Top 10 Best Manual Espresso Machines for 2026 – Expert Reviewed

Customer Review: Best Espresso Machine I’ve Ever Owned Worth Every Penny! I’ve been using the Atatix Espresso Machine for a few months now and I am absolutely blown away. As someone who used to spend way too much money at coffee shops every week, this machine has been a total game-changer. The 20-bar pressure is no joke it pulls the most rich, velvety, café-quality espresso shots I’ve ever made at home. The crema is thick and beautiful every single time. I was honestly shocked at how professional my lattes and cappuccinos turned out right from the start. The milk frother is incredibly easy to use and produces the silkiest, dreamiest foam. I’ve been making latte art at home like I work at a fancy coffee bar! My friends and family are convinced I secretly went to barista school. The 44oz removable water tank is a huge plus I’m not constantly refilling it, which makes busy mornings so much easier. And the compact stainless steel design looks absolutely stunning on my countertop. It’s sleek, modern, and doesn’t take up a ton of space. Cleanup is surprisingly simple too everything wipes down easily and the removable parts make maintenance a breeze. If you love great coffee and want to ditch the expensive coffee shop habit, do yourself a favor and buy this machine. 10/10, would recommend to absolutely everyone! ☕🙌

Customer Review: Absolutely Blown Away – Café Quality at Home! This espresso machine is an absolute game changer. From the very first use, I was impressed by how incredibly easy it is to operate. The controls are straightforward and intuitive, so whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned coffee lover, you’ll be pulling perfect shots in no time. And the espresso? WOW. Rich, bold, and packed with monster flavor. The crema comes out thick and beautiful every single time, and the taste is smooth, deep, and better than most coffee shops. It genuinely feels like having a professional barista in my kitchen. One of my favorite things is the size. It’s compact enough to fit perfectly on the counter without taking up too much space, but powerful enough to deliver big performance. It looks sleek and doesn’t crowd the kitchen at all. Cleaning is also surprisingly easy. The removable parts rinse off quickly, and maintenance takes just a few minutes. No complicated process, no mess — just simple and convenient. If you’re on the fence, don’t be. This machine delivers massive flavor, incredible ease of use, and zero hassle. Five stars all the way! ☕🔥

Customer Review: I got this espresso machine for Christmas and had been wanting to start making espresso drinks at home for a while. I’m officially hooked. This machine is incredibly easy to use, even if you’re a beginner, and it makes excellent espresso. The shots come out rich and smooth, and the milk frother works really well for lattes and cappuccinos. I love how compact it is—it doesn’t take up much counter space but still feels sturdy and well made. It heats up quickly and the included tamper is a nice bonus. Overall, it’s a great value for the price and perfect if you want to get into making espresso drinks at home without something overly complicated. Highly recommend.

Customer Review: Updated Review for the De’longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine. This is an update to my previous review. I have had my machine for several months now and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! BEST PURCHASE I HAVE MADE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. There definitely is a learning curve if you are new to this, so it is trial and error on some things like: how hard to tamp the ground espresso, not to overload the portafilter, how much an ounce or two ounces is when pulling a shot, when to stop the shot because it is not automated, the ratio of milk to espresso to get the best taste for my preferences. I am obsessed with this machine! I drink lattes almost every day now instead of once or twice a month because of cost and having to go find a Starbucks. If you are new to espresso machines like I was it is a good idea to watch youtube videos, measure things properly like ounces of grind vs ounces of espresso shot, until you get used to it. But I have learned how to use this machine and can just eye amounts and get a perfect shot of espresso. I had to find a good decaffeinated espresso bean because I can’t have caffeine. I found a great brand here on amazon Allegro Decaff organic espresso beans. I am so glad I splurged and bought this. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I love my new De’longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine. The Good: 1. Price Point is Great ..This will pay for itself within a year by making lattes at home instead of going to starbucks 2. Very Basic Machine for beginners easy to understand how it works…plus there are youtube videos on how this machine works. 3. I don’t have to leave the house for a latte! 4. It seems to be really well made and good quality. CONS: 1. It doesn’t come with the espresso shot glasses or the milk frothing cup so you have to buy these seperatly. 2. the tamper included is really just a piece of plastic and a waste so you need to buy one..and it really does affect how your espresso comes out. so buy a good one. 3. The machine is NOT AUTOMATED! what does this mean??? This means you cannot just touch a button and a shot of espresso comes out & your done…NO.. You have to start the espresso drip and watch it to see when you need to turn it off. otherwise it will just keep dripping through like coffee and you will ruin your shot of espresso. Learning how to pull an espresso shot and timing it and guessing when it is done is a learning process. It seems to me that it should be automated. That would be a basic requirement for me. if I had known it was not automated I probably would not have bought it. I don’t even know if higher end machines have an automated system or not, but as a beginner it would have been really great to have. OVERALL-Good Purchase. So it takes practice learning to pull a shot of espresso, getting the best grind of beans, tamping it down, how much water to use…It’s a whole process, but it is fun to learn. There is a lot more involved than I realized. I made 5 shots before I started to get the timing and measurements right. I hope to continue to get better at this, and it was a great birthday gift to myself.

