Coffee making machines under 500$
Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine
Type: Automatic | Measurements: 14.9″ x 12.9″ x 16.1″ | Water Capacity: 2 liters | Pressure: 15-BARs
“Impress” is an apt name. In fact, this Breville machine impressed our professionals. We included it in our Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards because we thought it was so great. Breville is a brand that routinely does well in our lab testing, so it should come as no surprise. With its clever dosing and tamping technology, this machine is simple to operate regardless of experience level. A lever tams (presses down) the coffee grinds at a specific pressure to guarantee the ideal pull of espresso, and this useful element determines whether you have ground too many or too little beans.
The ease with which our specialists were able to create a delicious espresso with a thick layer of crema on top was astounding. Additionally, the milk frothing wand worked effectively, covering the steamed milk with a thick layer of froth. One of our lab professionals loves this machine, and they have been using it at home for a few years without any problems, making great shots of espresso.
Although the shot volumes can be reprogrammed, it has preset selections for a single or double espresso. Additionally, it features a pressure gauge to track the extraction process and allow you to make modifications if necessary.
Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine
Semi-automatic in nature; 10.5″ x 8″ x 11.75″ in size; 15-bar of pressure; 50 ounces of water capacity
The Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine, which retails for about $160, is more reasonably priced than many other espresso makers and did well in our laboratory tests. For someone who wants a simple espresso maker with few extra features and does not want to spend hundreds of dollars, this is a good choice. The fact that the machine saturates the espresso grinds with water prior to brewing is something our specialists value. In our studies, we discovered that this resulted in a smooth extraction and a lot of crema on top of the espresso. It also helps to extract the grounds uniformly.
It has some pleasant extra features, such as a warming plate on top to warm your mug before extracting a shot, which is surprising for a less expensive espresso machine. The two-shot, hot water, and steam settings on this model’s touchscreen were simple to use, in our opinion.
De’Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso Machine
Type: Automatic | Measurements: 17″ x 9.25″ x 14″ | Water Capacity: 60 ounces | Pressure: 15-BARs
Both novices and experts will find it easy to make coffee drinks with this De’Longhi espresso machine. This machine was so simple to use that it was recognized with a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear, Coffee and Tea Award for producing delicious drinks at the touch of a button. At the touch of a button, it provides five different drinks: espresso, coffee, hot water, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. The control panel’s language and images make it easy to see and choose from the available drinks. There are thirteen settings on the built-in coffee grinder to customize the grind.
Another handy feature is the milk-frothing jug, which automatically creates steamed milk and foam that streams straight into your latte macchiato or cappuccino. The thick froth it created without requiring a steam wand to be manually operated was adored by our lab specialist. “I have never used an espresso machine before, but I feel really comfortable using this one because it is so easy to use and clean,” one tester commented. Despite its ease of use and simplicity, this espresso maker delivers a great shot of espresso with golden brown crema without sacrificing flavor. On a medium setting, we found the espresso to be a little weak, but this is readily remedied by changing the grind size or strength. Another benefit is that it will not take up a lot of counter space due to its small size.
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine
Type: Automatic | Measurements: 13.5″ x 13.9″ x 15.98″ | Water Capacity: 67 ounces | Pressure: 15-BARs
The Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine with a built-in grinder is ideal if you have particularly specific coffee preferences. The variety of grind sizes and temperature settings will be appreciated by those who wish to experiment and fine-tune their espresso. You may select from five different temperatures and a staggering thirty different grind sizes on the user-friendly LCD display, which also displays progress animations for grinding and extraction. You may customize the amount of foam in your milk with the included steam wand.
Two single-walled and two double-walled filters are included with this device, just like with other Breville espresso makers. Even with older espresso beans or pre-ground coffee, the double-walled filters work well to create a rich layer of crema. To make your ideal espresso, we advise experimenting with the parameters, beginning with the defaults and making adjustments as you go. In our tests, we were particularly pleased with how rapidly the system heated up in comparison to other versions, and all components are simple to clean and disinfect.
Breville Bambino Plus
Type: Semi-automatic | Size: 7.6″ x 12.5″ x 12.2″ | Water Capacity: 64 ounces | Pressure: 19-BARs
In addition to producing a delicious espresso, the Breville Bambino Plus’s small size means it will not take up much counter space. For years, one of our professionals has enjoyed the premium espresso without compromising on space at home. It includes a milk jug to be used with the associated steam wand to froth your own milk, two dual-wall filter baskets for pre-ground coffee beans, a cutting tool, and a tamper.
You can select between a single espresso or a double espresso, along with steamy, frothy, or extremely frothy milk, using the brew settings. This machine produced powerful espresso with a subtle crema during our tests. In the lab, we discovered that this machine was easy to clean, had a compact footprint, heated up quickly, and was not too noisy.
