Being able to prepare a high-quality Espresso every morning to super-super charge your day shouldn’t have to break the bank. Making a sound investment in an affordable yet quality espresso machine should be one that every coffee aficionado should look to make.
Luckily you’ve come to the right place to find that affordable Espresso machine and we’ll be reviewing the top 5 that make the cut and you’ll be enjoying that rich Espresso in no time at all.
The Best Espresso Machines Under $200 Of 2023
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What Is The Best Choice?
Our Winner:
After considering numerous Espresso machines, our best pick would be the Cuisinart. The Cuisinart EM-200NP1, in my opinion, is the best home espresso machine in this price range. The main reason being that it is so simple to use and it produces drinks of really high quality.
For anyone looking for a high-quality machine at an affordable price, look no further than the Cuisinart. The stainless steel finish gives the machine a classic and professional look. So you can impress your family and friends with your Barista quality coffee!
Cuisinart EM-200NP1
DeLonghi EC702 Review
Starting things off is It’s the second heaviest machine we tested, weighing in at 13.6 lbs. With multiple functionalities, the DeLonghi can be used to make your favorite type of coffee, whether that’s a single or double espresso or Cappuccino or Latte. The Steam wand used to froth your milk is a little short but works well overall. It can just require a slight bit of movement.
DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker
Also, it’s worth noting that you should be careful when removing the water tank at the back of the machine, we found when we were using it that the tank would sometimes jam the machine. So take care when removing it. The water level is easily visible on the tank, so you know exactly how much water you’ll need to put in.
We found that although a little short, the frother works really well. It warms up milk in no time at all and wipes clean very easily. Overall, for under $200 the DeLonghi is an excellent Espresso Machine. It will match your requirements for however strong you like your coffee with a three-in-one filter holder, one for a single shot, one for a double shot and one for an easy to serve Espresso Pod.
✔ The Frother is easy to use
✔ Automatic Flow Stop makes sure the machine does most of the work for you and dispenses just the right amount of coffee.
✔ Easy to clean
✗ The machine is loud
✗ The water tank can be difficult to remove
✗ The water can leak from the tank, although I didn’t find this when using the machine.
Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Review
We really enjoyed From getting it out of the box, the set up was very easy. Just install the filter to the water vessel, add water and you’re good to go. The machine fits any K-Cup and when selecting ‘coffee’ you are offered four brewing volumes to choose from 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounces.
You can also select Latte/Cappuccino which results in a strong shot from your pod of choice. The machine isn’t overly noisy and the brewing times are very efficient.
Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup
There has been some debate among the coffee community regarding the fact that the Keurig doesn’t give you a classic Espresso but if you’re a fan of strong coffee, using the ‘strong’ option gives the next best thing.
The frother also works very well. You can pull your coffee and froth milk at the same time, but make sure the machine has heated up completely for this to work properly.
One of the only bad points I found about the Keurig is that the frother can be quite slow to foam the milk. It takes about 2 minutes in total. When I tested the machine the frother was just a little slow.
The Keurig company produces amazing coffee makers and Keurig K-Cafe, in my opinion, is the best value machine out of the 5 I tested. It’s easy to use, gives plenty of options about different drink choices and is efficient when in use.
✔ Best Value Machine
✔ Easy To Use
✔ Great for beginners
✗ Frother can be slow
✗ Frother not working properly on some machines
Cuisinart EM-200NP1 Review
Out of the 5 coffee machines we tested, A Semi-Automatic machine that is extremely easy to use. Make sure you pre-heat the machine, it’s easy to know when this has happened as a green light will show on the machine. We found it took around 90 seconds to brew fresh coffee and the machine is quiet and not loud like some of the other machines tested.
It’s a slick, easy-to-use machine, the controls are very simple and the user instructions are easy to follow. We also liked that the water tank was of a large size, meaning that it doesn’t need to be filled up very often and the stainless steel finish gives the machine a professional look.