Customer Review: As an espresso enthusiast venturing into the world of home brewing, my exploration led me to the Flair Espresso Maker PRO 2 – a beautifully designed marvel, as much a piece of art and conversation starter as it is a tool, that has redefined my perception of what’s achievable in the realm of home espresso. This espresso maker not only delivers world-class results with the right effort but also stands out as an exceptional value that has surpassed my global espresso experiences. Seriously – you’d have to pay 10x as much, or more, to make equal quality espresso with an automatic machine. Incredible Value Unveiled: From the outset, the Flair PRO 2 establishes itself as an extraordinary value proposition for those willing to invest the time and attention it deserves. As I delved into the world of home espresso, the PRO 2 became a beacon of affordability without compromising on the quality of the brew. Its manual lever operation may seem like a challenge initially, but the rewards it offers in terms of espresso quality make it a worthwhile journey for enthusiasts seeking an exceptional bang for their buck. Unlocking World-Class Espresso: The Flair PRO 2 transcends its price tag when paired with the necessary equipment, transforming my home into a haven for world-class espresso. My journey to espresso mastery was paved with the understanding that additional tools are not mere suggestions but prerequisites for unlocking the full potential of the PRO 2. A high-quality burr grinder, a temperature-controlled kettle, a distribution tool, and an accurate scale are indispensable companions on this quest for perfection. My Perspective on Espresso Excellence: Having tasted espresso from renowned establishments around the US and Italy, the Flair PRO 2 has set a new standard in my home. The manual lever operation allows me to connect with the brewing process, turning each shot into a personal masterpiece. The stainless steel brew head, pressure gauge, and adjustable features empower me to experiment and tailor each cup to my exacting standards. The Learning Curve: While there is a learning curve, particularly for a beginner like myself, the Flair PRO 2 becomes a patient mentor, guiding me through the nuances of tamping, extracting, and refining my technique. The journey is not just about brewing espresso but about mastering the craft with hands-on experience. Remember, refine your technique, take notes (mental or otherwise), and you will blow yourself away with the quality of your end result. Conclusion: In conclusion, my journey with the Flair Espresso Maker PRO 2 has been nothing short of transformative. From unlocking incredible value to crafting world-class espresso, this manual lever espresso maker has elevated my home brewing experience to new heights. For those willing to invest the effort and embrace the learning process, the Flair PRO 2 isn’t just a machine; it’s a ticket to an espresso adventure that rivals the best around the globe.

Customer Review: I recently decided to dive into the world of home espresso. I am a professional cook so the extreme manual nature of the flair ecosystem got my attention right out of the gate. I also love camping and I find the idea of really great espresso at the campsite very appealing. So I decided on the flair pro 2 over the flair 58 simply because this being my first espresso machine ever, starting out at $1000 investment after machine and accessories seemed a bit irresponsible given that I’ve never really even attempted to pull a real shot ever up to this point. The pro 2 put me into the $500ish range with grinder and that seemed more appropriate for me. I have had this machine for a little over a month now, have pulled roughly one full Peetes coffee bag worth of shots. So I believe I can give a decent review now from the viewpoint of a professional cook but novice beginner espresso machine user. I have spent the month watching countless youtube videos from Lance Hendrick to James Hoffman and others. I learned about bean types, grinders, grind size, dose size, water temp, brew pressures and so on. When it comes to kitchen matters, I tend to dive in and learn as much as possible. So now to using the product. It is really well built, it is pretty intuitive on how to use it and if you know what you are doing, you can pull consistent shots. I however am not good at it(yet). So with everything you get from flair you can pull shots. Sometimes great shots. And if you are good at espresso already you can probably pull consistently good shots. I struggled out of the gate because even though I created a very consistent and efficient work flow, the one variable I couldn’t be consistent at was tamping. The tamper that comes with the flair is decent. It seems high quality and well made but for me, it’s too small for my oger hands and getting a consistent flat and evenly pressed coffee bed with it is difficult. It didn’t seem to matter what my grind size was, what my dose size was, randomly some shots would pull with little to no resistance and squirting channels everywhere. Others I couldn’t even get to pull at all. And this is with me making wild grind size changes, 16g dose to 22g dose, it didn’t matter. It became clear that the issue was my tamp. So I decided to invest in the normcore distributor and spring tamper. Oh, I had also bought the normcore WDT tool with the flair 2 pro. These extra tools have completely fixed all of my issues. The first shot I pulled using the distributor and spring tamper I pulled an 18g dose in 24 seconds with zero channeling which I’d never been able to do prior. I went two clicks finer on my grinder and pulled a second shot which pulled in 34 seconds, no channeling and was basically perfect. I almost cried haha. So, my very long winded opinion is this. Flair makes a great product for coffee nerds. If you are already good at making espresso, meaning your form and knowledge are there, you will have fun with this machine right out of the gate. If you are an extreme novice like me, I would suggest at a minimum getting a spring tamper until you are a pro at tamping. Tamping seems to be the most important part with the flair to getting consistent results. Having said all of that, I am most likely going to be moving this to my camping gear and replacing it with the flair 58. The work flow with the 58 is probably better for everyday use. handling the boiling hot billet water chamber and basket after every use is a little annoying but nowhere near a deal breaker by any means. If your budget is $500, get this. If you can afford $1000 all in or you already have a good grinder, get the 58.

