8 Best Espresso Machines Under $300 (2023 Reviews)

I’ve used and tested several espresso machines, so I wanted to create a round-up of the best espresso machines that won't cost a fortune.

Each machine has unique features and offers value for home baristas. Let’s get into it!

1. Breville ESP8XL Café Roma – My Top Pick!

Breville Cafe Roma is my top choice for the best espresso machine under $300 because it impresses with its user-friendliness and stainless steel build.

This best espresso machine is compatible with both ground coffee and pods, which gives you brewing flexibility.

You don’t feel like putting in the work to create a puck? Simply pop in an ESE pod and get coffee in seconds.

I liked Cafe Roma’s space-efficient design and robust stainless steel construction. The 40 oz removable water tank means you won’t have to refill too often.

The cup warmer on top is great for preheating your mugs and getting hotter espresso.

The only design flaw I found is that it only fits small cups, so you can’t place your travel mug under the spout.

I have to give special mention to the milk wand.

Not many other espresso machines in this price range come with a steam wand (such as the ROK and the Nespresso Vertuo), so I was glad Cafe Roma also included it. 

The steam wand is manual, which means you'll need to learn how to operate it to get different levels of foam for lattes and cappuccinos.

Finally, brewing espresso proved surprisingly simple to use. The removable water reservoir is easy to refill, while the coffee grounds, portafilter, and tamper combination provide excellent shots.

The 15-bar Thermoblock pump consistently produces richly flavored espresso.

I also liked the machine gives you some programmability — you can control the brewing time by stopping the extraction whenever you want.

This lets you find the best extraction time for your preferred flavor.

2. Nespresso Vertuo – Best Automatic Espresso Machine

The second-best espresso machine under $300 is Nespresso Vertuo.

The Vertuo coffee maker is a single-serve, pod-only machine, making it a vastly different options than my #1 choice.

This automatic espresso machine is user-friendly, has a sleek design, and innovative features.

If you're looking for a compact coffee maker, this Nespresso machine would be best choice, with dimensions equaling 8.3 x 11.9 x 11.9 in.

It's made of plastic but doesn't detract from its design or durability. I didn't have any issues with the build during the month I used this high-quality espresso maker. The body feels durable, and you can use the fully-automatic espresso machine for years.

The Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine uses a Centrifusion extraction system. You insert the pod into the capsule head and press the coffee button.

The machine reads the barcode printed on the capsule’s rim and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters (drink size, amount of water, brewing temperature, etc.).

The pod spins up to 7,000 per minute, so you have a perfect espresso shot with a rich crema.[1]

I also like that the 40 oz water tank is located to the side and is see-through, so you can easily keep track of the water level and refill as needed.

Plus, it’s large enough to make multiple servings without constant refills.

Nespresso Vertuo makes a wide range of coffee drinks, from rich espresso to larger cups.

This is a great option if you want a versatile coffee machine. However, here's the catch — it only makes basic coffee drinks.

Compared to my top choice, Breville Cafe Roma, there's no frother or steam wand, so you can't make lattes and cappuccinos.

If you can't survive without your morning lattes, you'll need to get a separate frother for steaming milk, which means more of your counter space will be taken by coffee equipment.

3. Mr. Coffee Espresso And Cappuccino Machine – Top-Rated

The Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso and Cappuccino machine offers an affordable gateway to home coffee bliss.

The milk frother sets it apart from other coffee machines, such as the Breville Cafe Roma, DeLonghi EC155, and DeLonghi Dedica.

This compact espresso machine has an automatic milk frother so that you can make lattes and cappuccinos with minimal fuss.

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista doesn’t have a traditional steam wand but a milk reservoir.

You pour milk into the reservoir, place the milk frothing tube into it, and the machine froths your milk and even dispenses it into your cup.

This milk-frothing process is as hands-free as it gets. However, it also means you don’t have control over the milk froth, and there’s no way to create latte art.

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista has a wide range of coffee drinks: everything from single and double shots, cappuccino, and latte in two different sizes.

The coffee machine is well-built. It has a black plastic exterior with a stainless steel front panel and drip tray. I liked that you get two drip trays, which let you fit both espresso cups and full-size ones.

This way, you don’t have to worry your delicious espresso will spill.

Overall, this is a great coffee machine that’s extremely easy to use. You’ll learn how to make coffee pucks to pull high-quality espresso shots.

However, it doesn’t come with a grinder, which means a separate investment. Also, the cleaning process requires some work, especially for the milk frother.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an automatic cleaning process, so you need to clean the Mr. Coffee machine yourself after each use, or you risk curdled milk stuck inside, which can ruin your coffee.

Finally, you need to descale every 40 to 80 brew cycles.[2]

4. DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar – Best Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine

Another best espresso machine under $300 is DeLonghi EC155.

It has a small footprint and a 15-bar pressure pump that pumps hot water through the coffee grounds and creates a flavorful espresso shot.

This machine comes with a 3-in-1 portafilter compatible with single and double espresso shots, and you can also use it with an ESE espresso pod.

DeLonghi EC155 has dual thermostats, one for brewing coffee and another for steaming milk.

This is an upgrade not found on most. This ensures consistent temperature and also means the great espresso machine can quickly switch from steaming to brewing.

Unlike on the Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino model, where the machine froths the milk automatically, you have complete control over the EC155’s frother.

It’s a swivel jet frother, so you can place it in different positions to get the exact milk texture you want for your espresso drink.