Cuisinart EM-200NP1
The frother makes it easy to enjoy a high-quality cappuccino or latte. The 15 Bar high-pressure pump helps brew a rich-tasting espresso.
It also comes with a 2 Year Manufacturers Warranty, so your machine is covered. The Cuisinart has a great size so it will fit well on any countertop. The machine heats very quickly, dispenses the perfect amount of coffee and froths well. It’s relatively quiet. One minor gripe buyers of the Cuisinart have had is the instructions. When we were setting up the machine, the instructions were in fact very clear and easy to follow. Just try to read the instructions carefully, as it can take a few attempts to get the hang of using the machine.
Because the Cuisinart is so easy to use, it’s a great machine to consider if you’re a beginner or new to the coffee world. The quality of the drink it produces will impress the most avid of coffee connoisseurs.
✔ Easy to use
✔ Large size water tank
✔ Professional Stainless Steel finish
✗ It can take a few tries to perfect using the machine.
Klarstein Passionata Rossa Review
The Klarstein is simple to use and a very efficient machine. It’s straight forward without any dials or presets to mess with. You simply push the ‘ON’ button, wait 45 seconds for the water to get to temperature, then turn the selector to the left and the machine makes Espresso, turn the selector to the right and you have foam. and is also relatively quiet for an Espresso machine.
Klarstein Passionata Rossa
The drip tray is easy to remove and makes it easy to clean and maintain. The steaming nozzle allows high powered milk foam for a variety of different drinks. The water tank is large as well, so it doesn’t need refilling often.
The portafilter is 53mm long and the unit comes with only a single portafilter funnel with singe and double-shot baskets. The red chrome finish can make the machine look like it’s made out of metal but it is plastic.
The main thing we like about the Klarstein is the simplicity of use, it is not an overcomplicated machine to use. Where a lot of machines are filled with lots of different options and buttons the Klarstein thrives on its simplicity, and once again is a great machine for those looking for a good quality machine that is easy to use.
✔ The machine is simple to use
✔ The machine is easy to clean
✗ The Red Chrome finish looks metal but is actually plastic
Mr. Coffee Machine Review
is a solid machine but lacks some of the finer points of the other machines I tested. The Espresso itself tasted fine, but on the second try of the machine, the coffee tasted a bit lukewarm. The cappuccino was amazing though! The control panel can require a bit of patience – we had to press the button a few times for it to work properly. When brewing the coffee, the machine was also quite loud. In our experience, many cheap espresso machines are loud. Mr. Coffee was only a bit louder than the Cuisinart machine.
Mr. Coffee Café Barista
It’s a solid machine though and although one Espresso came out lukewarm, the rest was a fine temperature. In the product description, the manufacturer states the boiler should be cleaned when first using the machine or if the machine hasn’t been used for a long time.
It’s also important to note that if you are looking to buy an Espresso machine with your main focus being on making Cappuccinos or Lattes then the Mr. Coffee is a great choice. The frothing wand allows you to control the amount of froth on your drinks, by turning the Froth Control Knob to the right you get more foam if you turn the knob to the left you get less foam. So, you can make a Cappuccino or Latte just to your preferred liking.
The water tank is large, so like the Cuisinart machine, the tank doesn’t need refilling often. The machine also comes with a 2 Year manufacturer’s guarantee so you should get some good use out of the Mr. Cofee. All in all, the machine is actually one of the best budget espresso machines.
✔ Easy to control the level of foam
✔ Large Water Tank
✗ The touch screen can be unresponsive
✗ The lukewarm temperature of the coffee
How To Find The Best Espresso Machine?
The two major points to consider when making any purchases are cost and quality. For an Espresso machine, this is especially true, as it can be easy to overpay for an expensive machine that doesn’t deliver the required result.
The beauty of a high-quality Espresso machine is that it can provide you with more than just your favorite Espresso. If you enjoy a Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, or Macchiato then you can utilize a high-quality machine to make barista-style hot drinks, but the truth of the matter is when looking for an Espresso machine under $200 you’re still looking at an entry-level machine. It’s still possible though to find a great machine for that price.