Customer Review: I’ve been roasting my own coffee beans since 2001 and for the past 15 years my home setup has been a Rancilio Silvia/Rocky. I also inherited a Pavoni Europicola that I toyed with for a couple years and for anyone who has used one, the Flair will feel familiar, although the Pavoni was far less forgiving. I travel months at a time, and my rig-on-the-go for many years was a Mypressi Twist. The nitrous cartridges were a pain to source and felt wasteful (not to mention expensive), but paired with a Porlex Mini the espresso quality was astounding, as in on par with the Silvia/Rocky. Sadly, my unit gave up the ghost in 2014, by which time the company was defunct. I’ve been on the hunt for a suitable replacement ever since. Enter “The Flair.” I somehow missed the Kickstarter Campaign and only realized it existed mid-February when I happened onto this Amazon listing. I’ve had my unit two weeks, long enough to run it through its paces (around 35 shots). As with any new set up, you’ll have to work out a routine and dial in the grind, but as far as I’m concerned the Flair is exceptionally forgiving. It allows enormous control (over temp and pressure) still the margin of error is wide, so it’s not as though it requires excessive precision or skill. In fact, I’d say the Flair is slightly easier to use than the Mypressi, and while the shots aren’t exactly on par, they’re darn close. In any case, the Mypressi is no longer in production and the units had very limited life-spans. By comparison, the Flair seems designed and built to last. In early 2015 I bought a Minipresso by Wacaco. It seemed worth a go for the money, but despite my best efforts, the shots were subpar. The Minipresso utilizes a pressurized portafilter to “enhance” the crema, which is to say “cheat,” and it made only single shots, not doubles. I was so dissatisfied with the results, I binned it and bought an Aeropress, which makes excellent coffee—not espresso mind you (the hype on the box claiming it makes espresso is laughable) but strong coffee. I know the Flair costs 3x the Minipresso and has a larger profile, but if you care at all about the quality of the espresso, there’s no comparison. I’ve never used or even seen a Handpresso, but like the Minipresso it uses a pressurized portafilter system and reviews seem split as to whether the Handpresso or the Minipresso deliver better results, in which case the Flair is almost certainly going to deliver better results. The other mainstream alternative is the Rok, which costs slightly more than the Flair. I prefer the aesthetic of the Rok (it’s pretty), but the Flair won me over for its portability. I also took seriously reviews by Rok owners who compared their results with the Flair. One last unit I considered is the Espresso Forge, which gets excellent reviews from serious espresso geeks, so much so I might still give one a go some day, but for now I’m quite satisfied with the Flair given the price difference. Am I ready to retire my Silvia and use the Flair full-time. No. But I’ll probably sell the used Siliva I purchased a couple years ago as a backup. And since I generally drink only 2 espressos a day, I can almost, maybe, possibly imagine resorting to the Flair full-time if the remaining Silvia has a catastrophic failure. On the plus side, The Flair is portable so I could put it away when not in use, allowing me to reclaim a chunk of kitchen counter. In conclusion, if you’re looking for a travel espresso rig and aren’t prepared to pay the premium for an Espresso Forge, the Flair is definitely worth a go. And if you’re seriously budget-minded, the Flair is probably a better choice than most consumer semi-automatics at the same price point, and probably even better than many costing twice as much, or at least the ones that use pressurized portafilters. Yes, you have to trade a bit of effort and learning curve for the relative ease of use provided by prosumer semi-automatics, but if you’re willing to learn to actually craft espresso, the Flair Espresso Maker is a worthwhile investment, particularly as a travel machine. ______________________ UPDATE: April 23, 2017 The video attached to my original review shows a shot being pulled using 18g of coffee ground in my aged Porlex Mini. Obviously the shot quality from that pairing was not just satisfactory but quite impressive for a machine at this price point. That said, a friend recently gifted me a Helor 101 and also bought himself a Commandante MK30. Both are wildly expensive manual grinders. We spent the last week running them through their paces on the Flair and the shots we pulled were insanely good. That’s not to say you need a $250 manual grinder to get quality espresso out of the Flair (you don’t) but with a quality grinder, there is a marked improvement in the cup, and wjth just a little effort, we were able to consistently pull shots on par with what I get out of my Rancilio Silvia/Rocky combo. I haven’t had a chance to see how well the Rocky and Flair pair (or the Helor and Silvia for that matter) but it’s safe to say the Flair is even more impressive and capable than I originally thought.

