There’s definitely something fun about going to a cafe, grabbing a fresh espresso — or, let’s be honest, a pumpkin spice latte — and sipping while you’re out and about. But having the power to make great espresso in your own kitchen? That’s a special treat and one that’s super accessible these days. But with so many great brands, models, and styles on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin, especially if you’re just getting started on your coffee-making journey. Fortunately, we’ve already done many, many hours of testing to bring you top recommendations for where to get started. 

Our experts have deduced that the best home espresso machine across the board is the Breville Barista Express. And that model is not only trending right now — it’s currently $200 off at Amazon.

Breville Barista Express

That’s right, it’s never been a better time to score this most excellent machine. Our testers wrote that it’s the top choice because “it offers automatic and manual operation and features customizable settings,” making it a perfect option for coffee lovers at any skill level. “We love its classic, stainless steel design and were impressed during our testing by its quick setup and quality performance,” they said.

The machine’s built-in conical burr grinder is another reason that it’s a great find — the grinder features 16 precise settings, letting you be extremely accurate with your grind sizes and amounts. The espresso machine also employs optimal water temperature and pressure to deliver the best possible final product, “which results in evenly extracted espresso that tastes smooth and balanced,” testers say. The machine also has a steam wand and a stainless steel frothing cup to create your ideal microfoam milk for cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and more. 

But it’s not just Food & Wine that loves this espresso machine — it’s got over 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. Shoppers say it’s a great choice for beginners: “With its appealing design, intuitive features, and proven reliability, this machine is well worth the $550 price tag,” one wrote. Again, it’s a great choice for amateurs and everybody wanting tasty espresso at home. “This is an extremely good value for the price, and I would highly recommend this machine to anyone regardless of their experience level,” another shopper wrote, making sure to point out that they rarely write reviews, but were so impressed with this machine that they had to weigh in.

So, whether you’re looking for your first espresso machine or just want a new one to play with, you can’t do much better than scoring a top-tested option at $200 off. 

At the time of publication, the price was $550.

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