Updated March 2025
From £70 pod machines to £700 professional semi-automatics — we've narrowed down the only espresso machines worth buying in 2025.
The best espresso machine depends entirely on what you want from it. If you just want great espresso with zero effort, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop is hard to beat at under £100. If you want the full barista experience, the Sage Barista Express is worth every penny of its £600 price tag — it has a built-in grinder and a proper steam wand.
For most people, we recommend the De'Longhi Dedica EC685 — it's slim, affordable, and makes genuinely good espresso.
| Product | Price | Rating | Best For | Our Take | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 | £119–£149 | 4.4/5 | Best Value | The best mid-range espresso machine for most people. Slim 15cm wi… | Buy → |
| Sage Barista Express SES875 | £549–£699 | 4.7/5 | Editor's Pick | Built-in grinder plus proper steam wand — everything you need to … | Buy → |
| Nespresso Vertuo Pop | £69–£99 | 4.5/5 | Budget Pick | The easiest espresso experience you can buy. Pod-based, one-butto… | Buy → |
| Breville Bambino Plus BES500 | £279–£349 | 4.6/5 | Home use | Auto-steaming milk makes latte art accessible to beginners. Power… | Buy → |
De'Longhi
The best mid-range espresso machine for most people. Slim 15cm wide, 15-bar pump, froths real milk.
Sage
Built-in grinder plus proper steam wand — everything you need to make genuinely cafe-quality espresso at home.
Nespresso
The easiest espresso experience you can buy. Pod-based, one-button, fast. Perfect for beginners or offices.
Breville
Auto-steaming milk makes latte art accessible to beginners. Powerful enough to grow with your skills.
Espresso requires 9 bars of pressure to extract properly. Most consumer machines claim 15 bars but regulate down to 9 during extraction — this is normal. Avoid anything claiming fewer than 9 bars.
Pre-ground coffee starts going stale within 15 minutes of grinding. A machine with a built-in grinder (like the Sage Barista Express) guarantees freshness. If you buy a separate machine, pair it with a burr grinder — the Baratza Encore is the entry-level standard.
Manual steam wands give you control to make proper microfoam for latte art. Automatic frothers are easier for beginners. The Breville Bambino Plus has an automatic wand that produces surprisingly good results.