Customer Review: Summary: For the price, portability, and simplicity of the Flair, it produces great espresso with control over temperature and pressure. This combination cannot be beat. It is hard to find this much control unless you spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on an espresso machine, which would permanently sit on your counter. I can easily make good quality espresso with the Flair, the process is simple, quick, and easy. You have to let expensive espresso machines heat up for half an hour to get a good temperature (but can still have little control over the precise temperature). But with the Flair, you can heat the parts up in minutes and easily control the temperature. The process takes about 5 minutes, including setup, hand grinding, heating up parts and water. Cleanup is quick and simple. Flair allows me to enjoy hand-crafted espresso even when I travel. If I had purchased a typical espresso machine, I would have spent hundreds more, would have to wait longer to let the machine heat up, and at best I would have had the same level of control over temperature but without control over pressure throughout the shot. The Flair is also a great looking device, and I can’t stop taking pictures of it for my Instagram! I’ve owned the Flair (Signature, Black) for just over a week now. When I was first looking for an espresso machine, things quickly got out of budget. Sure, you can find inexpensive machines (at least twice the cost of the Flair), but they offer very little control. Basic setups that included control over temperature were looking in the $600 range for used machines, and for a new machine with a good quality of parts and features you can expect to spend $1,500+. With the Flair, you can get control over the temperature and the pressure very easily, and for a fraction of the price. If you want to make milk drinks with the espresso, you can purchase other products to pair with your Flair in order to achieve that, and still be under the cost of even the lower-priced semi-automatic machines, and overall you’d have more control and better milk steaming capability than those lower-priced semi-automatic machines could offer. To get control over temperature with the Flair, you simply need a thermometer and a way to heat up some of the parts (mainly the brew cylinder). You can simply preheat by boiling the parts in water, or for metal parts you can use a direct heating method if you like (this is my preferred method because you can get temperatures above the boiling temperature of water, to better maintain higher brewing temperatures). Please note that if you use a direct heat/dry heat method, that you need to be careful not to get the metal parts too hot, because it will flash boil the water when you add it. For best results, heat it slowly and no higher than 250° F. This takes only a couple minutes. Before you insert the piston, you can use a thermometer to check the water temperature, which allows you to control at what temperature you begin brewing. You have control over pressure through how fine you grind, how hard you tamp, and how hard you press the lever. You are able to change the pressure throughout the press, which can give you different taste results. With the ability to control temperature and pressure, you can easily customize the taste of your espresso to how you like it. I am brand new to espresso making, so I had to hunt for the right grind size to use (which is typical for any espresso machine). Once you find the grind size that gets you the right amount of pressure; the taste, mouthfeel, and crema production of the shots are very similar to what you will find in coffee shops produced by equipment that costs thousands of dollars. The only requirements you need at home are the Flair, a good quality burr grinder, fresh coffee, water, and a heat source. Overall it only takes about 5 minutes from setting up the Flair to enjoying your shot of espresso, and that’s at a relaxed pace. Cleaning up is also quick and simple. The quality of the parts are good. The only thing is that if you are not careful, you can damage the plastic parts. I have somehow managed to gouge the plastic on my portafilter. Luckily all the individual parts are available from the company, and I can replace that portafilter if I want to for a very low cost. The damage does not affect use, so I don’t mind for now. If you are less clumsy, you should have no problems. I would appreciate seeing all-metal premium parts in the future, for those of us that are clumsy 🙂 My biggest struggle with the Flair has simply been the learning curve for getting the right temperature, the right grind size, the right tamp pressure, the right lever pressure, and the right brew time. I had staler coffee for this first week of ownership and that makes a huge difference, especially with light roasts, so I’m looking forward to using fresh coffee that’s roasted a little darker for espresso. Another big selling point for the Flair is its portability. If I had purchased a semi-automatic machine, it would have to sit on my counter taking up space. With the Flair, I could leave it set up if I want to, or just pack it away in its case so it isn’t in the way. Setup takes no time at all. For this first week of ownership, I actually traveled with it and made espresso very easily while I was away from home—you can’t do that with a typical espresso machine. The Flair is very impressive for how simple the design is and for what it can produce for such a low price. The biggest challenge is getting a good brew temperature, which is vitally important for lighter roasts but not so much for darker roasts. Temperature management for light roasts is easy enough to achieve, and should be easier with the stainless steel piston option and through the use of dry heat on the metal parts. The only true con I can think of is that you are doing a lot of the individual parts of espresso yourself, rather than the machine doing it. Such as heating up the water and parts, and applying pressure. However, these are also benefits, since they give you more control than you could affordably find in a typical espresso machine. The only other con is durability of the plastic, since I’m surprised at how quickly I gouged a part, but that is also my fault for being clumsy. Overall, I’m very happy with the Flair. I’m able to produce quality espresso after only a few days with it. I can put it away so it isn’t taking up space on my counter in my tiny apartment kitchen, and I can take it with me when I travel since I have a hand grinder. I easily get good control over temperature and pressure, which are features that you only get otherwise on very expensive machines, and rarely together. The Flair can also do cold-pressed espresso, which will be fun to play with for cold drinks. I’m surprised at how quickly and easily I can produce espresso with the Flair. I’m finally able to make cafe quality cappuccinos and drinks for my wife (since I already had a separate milk steamer), as well as affogatos and straight espresso for myself!

