Best Espresso Machine Under $200 – Top Picks and Buying Guide

Aside from water, coffee varieties are the most consumed beverage in the world; from connoisseurs down to your local coffee shop, there’s something to love for everyone, and it keeps us crawling back for more.

But, for the majority of people, espresso at home can be an expensive practice, especially in the pursuit of getting the best flavor possible.

So how do you satisfy your coffee needs and get a taste of what the world has to offer? Leave it to us: we’re back with an in-depth product review of the best espresso machines under $200. This is a roundup of entry-level machines that, despite their price tag, still deliver.

Our Top Budget Picks

The Delonghi ECP3420 is our best overall and the forerunning top pick in our list. Let’s take a closer look at this brewer as to why, among others, and find you the best machine on a budget. 

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1. Delonghi ECP3420 — Best Overall

The Delonghi ECP3420 is the bar none espresso machine for the coffee lover on a budget. Delonghi has been a household name well before all those Brad Pitt commercials on motorcycles in Tuscany; you can now be a part of the tradition without breaking the bank for an expensive machine. 

This is a brewer with a sleek design and crafted with an eye for refined, high-class machines. The attractive design of the Delonghi is made from high-quality plastics, aluminum, and stainless steel casings.

This is an espresso machine that looks so good, it belongs in a Cafe Italiano. Instead, you get to have it right in your kitchen for the enjoyment and envy of all coffee aficionados who end up swinging by. 

With 15 bar professional pressure in its double drip pour brewing, you get better tasting espresso with a higher extraction rate. Perfect for dark roasts to enhance those woody, earthy notes. And with the 3-in-1 portafilter holder, you can have one, two, or ESE pod cups of coffee or specialty coffee with the attached manual frother: talk about options! 

The boiler feature’s a stainless steel design that ensures your machine will last brew after brew for years while keeping the piping hot integrity of your espresso.

For an added bonus, the Delonghi features an adjustable, second-tier drip tray to accommodate different cup sizes: long or short, it’s got you covered. There’s also added storage with the built-in filter basket. 

The 37-ounce removable water tank makes for easy descaling and cleaning of your coffee machine, so you can guarantee it will last as long as ever. 

The drawback to the Delonghi is that it slides at times. The brewer has no included counterweight, is a lightweight machine, and may be cha-cha-sliding around the countertop. Both this and the missing built-in grinder are common in budget espresso machines. 

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2. Capresso EC50 Pump Espresso & Cappuccino Machine — Best Specialty Coffee’s

The Capresso EC50 is our pick for the best espresso machine for the cappuccino and latte lover. The high-pressure frothing system inherent to this maker really makes your specialty coffee pop. 

The light, airy texture of frothed milk in the Capresso is at a gourmet level, with the high heat and pressure emanating from the steam wand. Not a fan of cappuccinos? No problem! The 15-bar pump brewing system paired with the stainless steel lined Thermablock tech gives you authentic, decadent crema every time. 

This coffee machine also has a warming platform and auto-rinse feature, both of which help your coffee stay at the appropriate temperature. The auto-rinse feature maintains that piping hot, refreshing temp while not requiring any wait time between brewing espresso shots. 

This is an incredible machine for specialty coffee lovers and fans of latte art, despite the minor drawback here of a non-removable drip tray.

That said, the design heavily leans on plastic, and with several LED buttons, it looks a little 90s. It performs at the highest level but certainly doesn’t look like it: a welcomed surprise. 

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3. Brewsly 15 Bar Espresso Machine — Best Aesthetic Brewer

Brew with all the look and taste of a professional; insert the Brewsly 15 Bar Espresso Machine. With its fully stainless steel design, you’re getting a sophisticated machine that will be long-lasting and durable. I mean, for God’s sake, they make skyscrapers out of the same material.

The Brewsly features dual temperature controls that heat the water reservoir and frother steam separately. This makes for a focused heating system to help your espresso arrive at the perfect temperature every time.

The brewing system involves 15 bars of pressure, with fully adjustable LED controls and a pressure gauge to follow along. You can find the perfect coffee extraction rate that’s right for you.

At the same time, the dual filter holder automatically delivers one or two shots of espresso at the exact amount of ounces you prefer; no more guessing and multiple brews to achieve the right size.

Plus, the 37-ounce removable water tank and drip tray make clean-up easy and even easier since these materials are dishwasher safe. The drip tray doesn’t accommodate different cups sizes, and it will take some trial and error to get your espresso just right. However, these are minor trade-offs for an otherwise gorgeous coffee maker.

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4. Nespresso Vertuo Next — Best Compact Machine

The infamous Swiss Nespresso brand under the Nestle umbrella is unanimous with affordable espresso machines that operate with the single touch of a button. The Nespresso Vertuo next is no exception and is the best compact espresso maker under $200. 

With the one-touch brewing function and espresso pod tech, you get an amazing cup of espresso that’s fast and easy to make. 

Plus, the Vertuo Next has over 30 pod flavors to choose from. Whether it’s Mexicano, Costa Rican, or the classics like Il Caffe or Espresso Dolce, there’s plenty of room to experiment and enough options to find your new favorite espresso variety. 

The Vertuo Next is Bluetooth compatible, meaning your machine will automatically download software updates to streamline your machine’s brewing and stay up to date with the latest pod barcodes. This machine will never go out of style or become obsolete with time. 

The pods are also hermetically sealed, aluminum coffee capsules designed to protect your espresso’s flavor. All of the rich tasting notes in your shot of espresso will remain intact, unlike other contemporaries of Nespresso sealing their pods with cheap plastic. 