I found the steaming wand to be very movable, and it works better for making creamy cappuccinos than thin latte microfoam.

This real espresso machine is made from a combo of stainless steel and plastic elements. It’s durable, and many users report using it for years with regular cleaning and descaling.

Finally, this is a slim machine, so the removable water tank pays the price for the compact size. It’s only 35 oz.

Still, if you mostly make espresso, this is more than enough, and you won’t have to refill too often.

5. DeLonghi EC680M — Best at Home Espresso Machine for Beginners

DeLonghi EC680, also called Dedica, has a more modern and attractive design compared to the DeLonghi EC155.

It's one of the most compact semi-automatic espresso machines. It only takes up 6 inches of your countertop.

Moreover, at 9.3 lbs, it's very light. While this is great for moving it around as needed, it means you can't detach the portafilter using one hand, or the machine can tip over.

You need to hold the EC680M with one hand and attach the portafilter with the other.

This espresso machine can pull single or double shots and is compatible with ESE pods. It has a built-in steam wand that creates a creamy, thick foam that's great for cappuccinos.

However, it doesn't have a built-in grinder, so you'll need to get it separately.

The design is stainless steel with a cup warmer on top, which makes espresso hotter for longer.

The inside of the machine includes Thermoblock heating technology, which heats the machine in 40 seconds.

This is incredibly fast, and by the time you pour the milk and attach the portafilter, it's ready to start brewing.

Another difference compared to EC155 is Dedica’s automatic flow stop feature, which means it dispenses the exact amount of coffee.

This feature is easily accessed via one of the three buttons located on top.

6. Cuisinart Espresso EM-200NP1 – Best Programmable Espresso Machine

Cuisinart EM 200NP1’s is another great contender for best espresso machine under 300. Its most prominent feature is the versatile steam nozzle for frothing milk.

It takes time and practice to learn how to use the frothing wand, but you’ll be able to make coffee bar quality cappuccinos and lattes.

This great machine also has an attractive design.

Made of quality materials, especially stainless steel, it feels modern and durable. It's compact and won't take up too much of your kitchen counter space.

Cuisinart gets a huge plus for the backlit control panel buttons, which not even expensive machines always have. The blue backlit buttons make the good machine look modern.

One of the biggest advantages of the Cuisinart EM 200 is its fast heat-up time.

For example, DeLonghi EC155 takes up to 15 minutes to preheat, which feels like ages when you want a quick caffeine fix.

The Cuisinart EM 200 only needs two to three minutes. It has a Thermoblock heating system, which ensures an optimal heating temperature of 195 to 205 degrees.

Overall, the machine has a user-friendly design, and you even get some programmability options. You can adjust the volume of your espresso shots, which lets you create stronger or milder drinks.

You can also manually time the extraction by starting and stopping the brewing. Overall, you can get a perfect cup that hits the sweet spot every time.

7. EspressoWorks All-In-One - Best Machine For ESE Pods

Another espresso machine that makes good espresso without a hefty price tag is the EspressoWorks 10 PC All-In-One. This good espresso machine is the best value for money.

Unlike most other espresso machines under $300, EspressoWorks provides everything you need to make espresso.

In fact, it’s the only machine on this list that comes with an electric coffee bean grinder.

It's not a built-in grinder, but it comes separate from the espresso machine. Unfortunately, the grinder doesn't have many grinding options.

However, the inclusion of the grinder means you don't need to stick to pre-ground coffee.

Instead, you can grind your own beans and always have fresh coffee. Overall, it's not the most advanced grinder, but it's excellent value considering the affordable price.

This best espresso machine under 300 dollars has all the basic features you need to make a flavorful shot of espresso.

It's also the only machine equipped with a 19-bar pressure pump (Breville, DeLonghi, and Cuisinart have 15 bars), ensuring rich crema and sufficient brewing pressure.

One of its many great features is the built-in milk frother with a dial, so you can choose between latte, cappuccino, and milk options.

Simply turn the dial to your preferred setting, and the frother will create excellent foam. Plus, the milk reservoir is detachable, and you can store leftover milk in the fridge.

Overall, this model has simple controls, durable constriction, and even some programmability.

You can choose the quantity of espresso and milk for each function and get the exact shot of espresso according to your preferences.[3]

8. Rok – Best Manual Espresso Machine

So far, each of the machines on the list has been an automatic or a semi-automatic espresso machine. The ROK model is completely different.

This is a manual espresso maker and is completely opposite from an automatic espreso machine such as the Nespresso, where you press a button and get your coffee.

With the ROK, all the work is on you.

Here's how to use this manual machine to get your coffee fix: you preheat the water in a kettle, pour it into the brewing chamber, and attach the portafilter.

Then you pull up the two aluminum arms to pre-infuse the coffee grounds with water so the coffee blooms.

After a few seconds, you bring the arms down, which is how you extract coffee. As you can tell, all the work is on you. You rely on manual force to create brew pressure.

A manual coffee maker lets you endlessly customize your brewing experience. You control the coffee grind level, tamping pressure, water temperature, and extraction pressure.

ROK's design also deserves special mention. It resembles a little robot. It's made with cast aluminum, steel, and glass composite. Overall, it's a minimalistic masterpiece.

That being said, I'd love to see a pressure gauge included so that you can monitor the amount of generated pressure.

Also, the machine doesn’t come with a steam wand or a coffee grinder, so you’ll need to buy these separately.