Customer Review: I have been brewing my own espresso at home for over 20 years which means I have gone through a significant number of machines. I never purchased anything “high end” – never spent more than $140. THIS machine, for $137.79, is a GEM. I can make TWO double espressos, back-to-back without turning off the machine, and there’s STILL plenty of power in the pump, and the temp remains stable – no temperature loss AND no overheating. How do we do this? We pack the LARGE basket with expresso, then hit the DOUBLE-cup once, and then a second time. AND THEN there’s still plenty of power in the pump and heat to steam the milk! This means that the two of us can drink our coffees together at the same time. ALL the other machines that I used over the last 20 years, were never able to do this, because the pump would be played out after one brew, or the heater would drop in temperature OR overheat. That means one person drinks coffee while the other has to wait for round two. But GEVI changed all that. Great price for a great espresso machine!

Customer Review: Great little espresso maker! I needed a small unit to fit in my kitchen and this one fit the bill. Works great and we’ve been very pleased with it. The top warmer doesn’t seem to get hot enough to keep the cups warm but it’s not an issue for us. Dispenses espresso with a nice rich foam on top. Frother works very well too. If you need a basic unit, this one is perfect.

Customer Review: I took a leap of faith because there wasn’t a lot of YouTube videos on this machine but it was 100% worth it! High quality build, heavy, and beautiful to look at.

Customer Review: This met all my expectations. It feels like a quality build without taking as much space up as the single lever manual espresso makers. It makes great espresso and is simple to operate. I choose it because its lack of plastic and all stainless steal espresso housing. My wife liked that it wouldn’t require a long handle protruding from the counter. Hopefully it will hold up, but It appears solid, I’ll report back if it has issues after months of use.

Customer Review: I used to be a barista and when I came back from Italy this year I decided I needed to splurge and get an espresso machine to make myself some cappuccinos! All the $100 dollar (or around there) machines I’ve used at friends’ houses have always let me down, mostly because the steamer was incredibly lacking in power and/or not movable. This is why I decided to search high and low for a machine that looked good, had the power, had good reviews, and seemed like it would actually last longer than 6 months (this was the complaint for many other machines out there, but most reviews I read state that this machine has lasted awhile without losing power or falling apart. I’ve only had it for about 2 months so I can’t speak to that yet). Pros: -Steamer is movable and has lots of power, comes apart for thorough cleaning -Suggestion: before steaming your milk, turn on the steamer and let it warm up (with cup underneath) because for the first few seconds it pours out some hot water, but it only takes about 10 seconds for the hot steam to begin, then you can start. -Small enough not to take up your whole counter top, great for someone like me who is already lacking in space! Also very good-looking. -Get some great espresso shots out of it without having to get anything perfect in the set-up. -I read a lot of people complaining about the tamp that comes with the product, however, I feel they are just snobs honestly because it really ISN’T THAT HARD to get a good tamp. You want the grounds to be firmly pressed down and uniform but you don’t want to smash it down. Basically don’t over think it. -I mostly make cappuccinos and I get a great, thick foam like I want, EVERY time. Of course it comes a bit easy to me since I’ve been trained in how to make one, however I believe a beginner could simply look up some YouTube videos and learn how to pretty quickly with some practice. Cons: -There is no “cup warmer,” it’s just a spot you could put cups if you wanted, barely gets warmer than room temperature. I don’t think this is a big deal, however, and I just put hot water in my cup until I’ve prepared most of the stuff I need. Walah, warm cup. -I was confused while looking through the product book because there was a pic of a water filter, then I realized that it wasn’t included and you are supposed to order it separately. This also isn’t a big deal for me because I have a Brita filter in the fridge anyways, so I just fill up the back of the machine with water from that. Overall, I was really worried that this machine wasn’t going to live up to my expectations since I’m used to a very expensive machine at the coffee shop I used to work at, but for a home model I really couldn’t imagine needing anything more. If you are an Americano fan, the steam wand will also put out steaming hot water instead of steam. Lattes and mochas can easily be made. It gives you a superb cappuccino. Even if you just like shots of espresso, you get it all! Great looking machine, works great every time, basically a really great product if you take coffee seriously. 🙂

