Would you like to brew espresso at home? Check out these affordable espresso makers and find out the best espresso machine under 200 dollars.
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An espresso is a concentrated and robust coffee drink that has a very bright flavor. Therefore it is a perfect base for custom coffee drinks, such as cappuccino, latte, and so many more.
If you’d like to brew espresso and create a latte at home, then an espresso maker is a must-have. Moreover, you don’t have to break a bank to afford an en expensive espresso machine. There are a lot of great options to buy a great espresso machine under 200 dollars. That is to say, cheaper models usually very intuitive, easy to use, and maintain.
Generally, there are many espresso machines under $200 on the market that are efficient, brew delicious coffee, and do the job right.
Best Espresso Machine under 200 summary:
Best Value: De’Longhi 15 bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Amazon’s choice for the best Cuisinart espresso machine: Cuisinart EM-200NP1
Best seller in steamed espresso machines: SOW
Amazon’s choice for the best Mr. Coffee Café Barista: Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Editor’s choice: Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
Best Capsule espresso machines summary:
Amazon’s choice for Nespresso Coffee Maker: Nespresso ENV135B Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi
Best compact espresso machine: Nespresso VertuoPlus
Best Espresso Machine under 200 buyer’s guide
- Price. No doubt that there are many affordable and yet good espresso machines. Check and compare the models you like to see the best option for the price.
- Material. The material of an espresso machine plays a crucial role. Espresso machines with high-quality materials last longer require less maintenance. Therefore, pay attention to the materials and their quality.
- Size. Espresso machines come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Think of the place where you’d like to place the espresso machine. Evaluate the space. Then check the dimensions of espresso machines you like to choose the one that will fit best.
- Type. There are different types of espresso machines. If we are not to dive into technical varieties of espresso machines, the short types list is the following: manual, semi-automatic, super-automatic, and capsule. The easiest one in terms of user experience is, of course, capsule type. But it is not a real espresso machine. Think of capsule espresso machines, such as Nespresso, as a fancy pod coffee maker. The hardest one in terms of user experience, in my opinion, is a manual espresso machine. Just because it is manual and hard to control the consistency of the coffee. But if you’re ready to brew smooth espresso at home, look for automatic espresso machines.
- Milk frother/steam wand. Some if not every espresso maker goes with a milk frother – a special feature or an additional part to steam milk. Even though, the main purpose of an espresso machine is to brew espresso, a milk frother is a great addition. With milk frother, you can create such drinks as a latte or cappuccino right at home. Therefore, it is not essential, but a very nice feature.
Best Espresso Machine under 200
Good espresso machine doesn’t have to be expensive. Here is a list of affordable and yet very good espresso machines on the market:
De’Longhi 15 bar Pump Espresso Maker
Best Value
De’Longhi 15 bar pump espresso maker is probably the most affordable and yet a good espresso machine under 200. It has all the essential features, compact size, intuitive maintenance, and makes a great espresso.
Features:
- 3-in-1 filter holder
- removable water tank
- twin cycle brew, meaning you can brew two cups at a time
- steam wand for steaming the milk
- removable water tank
Pros: a very simple, basic espresso machine with all-you-need featured plus the affordable price.
Cons: The steam wand has a plastic detail that contacts the milk while steaming it. I usually try to avoid the plastic touching the food or beverage. Therefore, it is a huge drawback of this De’Longhi model. Plus, the tray under the cups can’t be detached, which makes it difficult to clean. Another disadvantage is that De’Longhi is designed for espresso shots and cups. Therefore, a regular mug won’t fit.
Cuisinart EM-200NP1
Amazon’s choice for the best Cuisinart espresso machine
A very sturdy espresso maker from Cuisinart is a great choice. Cuisinart is a company with great reputation which develops high-quality products. This stainless steel espresso maker will last long and brew great espresso.
Features:
- programmable operation
- stainless steel
- milk steamer
- removable water tank
- twin cycle brew
- removable tray
- removable top
- accessories are included: tamping tool, measuring spoon, stainless frothing cup for steaming
- 3 years warranty
Pros: milk steamer has a very convenient rubber part, which you use to navigate the wand while steaming. It is a very thoughtful detail. Plus, Cuisinart EM-200NP1 has removable parts such as the bottom tray, a tank, etc., which makes it easy to clean.
Cons: some complain about customer service.
SOW Espresso Machine
Best seller in steamed espresso machines
SOW espresso machine is a very compact, easy to use, clean, and maintain espresso machine. If you crave homemade espresso but have a limited kitchen countertop space, SOW espresso machine may be just right for you.
Features:
- stainless steel
- compact design
- carafe
- measuring and tamping tool
- steaming wand
Pros: compact design and ease of maintenance. Also, you can brew up to 4 cups of espresso at once.
Cons: plastic steamer wand. As I’ve mentioned before, I try to avoid using plastic to prepare food and beverages, especially when high temperatures are involved. Plus, the stainless frothing cup for steaming is not included.
Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker | Café Barista
Amazon’s choice for the best Mr. Coffee Café Barista
Semi-automatic Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker | Café Barista is a great espresso machine. It has an intuitive interface, a lot of options to create custom drinks, and an automatic milk frother.