There a few different types of machines to consider when looking for the best home espresso machine.
What Are The Main Types Of Espresso Machine?
There are three main types of Espresso Machine to choose from when looking at which one to buy. A Manual machine, a Semi-Automatic machine, and a machine that is fully automatic. There is a fourth option, although less common: the Capsule option such as the Nespresso capsule machine.
Manual Espresso Machine
A Manual Espresso machine will allow you to control every part of the coffee-making process. You’re able to fine-tune your perfect Espresso shot. The main problem with Manual Espresso machines is actually the same as the main advantage of them. With having more control it’s easy to mess up the perfect Espresso shot, but it can be a great opportunity to learn if you have the time.
Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
The second type is the Semi-Automatic machine, which is the most common choice for those who are looking for a more ‘traditional’ home espresso machine. Semi-automatic machines feature a boiler, portafilter, and a switch to activate/deactivate the pump to perform the extraction of the coffee.
So, you have control over when the extraction begins and ends. Maintenance wise, there are a few things to consider with a Semi-Automatic machine. You’ll have to clean the portafilters, the coffee basket and the shower screen on the machine. So, the amount of maintenance required is a good factor to consider when you’re buying an Espresso Machine.
Superautomatic Espresso Machine
The third type of Espresso Machine is the ‘Superautomatic’ machine. These are perfect for people who like a quick and easy cup of coffee in just a few minutes. These machines do pretty much everything for you: grinding, tamping, brewing your coffee and even steaming the milk.
They are probably the easiest to use and will produce a consistent shot of coffee every time. If you’re looking for ease of use then a ‘Superautomatic’ is the machine to go for and they work really well for a home espresso machine.
It’s important to consider the type of machine you want before making a purchase. One of the best parts about having an affordable Espresso machine is that it’ll pay for itself in no time. Which means far fewer visits to the coffee shop.
What Makes A Great Home Espresso Machine?
Another thing you may want to consider is the amount of maintenance that is required for the upkeep of the machine. The less maintenance that is required generally the more reliable the machine. It’s advised however to regularly maintain your machine to keep it performance-optimized. That’s another advantage of investing in a ‘Superautomatic’ machine that there is generally less maintenance involved compared with owning a ‘Semi-Automatic’ machine
You’ll also want to consider your personal drink preferences if you’re buying a machine mainly for Espressos or Cappuccinos or Lattes.
If you’re new to the Espresso or Coffee world then you may not need to worry about particular details and you may just need a reliable and easy to use machine to get you going. If you find yourself becoming really engrossed in the art of Espresso and Coffee making you can always upgrade the machine to a more expensive one later down the road.
What Is The Best Home Espresso Machine Under $200?
Our Winner:
Out of the five machines we tested in this review the Cuisinart was the one we’d recommend the most. The main reason why is for its simplicity. Personally, the most important thing for us when looking for an Espresso machine is simplicity and ease of use.
The water tank is large enough so it doesn’t require constant refilling, but the whole machine is still a compact size so it will fit well into any kitchen or worktop. On top of that, the stainless body makes the machine design brilliant.
The frother works well and will leave you with a high-quality Cappuccino or Latte and for under $200 it’s a very good purchase. The great thing as well with buying a slightly cheaper machine that you get great use out of is that it leaves you room to buy a more expensive machine at a later date.
If you really begin to enjoy the craft of making the perfect espresso. It would be my recommendation to buy a high-quality machine under $200, especially if you’re a beginner and not jump right into buying a more expensive Espresso machine.
Table could not be displayed.Hi my name is Larry, a coffee aficionado from the US. I have already visited Colombia, Sumatra, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Jamaica in my pursuit of finding the best-tasting coffee beans. I currently write from Bali and enjoy the relaxed life that you can only find in Canggu. Welcome to my coffee world!
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.