Customer Review: I have been using this machine for about nine months, and it has become an essential part of my day. My initial rating would have been four stars. As some reviewers have noted, there is a bit of a learning curve with this machine. This is a single boiler espresso machine, where the more expensive and larger machines would be double boiler machines. Do not expect the same “workflow” from this machine as you would from one of the larger machines. However, I’ve found that if you are willing to learn the machine’s quirks, it produces a fine espresso, as would a more expensive and larger machine. That’s why I give it five stars now that I’ve been using it for a while. In particular, contrary to shop practice, it’s necessary to pull the espresso shot before steaming the milk. As a remedy, I bought some of the double walled glasses, which keeps the coffee fresh while the milk is steaming. I’m very happy with the quality of the coffee the Dedica makes. Almost all the beans I’ve used produce a good to excellent crema. You will want to purchase a knock box and better quality tamper than comes with the machine. Otherwise, everything is included. In my case, one of the filters was missing. I contacted De’Longhi and they rush delivered a replacement, hassle free. I’ve seen some reviewers complaining about customer service. My experience with De’Longhi customer service was overwhelmingly positive. The machine takes 45 seconds to prepare. The biggest complaint that I have about this machine is that it does not have a pressure gauge! I really don’t know why it was left off because it wouldn’t take up much room, even if it had to be placed on the side. I appreciate the sleek design of the machine, and it looks better than any other compact I’ve seen. But I don’t see the reason for omitting this piece of essential equipment. When the machine starts, the lights blink until it is ready. If you are only pulling a shot, you won’t have a problem. However, if you use some hot water from the steam valve to warm your glass or get the water for an Americano, nothing on the machine tells you to wait to let it build up pressure again. The still lights indicate that it is ready to pull the shot. Here’s my workaround: after opening the water valve, power the machine off and then on again (the button needs to stay in off position for a few seconds–another quirk). Doing so will reactivate the blinking lights, which will go still when it has enough pressure to pull a shot. I only make coffee for myself, which works well for this machine. If you are making multiple drinks in a session beyond simple espresso shots or americanos, this machine is probably not for you. Anytime you use the steam function to froth milk, the machine will need to cool down before pulling another shot of espresso. This is accomplished by waiting a few minutes, or by opening the valve and allowing the excess steam to vent. Be sure to vent the valve before frothing milk as you would on any espresso machine. This machine replaced my other coffee maker. Americano is so much better than drip coffee, that it’s all I want now. I enjoy the little ritual of tamping the coffee and puling the shot. It only takes a minute and is more environmentally friendly than individually packaged coffee. If you want prepackaged coffee, get a Keurig. Get or order some fresh espresso from a roaster near you and have them grind it for you. As a barista friend taught me, home coffee grinders will wear out grinding espresso, and aren’t necessary because the freshness of coffee mostly comes from the proximity to the date it was roasted rather than the period between it being whole bean and ground. If you want to grind your own coffee, you probably need to upgrade to a machine that includes a grinder on top.

Customer Review: I’m very happy with this KEENSTAR espresso machine. It’s compact, easy to use, and perfect for making espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes at home without taking up much counter space. The machine heats up quickly, and the 3.5 bar pressure produces a decent crema for the price. The milk frother works well and is easy to clean, which is a big plus for daily use. I also like that it can make up to 4 cups, making it convenient when preparing coffee for more than one person. The controls are simple, so even beginners can use it without any trouble. Overall, this is a great value for the price. It’s ideal for coffee lovers who want a budget-friendly espresso machine that delivers consistent results and doesn’t require complicated setup. I would definitely recommend it for home use.

