For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of Choice
Editors at Australia's Choice magazine are the most routine and thorough testers of espresso machines, testing each machine against a standard set of criteria. Nineteen manual and semi-automatic espresso… machines and nine fully automatic machines are tested for espresso taste, ease of use, frothing ability and the time it takes them to heat up. Editors prefer espresso brewed in manual and semi-automatic machines to that brewed in full automatics. The Krups 4050, the Solis Crema and the Rancilio Silvia are the only three machines in the top ten that are sold in the U.S. Inconsistent temperatures when brewing consecutive cups lower the Silvia's overall score. Two Saeco espresso machines, the Incanto and the Saeco Magic Deluxe, earn the highest overall ratings in the automatic category, but be aware: the review of automatic machines is quite dated.
by Charles Passy
In this short five-model roundup, editors try each machine, evaluating espresso quality and ease of use. The Breville Die Cast 800ESXL is top-rated; editor Charles Passy says it's a "solid, smartly designed… machine delivering good quality with little hassle." The Gaggia Classic and Capresso Ultima finish just behind. The Krups XP4050 suffered a broken steam wand -- a complaint we saw echoed in user reviews. The KitchenAid Pro Line KPES100 finishes last; its espresso was thin and the machine was judged bulky.
by Contributors to CoffeeGeek.com
In addition to in-depth editorial reviews, CoffeeGeek.com publishes "first looks" at new-to-market espresso machines, and owner ratings and guides to roasting your own beans, frothing milk and using… equipment. The sheer number of reviews can be overwhelming, so it's best to check here once you've narrowed your choice down to a few models. There's a definite bias toward top-tier espresso machines, so this isn't the best place to look for reviews of steam-driven machines. We like the fact that members rate each other's ratings, so you can easily cherry-pick among dozens of reviews. The top-rated machines here (among those garnering more than five owner-written reviews) include the Isomac Zaffiro, Rancilio Silvia, Breville Die Cast 800ESXL and Saeco Classico.
by Editors of Consumer
Editors at New Zealand-based Consumer magazine test 11 manual and semi-automatic espresso machines. They rate the machines on taste, frothing ability, coffee temperature and ease of use. They also pull four… shots of espresso in succession to measure temperature consistency. Editors include ratings for four other machines they tested in 2007. The Krups XP4020 (not sold in the U.S.) wins the taste test, but earns below average scores for frothing. The Sunbeam Café Latte and Sunbeam Café Espresso round out the top three. The fourth-place Krups XP4050 is available in the U.S.
by Editors of CoffeeCrew.com
CoffeeCrew.com, a Canadian site for coffee enthusiasts, publishes tutorials, editorial reviews and reviews of cafés. Members of the forum discuss entry-level and high-end espresso machines in depth.… Editorial reviews are numerous and detailed, but this site is more difficult to navigate than CoffeeGeek.com, and some models reviewed are unavailable in the U.S. Editors recommend the Gaggia Classic and Baby, the Solis Crema SL70, the Solis Master 5000 and the Rancilio Silvia.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Editors at Consumer Reports test seven pump-driven espresso machines ranging in price from $230 to $1,000. Interestingly, a pair of pod-only espresso machines receives high marks. We're not sure why editors… focused on so few machines and left Solis, Gaggia and Rancilio espresso makers out of their testing. Editors recommend pod models because they take the guesswork out of brewing espresso, but cost is an important drawback.
by Alex Abramovich
by Ray Isle and Lily Barberio
Although editors say that they spent 410 hours testing 67 coffee makers, they don't describe their methodology, and they don't list the machines that didn't make the grade. The machines that do make the cut… only get one-sentence writeups. The Saeco Incanto Sirius is cited for its "easy-to-use" touchscreen, and the Breville Die Cast's "sturdy construction and simple controls" are also noted. They call the latter "the best value in quality espresso makers." Editors also like the Nespresso D290, which uses pods.
by Contributors to WholeLatteLove.com
by Editors of SweetMarias.com
by Contributors to Epinions
by Editors of Amazon.com
At Amazon.com, owners are invited to rate their own espresso machines. Although you can easily see the average user rating for each machine, Amazon.com doesn't immediately let you see how many people have… written reviews, which makes it difficult to know at a glance how many people have rated a particular model. The top-rated espresso makers include the Bialetti Moka Express, Nespresso D290, Gaggia Classic and Solis Crema SL-90.
|
This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
|
||
 Rancilio Silvia espresso, lattes, cappuccinos maker (silver)  from Amazon.com New: $590.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
||
|
|
 Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker from Amazon.com New: $369.99 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
 Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker from Amazon.com New: $143.29 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
 Capresso 302.01 Mini-S 4-Cup Safety Espresso/Cappuccino Machine from Amazon.com
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