Features:
- text
- auto-steamer
- auto-clean option
Pros: numerous features, including an automatic milk frother, makes the process of making espresso is very easy.
Cons: a lot of parts are plastic, which are handwash only.
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
Editor’s choice
This is the espresso maker I’d go for, among other options here. Breville is a great brand that produces high-quality products. This particular model is very easy to use. In fact, it is so easy to use, and makes espresso so fast that I was surprised. Plus, it is very affordable.
Features:
- stainless steel
- stem wand with a handler
- warming tray
- dual-wall filter system for better crema
Pros: it is easy to use, clean.
Cons: the water tank has to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid a plastic smell.
Capresso 116.04 Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine EC100
Capresso EC100 is a very sturdy espresso maker that will create a great espresso and last long.
Features:
- compact design
- steaming wand
- removable drip tray
- one year warranty
Pros: easy to use and clean. Plus, the machine is very compact, which is great if you have a small kitchen.
Cons: plastic steamer wand.
De’Longhi 15 bar Pump Espresso Maker, EC702
De’Longhi EX702 is an espresso machine that looks solid and stylish. You can use it to brew coffee-house-level espresso right at home. In general, De’Longhi is a very good brand that produces high-quality espresso machines.
Features:
- stainless steel
- heavy and sturdy
- removable water tank
- 3-in-1 filter
- warming pod
- rapid cappuccino system
Pros: easy to clean, stylish look, great quality.
Cons: not particularly a user friendly espresso experience. Plus, the steaming wand is plastic.
Best Capsule espresso machines
Nespresso ENV135B Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi
Amazon’s choice for Nespresso Coffee Maker
Nespresso ENV135B is not particularly an espresso maker, but you can use special pods to brew espresso. In general, it is a great coffee machine to brew flavored coffee drinks.
Features:
- automatic coffee maker
- one-push operating
- removable water tank
- stylish design
Pros: one-touch brewing system makes Nespresso ENV135B very user-friendly. Plus, the variety of pods make the experience fun.
Cons: first of all, this is not an espresso machine. It is a coffee maker with an option to create espresso. Secondly, the material is mostly plastic. And third, the is a lot of waste left after each use.
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi
Best compact espresso machine
Nespresso VertuoPlus is another pod coffee maker that can be used to brew espresso as well. Features:
- automatic coffee maker
- compact size
- one-push operating
- automatic machine head close/open function
- adjustable and removable water tank
- automatic capsule ejection and storage
- stylish design
Pros: very compact and easy to use Nespresso VertuoPlus can create a variety of flavored coffee drinks.
Cons: it is not an espresso machine: mostly plastic materials; a lot of waste after each use.
Nespresso Pixie by Breville
Among all other Nespresso machines, Nespresso Pixie by Breville is closer to an espresso maker compared to others. Nespresso Pixie is created to brew an espresso or a lungo.
Features:
- industrial design
- foldable cup support to fit any cup size
- high pressure
- quick warm up time
Pros: stylish, quick solution to a cup of good espresso.
Cons: it is not a classic espresso machine: mostly plastic materials; a lot of waste after each use.
Tips for brewing a better espresso
A great espresso machine can help you brew great coffee at home. But there are other steps of the process that influence the final flavor – for example, the quality of coffee beans and the type of roast.
Here are some tips to help you brew better coffee with any espresso machine:
1. Use high-quality coffee beans.
Any coffee starts with a bean. Therefore, choose carefully and look for the highest quality you can get. As challenging as it may sound, there are a lot of good coffee brands online. For example, here is a great coffee selection on Amazon.
2. Grind coffee for espresso.
There are different grind types. Grind types range from the extra coarse grind for the french press to the super fine ground for Turkish coffee. The perfect grind type for espresso is a fine grind. With the fine grind, water runs smoothly through the coffee extracting the flavors and creating a robust aroma. With the wrong type of the grind water will just run through the coffee and won’t be able to extract the flavors fully. Therefore, the type of grind is very important.
Check the best coffee grinders in the post 2021 Buyers’ Guide.
3. Use bars to press the coffee.
The optimal pressure may vary depending on a coffee machine model. Just make sure to actually press the coffee. Otherwise, the water will run through the coffee without extracting the flavors. Basically, the main point of any espresso machine is to run the water through the coffee to extract the aroma. Therefore, all these tips help improve this process and help you enjoy coffee the right way.
4. Drink it while hot.
Hot and freshly made espresso has the best flavor. The colder it gets, the more acidic it gets; therefore, less delicate.
I remember, while visiting Italy, a very coffee-oriented country, I ordered an espresso. I didn’t drink it right away but was sitting with the cup chatting with my significant one. What do you think happened? The waited said that if I didn’t drink the coffee, she would take it away and make a new one because the flavor was spoiled. I laughed but immediately finished the espresso. Don’t be like me, don’t lose the aroma of the freshly made espresso.
That is to say, unless you’re up for an Affogato or any other cold coffee drink, make sure to drink espresso while it is hot.
Final thoughts
With a good espresso machine, you can brew great coffee to treat yourself. There are a lot of affordable options to choose from. That is to say, take a step further. Pay attention to the type of coffee beans and roast type. Because bean quality and roasting method matter more than a coffee machine.