Best Semi Automatic Espresso Machine 2022

Multi Boiler Espresso Machines

Multi-boiler espresso machines arrived in the market to solve the problem of the high volume of espresso extractions and also the temperature oscillation between the time you need to use the steamer and then back to coffee extraction.

With one boiler specifically dedicated to the steam launch, the temperature of the coffee water boiler can remain much more stable and the machine will perform much better especially when you use it a lot for milk-based drinks. We could say this would be the last mile choice you would do when acquiring an espresso machine for your house. But everything comes with a cost, so lets see the pros and cons of the double boiler espresso machines:

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MULTIPLE BOILER ESPRESSO MACHINES

• Consistent brew temperature easier to achieve
• Brew and steam at the same time. No waiting between tasks
• Independent brew/steam temperature adjustment

• More complex and more parts needed
• Longer warm-up time

The 10 Best Espresso Machines 202: Beginners Review Of Top Espresso Makers

Ahh, there is nothing better than waking up to a fresh espresso in the morning. The delicious aroma and delicate layer of crema on top makes the day worth starting. Your local barista always seems to know exactly how much coffee to use and when to cut off the shot so you get perfection in a demi-tasse cup.

But if you want to be more mindful of your spending, you can also make the same quality espresso at home if you have the right machine!

After hours of research and review, weve chosen the top 10 machines on todays market. If you like to have a hand in the process, we have some fully manual machines on our list that are worth a look. However, if you just want a machine to make your order at the touch of a button, a super-automatic espresso machine can help you out.

Want the cliff notes? Our best espresso machine pick is the Philips EP3241/54 with LatteGo. With this machine, you can brew shots of espresso, specialty drinks, and even regular coffee. You dont even have to foam your milk because this machine will top off milk-based drinks automatically. If you want stronger coffee or extra foam, you can manually add these options to your order.

Fast And Consistent Water Heater

We placed emphasis on water heaters that offered consistency and speed, since these elements add a fun, easy rhythm to what promises to be a daily ritual. To that end, some machines have PID controllers, which help regulate the boiler temperature, allowing for more consistent shots back to back. Notably, the Breville models we recommend also have ThermoJet heaters, which make the machines surprisingly quick to heat and transition between pulling a shot and steaming milk some drink preparations took barely over a minute from start to finish.

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The Delonghi La Specialista Espresso Machine At A Glance: Functions Pros And Cons

With its stainless steel bezel surrounding a black control panel that features retro, yet modern knobs and a traditional pressure gauge as the centerpiece, the Delonghi La Specialista is quite the looker.

Amazon also has the espresso machine red version of the DeLonghi La Specialista right now, which would add a sense of style to any kitchen.

This DeLonghi espresso machine oozes quality, especially as its sturdy 29.7 pounds weight and sizable footprint ensure it sits solidly on any surface.

As with all hybrids, the machine is divided into two workstations. The left is dedicated to grinding beans, compacting and dosing, while the right is where youll find the brew head, automatic milk wand and hot water outlet.

With a click, the 8.8-ounce bean hopper slides into and out of position above the stainless steel grinder. This means you can easily access the coffee grinder and give it a thorough clean or ensure all residues are removed when changing beans.

When the hopper runs low, a symbol will light up on the black control panel indicating that there are insufficient beans for the next shot. On the hopper itself, youll find the six grind levels, which can be adjusted via a large slider during operation.

Compared to the Breville Oracle Touchs colorful display with its clear functionality, the control panel on the DeLonghi La Specialista is a far more minimalist affair:

The Benefits Of A Semi Automatic Espresso Machine

Using a semi-automatic machine has a lot of benefits. This type of espresso machine is easier to use than completely manual machines.

But its a type of espresso maker that will still give you enough control over your shots that you can get just the drink youre aiming for.

This type of espresso maker is also vital in the education process. You can really understand why your espresso shot tastes the way it does. You can learn and apply the science behind coffee. You will see how minimal variables create huge changes in the shot.

Youll really come to understand coffee and the coffee bean, as well as how temperature, time, and pressure act on the coffee grounds. Its a fascinating process. If you yearn to control every variable in the coffee-making process, youll fall in love with semi-automatic espresso machines.