Customer Review: I’m really happy with this KEENSTAR espresso machine. It’s compact, easy to use, and fits perfectly on my kitchen counter without taking much space. The preheating function is a nice touch and helps the machine get ready quickly. The espresso comes out rich and flavorful, and the milk frother works well for making cappuccinos and lattes at home. For an 800W machine, it performs better than I expected and heats up fast. It’s ideal for daily use and makes up to 4 cups, which is great for a small household. Overall, this is a solid espresso machine for beginners and coffee lovers who want good coffee without spending too much. It also makes a great gift for anyone who enjoys homemade espresso drinks.

Customer Review: I’ve been using the De’Longhi Classic Espresso Machine for about two weeks now, and I’m genuinely very happy with it. The biggest highlight for me is how easy and smooth it is to use. The filter/portafilter locks in effortlessly — unlike my previous Breville, which was so tight that it sometimes felt like two people were needed to secure it properly. From day one, this machine was very intuitive. I mainly use it for espresso (haven’t tried the milk frother yet), and it’s been consistently delivering great results. Once I adjusted the grind size to match my taste, the espresso started tasting 90% or better like what I get at my favorite coffee bar — and that’s using the same dark roast beans they use. It’s impressively close to café quality for a home machine. I also like how easy it is to adjust the volume for single or double shots. I increased mine slightly from the default single cup, and now it’s perfect for my preference. Overall, the ease of use, smooth operation, and quality of espresso make this a fantastic choice. I originally bought a Breville but had to return it due to a defect and found it difficult to use, so I switched to this De’Longhi — and I’m glad I did. Simple, reliable, and very satisfying. Love Italy. Highly recommended! 🇮🇹☕

Customer Review: I had been eyeing some of the pricier espresso machines, but what kept me from purchasing one was the size of the bigger ones. They didn’t fit in my space. I watched many reviews and after many searches, this is the one I settled on. I am so glad to have made the right choice. This machine is a dream! If it broke tomorrow, I’d purchase a new one. Super easy to use, well made, looks beautiful and impressive, has a much larger water tank than other machines I’ve owned in the past, so you’re not constantly filling it up, and it doesn’t have extra unnecessary buttons or a fake pressure gauge. Each button has a function. I use soy milk or other plant milks and it works amazingly well. I can feel the milk pitcher heat up in my hand within seconds. The frother has two settings, one for heating milk and when pulled down, for frothing. It makes it easy to control how hot or cold you want your cappuccino or latte to be. Super easy and perfect temperature milk each time. Along with my Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Espresso, I have not had a bad cup of coffee since. I stopped going out for coffee, what I have at home is much better than what I can get at the best coffee shops. It’s worth every penny.

