The Best Affordable Espresso Machines

Updated June 2, 2022
Why Trust Fat Kid Deals?

Fat Kid Deals spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own.

Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best Bang for the Buck

Coffee Gator

Quick-Brew Espresso

Bottom Line

bottom line
Customer Favorite Not all high-quality espresso machines cost a fortune and that's certainly the case with Coffee Gator. This affordable espresso machine cuts no corners, even comes with a milk frother.

Pros

pros
  • 1-minute quick brew feature
  • 20 bar pump and semi-automatic
  • Easy to clean (auto-purge)
  • Removable water tank

Cons

cons
  • Small drip tray needs to be emptied after three to four uses
Best Bang for the Buck

bonVIVO

Intenca

Bottom Line

bottom line
Least Expensive If you're looking for an easy to use and good-looking espresso maker that can fill the whole families cups in one brew, then look no further.

Pros

pros
  • Incredibly stylish design
  • Brews up to 6 cups

Cons

cons
  • Copper look fades after many uses
New Product

Willow & Everett

Compact Espresso

Bottom Line

bottom line
Incredible Machine This machine redefined our expectations and produced the best espresso we had while testing over 20 models. Willow & Everett spared no expense and we're thankful that they didn't.

Pros

pros
  • 20 BAR pump espresso machine
  • 1.3 liter capacity
  • Auto shut off feature after 40 minutes

Cons

cons
  • Premium experience = premium price

Mr. Coffee

Steam Espresso

Bottom Line

bottom line
Beginner's Pick If you're new to espresso machines and don't want the bells and whistles, Mr. Coffee might be a good fit. Better yet, it comes equipped with a measuring scoop for added convenience.

Pros

pros
  • Extra large portafilter (up to four shots)
  • Easy to use and great for newbies

Cons

cons
  • Difficult to open lid post-brew
  • Not the best tasting to us espresso snobs

How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Click here for testing insights >
19 Models
Considered
200 Consumers
Consulted
45 Hours
Researched
Buying guide for
The Best Affordable Espresso Machines

Choosing an espresso machine can feel overwhelming — especially if this is your first time buying one, or if you’re shopping for someone else. While an espresso machine is an excellent addition to any kitchen, many people struggle to find an affordable machine that they trust. We’re here not only to recommend our top picks, but also point out some essential features to help you buy an espresso machine more intelligently.

If you’re like us and can’t get enough coffee, you might want to check out our cold brew coffee maker buying guide, too. Unlike these “affordable” espresso machines, cold brew coffee makers have a much lower price point. Most of the really good cold brew makers we tried were less than $30.

Bar Pressure

When you’re evaluating bar pressure, the higher the pump number, the better the machine. A normal range could be anywhere from five to 15 bar. Exceptional machines will go beyond, sometimes even reaching up to 20 bar. To make a strong espresso, look for something above 15 and you won’t be disappointed.

Cleaning

No matter how tasty the coffee is, if you have to spend a lot of time cleaning up your machine after each use, you’ll start to wonder if it’s really worth it. Thankfully, though, there are plenty of machines that make cleanup quick and easy.

When looking for cleanup-friendly features, seek out removable drip trays and water tanks as well as the ability to auto-purge. That last one is rare, but it can save you precious cleaning time and maintenance costs down the road.

Pricing

Espresso machines weren’t always affordable, or for that matter, practical for many to have in their homes.

The good news? Things have certainly changed. In fact, if someone tells you that you can’t find a quality espresso machine for under $200, just know that they are wrong. In fact, one of the best espresso machines we’ve found is well beneath that price. Some decent espresso makers are even below $100 these days.

Accessories

If you’ve never had coffee with frothed milk, you might not understand what all the hype is about. But take it from us: once you try it, you’ll know.

These little accessories can make all the difference when it comes to separating the good espresso machines from the great ones. In fact, one of our favorite ones is a measuring scoop. It will help you find the exact amount of coffee you enjoy, each and every time.

FAQ

Q. How do you clean an espresso machine? A. Espresso machines are easier than ever before to clean. Most espresso machines require minimum effort thanks for technology and feature improvements. Chances are your espresso machine will have a removable tray beneath the coffee cup area. Be sure to pull this out after every couple of uses and pour out the excess. You may want to wipe it down afterward to prevent any coffee stains. Next, make sure to hold down your spout and remove any lingering drops of espresso. Lastly, if your machine doesn't have an auto-purge function, you'll need to flush the lines of your machine every once in a while using a cleaning solution.
Q. Can you make espresso without a machine? A. While it's technically possible to make espresso without a machine, this is a time-consuming task that is also very difficult to execute. There was a time and place for making your own espresso but now that high-quality espresso machines are more affordable, there's no need to try converting your french press into something it's not made to do.

Other Products We Considered

The Fat Kid Deals editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.

Our Top Products

About the Author Kelly Skelton

Kelly is a lifelong content creator with an interest in sports, real estate, car-sharing, and stocks. He was born and raised in Boston, MA, and is now living in Austin, Texas. His "9-to-5" career is focused on marketing and operations.

Scroll to Top