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The best espresso machine for 2020: Mr. Coffee, Cuisinart, Breville and more – CNET [CNET]
When espresso is made well it has powerful charms. This coffee drink is super concentrated, is rich yet balanced, and has complex flavors that hook you like no other coffee style. Making espresso at home can be a tall order, though. Many coffee makers billed as domestic espresso machines are that in name only. If you don’t do your homework, chances are you’ll wind up with a terrible appliance that slings awful drinks. Make sure to avoid this pitfall and buy a home espresso machine that produces superb shots.
The best home espresso machines have an advanced brewing process and handy bells and whistles such as a double portafilter basket for double-shot drinks or a milk frother and steam wand for a cappuccino or latte. A good automatic espresso machine doesn’t come cheap though, and you can expect to pay at least $500 for something that whips up legit cafe-caliber espresso drinks (or an espresso shot, if that’s your thing). But when in doubt, try to remember how much you’ll be saving on all the lattes, cappuccinos and double shots from the coffee shop.
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To find the best espresso machine for espresso lovers, I spent over 80 hours putting 10 available espresso machines through their paces. I limited my testing to manual espresso machines, not the ones that make espresso from pods or capsules (after all, is espresso from an espresso pod really espresso?). I also revisited three other espresso machines I reviewed previously. During the process, I made and sampled scores of espresso shots, double shots, lattes, cappuccinos and pitchers of steamed milk and milk froth. Basically, if it was a coffee drink, I made it. I also took into account things like water reservoir and storage, water filter, control panel, grinding capabilities and automatic milk frother length (and its ability to steam and froth milk).
After my experience, these are the three I’d pick as the best home espresso machines. While they all get the job done and offer the essential features you need — like a steam milk frother, drip tray, substantial water reservoir and easy-to-clean stainless-steel base — the key differentiating factor between them is the price. And how much you spend on an espresso machine does have a major impact on what type of coffee you’ll ultimately get.
I limited this list to automatic machines and semiautomatic espresso machines. I excluded superautomatic espresso makers, as sold by Krups, Philips, Miele and others. Those models are a breed apart, costing many times more ($2,000 to $3,000). I update this list periodically, and you’ll find my testing methodology below.
Still with me? Keep going, delicious espresso will soon be yours!
Chris Monroe/CNET
You can’t beat the Breville Barista Express and its combination of performance, features and price. For $600, the machine’s formidable grinder pulverizes espresso beans and smart technology doses grounds directly into its portafilter basket, plus its sturdy frother steams milk well and makes thick foam. It also consistently pulled the best-tasting shots of espresso in my test group.
The control panel may be a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of things, a delicious shot (or double shot) of espresso, latte or other coffee-based drink of choice will be your reward. Made from stainless steel, the Barista Express is a cinch to clean as well. And to seal the deal, Breville includes premium metal tools such as a handy dose trimmer and tamper.
I will note, though, that this machine is not small. If counter space is at a premium in your kitchen, you may want to look at the next machine on the list instead. Read more.
Brian Bennett/CNET
For those who crave great espresso at home but are nervous about getting the technique down, the Breville Bambino Plus is the perfect choice. It’s dead simple to use and to keep clean, and it’s compact in size — and I found it pulled delicious shots of espresso second only to Breville’s Barista Express. I especially appreciate how easy it is to froth milk with the Bambino. Just insert the steam wand into the Bambino’s stainless-steel milk pitcher (included), then press one button. Less than a minute later, you’ll have expertly steamed milk foam ready for lattes and cappuccinos.
While it lacks its own coffee grinder, the Cuisinart EM-100 has plenty going for it when it comes to making an espresso, cappuccino or latte. This espresso machine has a compact design but is powerful enough to brew from fine coffee grounds. It also pulled flavorful espresso shots of good quality and strength. The machine features a long stainless-steel frother for steaming milk and a built-in cup warmer heating element too. A solid espresso machine at about a third the price of the Breville.
How we test espresso machines
My evaluation process for espresso machines is similar to how I test standard drip coffee makers. First, I hand-wash and dry all removable parts and accessories. For most espresso products, that includes the portafilter basket, metal portafilter inserts, water tank and so on. Next, I run one brewing cycle with just hot water to flush away any residual material from manufacturing.
Most espresso machines, save for fancy superautomatic models, lack an integrated coffee grinder, and I prefer to test with freshly ground coffee. So I supply my own grinder: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I chose this grinder for two reasons. First, it’s calibrated more for espresso and less for drip or other brewing styles. That means it produces a grind that’s quite fine. Second, its grind size is also consistently uniform. Both factors are critical for a proper espresso brewing process.
To pull shots, I start with the suggested method outlined in a given machine’s product manual. Usually that covers the amount of coffee grounds expected per shot, along with any guidelines regarding coarseness level. Likewise, I follow tamping instructions (light, medium or hard tamp) if the manual provides them.
Whenever possible, I brew double shots of espresso for all my test runs. I make sure to record the weight of the grounds I use, plus the weight of espresso for each shot I pull. This data, along with readings from a portable refractometer, allows me to calculate two important percentages: total dissolved solids and extraction percentage.
Just as for any coffee brew, the ideal extraction percentage for espresso is a range between 18% and 22%. This yields a balanced cup, assuming you perform an even and efficient extraction of coffee compounds from your grounds (both flavor and caffeine).
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More coffee advice from CNET and Chowhound
- Best coffee makers for 2020
- Trusty reusable coffee cups to keep your coffee hot and wallet full
- Best gifts for coffee lovers in 2020
- Best coffee accessories of 2020
- The best cold-brew coffee makers of 2020
- The best coffee grinders you can buy right now
- How to make the best cold-brew coffee
- Best travel coffee mugs for 2020
- What is the difference between coffee and espresso?
- Make espresso gelato at home
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