Customer Review: I’ve been enjoying coffee for almost sixty years. I’ve worked as a barista in my early twenties. I know my way around coffee; particularly when selecting beans; the roast; how to get the best grind using the best grinder; how to achieve the best cup of coffee using almost every conceivable method and device. These days I am prefer a delicious, smooth-bodied, crema-rich cappuccino when I wake up. Unfortunately, health concerns have limited me to just one cup of coffee a day, so I make damn sure I enjoy the best tasting espresso or cappuccino every morning. Ordinarily, I would have been using my time-tested and still reliable 1968 La Pavoni espresso machine. This machine took me over a year to master and once I had it down, no other espresso machine even came close to pulling the finest tasting espresso or caps you could drink. But the La Pavoni is a bulky and intensively time-consuming machine to use; especially in the morning once you’re out of bed and your brain still isn’t operating at 100% until AFTER you’ve enjoyed your coffee. I needed to find and purchase an interim type of counter-type of espresso machine. Oh, I will still use my La Pavoni for that special occasion, because there still isn’t, in my opinion, a machine that can produce a finer tasting espresso or cappuccino than the La Pavoni. After about a month of intensive research, which included reading and evaluating every review and recommendation I could find, the Gaggia Classic Pro is the model that kept coming up as the best in its price range EVERYWHERE. And then I started looking at the Youtube videos. Almost to a video, it was the Gaggia Classic Pro that was heralded as THE espresso machine to buy in its price range. And another surprise: the Gaggia Classic Pro had been receiving this endorsement going back decades. Another big plus: Gaggia is an Italian company that has the inside scoop on coffee…that’s all they do. They make coffee machines. I decided to purchase the Gaggia Classic Pro…and man oh man was this ever the right choice. It did take a couple of tries, even from this seasoned user, to appreciate all the ins and outs of this machine. The machine is far more sophisticated than it looks. But can it produce a satisfying espresso or cappuccino? And can it steam or foam up milk like no one’s business (providing you know what you’re doing and you don’t scald your milk…and especially if you have a talent making espresso art)? I only use bottled water so as not to build up sediment inside the machine. I like to keep my equipment cleaned, well maintained, and operational at all times. You need to understand how this machine is put together in order to master all of its secrets. My suggestion is: check out the HUGE volume of Gaggia Classic Pro Youtube videos online. They will teach you everything you need to know in order to get your Gaggia to produce the type of enjoyable espresso or cappuccino you like. But you do need to understand how the boiler and the rest of the components work together if you really want to achieve the finest results from the Gaggia Classic Pro. I have paired my Gaggia Classic Pro with the latest model of Baratza’s burr grinders in order to affect the perfect grind of the whole beans I use. And, by the way, I grind only the amount of beans I need for that morning’s coffee. The balance of my 1Lb once a month purchase of whole beans are kept in a sealed, but valved container in order to release the CO^2 that coffee beans give off. I set the burrs to the finest possible grind setting. I have found with the Gaggia Classic Pro, one of the secrets is to NOT tamp down the coffee to the point of a severe compression. Make sure the amount of coffee is evenly dispersed and then lightly tamp it down. Don’t forget to run hot water through the group head in order to preheat it. I also recommend purchasing an inexpensive hand held timer. You’ll need it. You’ll understand why after viewing many of the Youtube videos featured about the Gaggia Classic Pro. When you’re ready to make your cup, place a preheated cup under the group head and let ‘er rip. When the light goes off, press the OFF button. Then follow the Youtube recommendations for using the steam wand, otherwise you will run out of pressure before you obtain the type of steamed or foamed milk you need. And make sure you clean off the steam wand IMMEDIATELY after use and then let a blast of steam go through the wand to unclog it on its inside. And always use bottled water. NEVER use tap water with a Gaggia Classic Pro. If you do, your machine will die an early death in a couple of years instead of lasting a couple of decades. I recommend the Gaggia Classic Pro with a full five star rating. It is, without any doubt, the finest espresso machine anyone can purchase in this price range. It offers superior workmanship made from superior components and materials; it is a remarkably well-engineered device; it is an attractive model to place on your kitchen counter; it is easy to clean and maintain; and it will produce for you the tastiest espressos and cappuccinos at home for you to enjoy.

Customer Review: Here’s an update after over four years of daily use, something I wish more Amazon reviewers did. There are now many more options at all price points for home espresso machines, but still nothing at this price that beats this one imo. The current model has upgrades including a brass boiler. It still lacks a steam wand with an articulated ball joint but rather still has the two-piece assembly that allows the wand to rotate but not adjust the angle to the pitcher. I finally had to make two repairs — replacing the group head gasket and the o-ring in the above-mentioned steam wand rotating joint. It is an ongoing chore to clean it and stop encroaching rust in the case bottom which tends to get and stay wet if you aren’t vigilant. Bar Keepers Friend works well for this, and Cafiza powder works for general cleaning. It must get a descaling treatment at least once a quarter. Eventually bolts and some other metal parts that come into contact with water will need to be replaced. Parts are readily available online including from Amazon, as are instructional videos. I ought to be able get at least another four years of use from it. In sum, I’m satisfied. As I said originally, it is reliable and durable by home appliance standards but lacks the commercial robustness of more expensive machines. At this price it keeps its stars. This is what they call a SBDU (single boiler, dual-use) machine with one boiler for both heating water for brewing espresso and steaming milk. It is a basic design with roots going back to 1991, but it still works, and costs nearly $400 less than the Rancilio Silvia, probably the next step up at $830, $600 less than the ECM Casa V at $1,049. Upgrades, mods, replacement parts and accessories galore are easy to find. As seen in the photo, I swapped out the stock plastic drip tray for a lower profile one that my daughter 3D printed for me, though a molded ABS plastic version can be bought online, and apparently Gaggia has now come out with a steel one. This, together with the bottomless portafilter that I bought here on Amazon, allow for much more room beneath the portafilter for larger cups and scales. There is no PID temperature control with this machine, but I find if I let it warm up for at least 20 minutes, and then flush a little water out just before pulling the shot to make sure it isn’t too hot, I’m fine. Larger, heavier machines that cost well over $1,000 have some worthy additional features, including larger dual boilers and PID temperature control. Breville now makes comparably priced machines with more features, including PID, but they have a track record of lack of build quality, durability and serviceability. So for me, this Gaggia remains the best choice, as the Silvia is beyond my budget. I should have bought one 20 years ago. One caveat. This is well-made for a home appliance intended for relatively light use, but not commercial-grade build quality, and I doubt it would stand up to heavy daily use for many years as a commercial machine must. Still five stars, as I don’t see a better option for a SBDU machine at anywhere near this price.