresso drinks without any effort.

4. Nespresso Creatista Plus - Best Single Serve

Making espresso is easy with the Nespresso Creatista Plus by Breville. Just insert a capsule and press the button. Every cup will be perfect thanks to the precise dosage of ground beans in a vacuum-sealed capsule that will keep the coffee fresh for years.

The Nespresso Creatista Plus has an excellent, durable design with a glossy finish and will be a stylish, functional addition to your kitchen. You can make fresh coffee as well as delicious espresso. At the touch of a button, you can brew a Ristretto (0.5 ounces), Espresso (1.35 ounces), or Lungo (5 ounces). And to make your favorite iced coffee drinks, just add ice to the cup.

The Creatista Plus lets you take it one step further and create sophisticated espresso-based drinks like flat whites, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. The capsule espresso machine has a steam wand for milk frothing, as well as a nice bonus in the form of a stainless steel milk jug with spout. The automatic, built-in milk frother allows you to choose one of 8 texture levels and also has 11 temperature options, from 131 to 169°F (55 to 76°C). You can create high-quality latte art right in your kitchen.

The Nespresso Creatista Plus by Breville has a high-resolution TFT LCD display. This will be your assistant in all aspects of preparation, brewing, and maintenance. You can adjust the volume of coffee and the temperature of the milk.

You will certainly appreciate the 1.5-liter removable water tank, as well as the automatic steam wand cleaning feature that blows steam through the wand after each use. The machine heats up in less than 3 seconds, and thanks to its energy-saving mode, it automatically turns off after 9 minutes.

Each Creatista Plus includes a welcome set of Nespresso Original capsules with unique aromatic profiles. The sealed aluminum capsules preserve flavor and aroma and provide an exceptional taste. You can choose your favorite coffee from this wide range of capsules.

5. Rancilio Silvia - Best Compact Pick

With the Rancilio Silvia, you'll get Italian reliability and the best extraction of your espresso with a commercial-grade group head. The espresso machine also includes a commercial-grade steam wand and portafilter for a professional-quality beverage.

If you are looking for an espresso machine under 1000 dollars, the Rancilio Silvia is a stylish and compact choice. Its classic design and compact size (11.4 by 13.4 by 9.2 inches) fit well in any kitchen. It has an iron frame, and the side panels are made of stainless steel. This popular semi-automatic espresso machine is designed for long-term use.

The professional, stainless steel hinged steam wand offers a full range of motion for easy milk frothing and precisely controls steam pressure.

The Rancilio Silva has a commercial-grade group head that provides excellent heat resistance and superior extraction quality. The patented 58mm portafilter—the same type used on commercial Rancilio coffee machines—is easy to remove.

The Rancilio Silvia boiler has the highest power among home appliances in its class. This chrome-plated brass boiler holds 12 ounces (0.3 liters) and provides outstanding steaming power and short recovery time between drinks. The removable water tank holds 2 liters, and water can be added from above without removing the reservoir.

This Rancilio Silvia espresso machine comes complete with a 7-gram coffee spoon, plastic tamper, and two filter baskets (single and double).

Regular maintenance of this coffee maker is essential to keep it in good working order. To keep it brewing your coffee for many years, descale your machine regularly.

How to Choose the Espresso Machine In this Price Category

Type of espresso machine

The type of espresso machine determines how it works, and whether you need barista skills or not. The types of espresso machines include semi-automatic, super-automatic, and manual.

Semi-Automatic — To get a cup of coffee, you need to grind the coffee beans, fill the portafilter, tamp the coffee, install the portafilter in the group head, and push a button to start brewing. You have control over all parameters: You choose the grind size, the dose of coffee, and the extraction time. If you like to control every stage of brewing, then a semi-automatic espresso machine is a good choice.

Super-Automatic — With a super-automatic espresso machine, all you need to do is fill the hopper with beans, add water and milk, and choose your desired drink. The machine will grind the beans, select the optimal dose of ground coffee, and steam the milk. Some people state that the espresso quality is not that high due to the automation of brewing. But this is a matter of personal preference. For those who want to enjoy the drink and not think about all aspects of its preparation, a super-automatic machin is a good idea.

Single-Serve — These are the easiest espresso machines to use. You just insert a capsule and press a button. If you want to prepare espresso-based milk drinks, there are single-serve espresso machines with built-in steam wands or separate milk frothers. Though the capsules are expensive, you will get a consistent cup of coffee every time. A single-serve espresso maker is a great choice for those who want to save time and energy.

Portafilter

When choosing a machine, pay attention to the diameter of the portafilter. Commercial units have a standard 58mm size. If you want to completely immerse yourself in the espresso brewing process, then choose that size. Cheaper models are equipped with smaller portafilters. The smaller the size, the fewer options you have when choosing a dose of ground coffee.

The portafilter handle does not affect the espresso, but is important for usability. It can be made of metal, plastic, wood, or rubber. What you choose depends on your preference.

Steam wand

If you want to brew espresso-and-milk drinks, choose an espresso machine with a built-in steam wand. The wand can be either manual or automatic.

With a manual steam wand, the whole process of steaming and frothing milk depends on your barista skills: you choose the steam rate and steaming time.

An automatic steam wand just requires you to select what drink you want, and it'll do the rest.

Built-in grinder

You can buy an espresso machine with a built-in grinder. This saves you time and money and allows you to grind the beans just before brewing for the best, freshest taste. For ease of preparation, most machines deliver the ground coffee directly to the portafilter.

When choosing coffee machine with a built-in grinder, pay attention to the capacity of the bean hopper. If you want to brew many shots at a time for friends or family, opt for a machine with a half-pound hopper capacity. For individual brewing, get a machine with a smaller hopper so the beans don't lose their freshness while waiting to be ground.

Water tank

The first thing worth paying attention to is the volume of a water tank. To avoid having to refill frequently, choose models with a capacity of at least 67 ounces. Do you think this is a lot for just one or two people? You won't think so if the machine has a self-cleaning function. For this cycle, water is drawn from the water tank.

Also pay attention to ease of refilling. Can you easily remove the water tank so you don't have to move the whole machine? Can the tank be filled without being removed? Some models allow both. For example, the Gaggia Classic Pro allows the tank to be filled from the top or removed from the front.

Single or double shots

A single shot is one serving of espresso, and a double shot is two servings. If you want to brew drinks for more than one person, choose a machine that can brew two shots at once. Almost all espresso machines under $1000 can brew two cups at a time, though single-serve machines that use capsules can only brew a single shot.

Size

When choosing a coffee machine for your home, be sure to pay attention to its dimensions. The size of the device is especially important if you have a small kitchen. The machine must be placed near a power outlet for ease of use. There should also be room at the top and sides to remove the containers for water, beans, and used grounds.

PID temperature controller

The taste of espresso is influenced by the temperature of the water passing through the ground coffee. At high temperatures, your espresso will taste bitter. If the temperature is too low, you'll have a very acidic cup of coffee. A PID controller allows you to adjust the temperature to get delicious coffee. It also makes it possible to adjust the steam pressure. At higher temperatures, steam is supplied under greater pressure. This is a useful feature; its only drawback is the increased cost of your espresso macker.

Sources:

1.  The Parts of an Espresso Machine - ItStillWorks
2. How Espresso Machines Work - How Stuff Works
3. Buying an espresso machine: Everything you need to know – TopTenReviews