The Vertuo Next is a sustainably sourced and designed machine made from 54% recycled plastic. The pods themselves can be shipped to Nespresso recycling facilities at no cost to the consumer. This amazing coffee machine also features auto-off automation, saving you on your electric bill. 

And with the lightweight, compact design, this brewer will be welcome in any kitchen or office space, no matter how cluttered or tight the fit is. 

The Vertuo Next, unfortunately, doesn’t come with an included milk frother or steam wand. Some online reviewers also highlight an at times unreliable temperature consistency. Be sure to fully heat and warm your mugs to solve this issue.

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5. Hamilton Beach 40792 Espresso Machine — Best Value

The Hamilton Beach Espresso Machine is an inexpensive brewer with all the bells and whistles of an expensive machine, making it our pick for the best value. 

The simple, one-touch brewing system with a 15-bar pressure pump and automatic milk frother gives you barista-quality beverages without all the elbow grease and trial and error you’d expect. This is also a versatile brewer in the sense that it’s compatible with ground coffee beans or coffee capsules. 

An added bonus in most Hamilton Beach machines is the cup warming platform on the top of the brewer. Toasty warm mugs right up until serving time; great for those cold winter mornings. 

After tampering your grounds into the filter holder, simply slide it into place with the Hamilton Beach patented slide-and-lock tech. This is a feature designed for easy, mess-free set-up, with more time to enjoy your coffee rather than wiping up fine, ashy coffee grounds. 

The downsides here are that there are some online reviews claim that the frothing nozzle can overheat, causing it to detach and drop into your milk carafe. This may require you to exchange your brewer and make use of the one-year warranty. 

Other reviewers claim inconsistent espresso quality, specifically in the bars of pressure fluctuating. Again, if this is the case for you, make an exchange with Hamilton Beach and take advantage of their excellent customer service.

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6. Mr. Coffee ECMPT1000 Self-Tamping Machine — Easiest To Use

The Mr. Coffee ECMP1000 is a great, affordable espresso machine for beginner brewers who want more from their at-home coffee routine. 

This 3-in-1 machine makes savory espresso, cappuccino, and latte drinks. All that comes with an automated operation system and an electric pump pressure of 15 bars. 

The easy-to-usecontrol panel allows you to select which drinks you’d prefer, and there you have it! Coffee right at your fingertips. If you’d like to get a little creative, the Mr. Coffee brewer allows for a fully customizable experience, with pre-set settings catered just for you.

This is also a brewer with a removable, automatic milk reservoir, so you can throw away that manual milk frother; creating creamy milk for lattes and cappuccinos is that much easier. 

While the design of the brewer is slightly on the cheaper side, this machine was built with functionality and ease of use in mind: great for brewers just starting out. 

The Mr. Coffee ECMP1000 is best with milk-based espresso drinks and isn’t the best fit for the black espresso purist. The design also really leans into plastic and could look a little less cheap. 

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Buyer’s Guide 

Size 

It’s important to note just how much playing space you have when it comes to finding the brewer that’s right for you and under $200. 

If you’re in need of a compact design to match your studio apartment’s tiny kitchen, the best bet for you will be the Nespresso Vertuo Next. It’s tight in size and lightweight, which makes for easy adjustments to your kitchen space.  

The majority of traditionally inspired, dual-drip espresso machines are incredibly deep and wide, including our best pick, the Delonghi ECP3420. If you can manage to squeeze in some more space on your countertops, I’d still recommend this brewer above all others. 

Frother 

For cappuccino and latte lovers, an espresso maker with a milk frothing wand is a must for you to get the most out of your new at-home espresso maker. 

If this sounds like you, consider the Capresso EC50 our best pick for specialty coffee drinks, with an incomparable steam frother. The Capresso gives you light scoops of frothed coffee that will make you look forward to your early mornings. 

If you want an automated frother, I’d recommend the Mr.Coffee brewer. It’s not only an automated frother but an easy, effortless way to achieve those dollops of steamed milk. Many of our picks here require a steady hand and a more manual operating experience.

Ease 

This can be boiled down to two things: durability and ease of use.

Durability — For peace of mind and without having to worry about calling customer service, exchanges, or sub-par espresso, you want a machine durable enough to deliver excellent coffee while holding up over time.

Stainless steel is the most durable material an espresso machine can be made of; stainless steel boilers protect your brewer’s heating elements from higher thermal conductivity with conductive insulation.

This is why the Delonghi ECP3420’s 1100-watt stainless steel boiler is the most durable of our top picks, with the Brewsly 15 Bar all-stainless design as a second-place pick.  

Ease Of Use — Especially for newcomers to the at-home espresso game, tampering, measuring, brewing, and/or manually frothing your milk can be a little intimidating. That being said, all of our top picks are uncomplicated and straightforward. 

The Mr. Coffee brewer, Hamilton Beach, and the Nespresso Vertuo Next are the easiest-to-use machines on our list. They all feature simple, automated LED controls that deliver quality espresso without guessing or trial-and-error.

For our top pick, the Delonghi has all the appearances of a complex, delicate brewer for an experienced hand without the experience needed. This is a great pick for coffee lovers who want the look and feel of being a professional without the intricacies. 

Final Thoughts 

For the best espresso machine under $200, we were looking for a durable brewer that had an unmatched espresso taste with the frills and features of higher ticket machines. Also, machines in this price segment usually deliver an overall user-friendly experience.

That’s where we found the Delonghi ECP3420: a gorgeous stainless steel case, a durable espresso machine that brews delicious, savory espresso with double shot drip, high bar pressure, versatility, and greater attention to detail. 

The Delonghi will satisfy every espresso lover, from the beginner to the expert, all while falling into an inexpensive price bracket. Get more out of your coffee; happy brewing!