Read Also: How To Make Good Iced Coffee With Nespresso

Why Trust The Spruce Eats

This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He tested the Philips EP3221 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine firsthand and highly recommends it to anyone looking for an all-in-one, easy-to-use espresso maker.

Patrick Cotter, the Content Marketing Specialist for Seattle Coffee Gear, gave his insight into pods versus whole bean coffee. He manages the company’s blog, social media, and content pages. Founded in 2005, Seattle Coffee Gear is a retailer that focuses on coffee education.

Selina Ullrich, the Director of Coffee at East One Coffee Roasters, was interviewed for this piece. She has worked in the coffee industry for more than 10 years. East One was founded in 2017 and has a café in Brooklyn, New York.

How To Choose The Best Espresso Machine

When you are looking to find the best coffee maker for you, there are so many choices on the market that the process can be overwhelming. Weve put together a buyers guide to help you think through your wants and needs to find the best machine to fit your lifestyle. After all, youll be using this machine for years to come!

Here are 6 elements to consider when you buy an espresso maker for your home:

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Can I Make Coffee With An Espresso Machine

The closest thing to regular drip coffee you can make with an espresso machine is an Americano, which you get by adding two parts hot water to one part espresso. Almost all of our picks include a hot-water spout that makes this easy, but you can also heat water separately and add it to your shot of espresso.

Best With Excellent Espresso & Coffee

Coffee purists will stroke their hipster beards and tell you that fully automatic coffee machines dont make espresso. And theyre right, technically. The process isnt exactly the same as with a portafilter.

You know how baristas literally whack the puck out of the portafilter after pulling a shot? Well, a super automatic espresso machines internal brew unit means that kind of force is problematic. Plus, the seriously fine grinds pose a clogging risk. For that reason, the beans are never ground to the almost powdery levels used in portafilters.

With a poor-quality coffee maker, that can translate into watery joe.

Manufacturers that dont see the convenience of coffee at the touch of a button as an excuse for a subpar brew have managed to come up with clever workarounds, though.

Take the Miele CM 6350, for instance. This Miele allows you to pre-infuse or otherwise known as moistening the grounds before forcing the shots hot water through under pressure. I can confirm after a comparative test that this definitely produces better extraction.

But Jura goes one better with the Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System , plus a second, totally different approach. The Pulse Extraction Process forces water through the grounds in several short bursts.

Attentive readers might recall me mentioning that Jura makes the best coffee and it totally does! This isnt only true of espresso but also regular coffee or Lungo.

Also Check: Is Nespresso Coffee Gluten Free

Choosing A Grinder For Espresso

To get the most out of your coffee and espresso machine, youll need a decent burr grinder. It should grind uniformly at a steady pace and allow you to adjust the fineness of the grounds in precise increments. The more control you have, the better, because an inadequate grinder could cause you to waste a good deal of coffee in the pursuit of a merely passable shot.

That said, you dont need a fancy grinder to get palatableor even great-tastingespresso at home. It certainly helps, particularly if youre in pursuit of some refined flavor notes. But for a beginner, there is plenty of fine-tuning and experimentation you can do with an under-$500 grinder. And even an excellent grinder would not have saved the espresso machines that didnt make the cut.

Weve spent time testing coffee grinders, including some espresso-specific ones, and there are a few we recommend, depending on your budget and skill level:

Other Espresso Machines We Tested

The Breville Infuser is a very good machine. In terms of espresso brewing, it was right at the top of the under-$1000 category with the Solis. It also has a pressure gauge and a hot water dispenser separate from the steam wand for making americanos . It lost out for a few reasons: The steam wand is not as powerful as the Solis and didnt produce quite as high a quality foam. The Solis came with a heavy tamper and the Brevilles felt flimsy by comparison. Finally, and this was the big one, it took up so much more space on the countertop. If we can get the same coffee in a smaller package well take it.

The Breville Barista Express is basically an Infuser with a built-in burr grinder, so, while still a very good machine, it lost a close race to the Solis for all the above reasons. But the other issue is that the grinder isgood, but not as good as the separate coffee grinders we recommend. You can get a better package that takes up basically the same amount of space and costs almost the same amount of money getting a Solis, along with a good standalone grinder like this KitchenAid.

The acidic coffee from the Delonghi 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is what it tastes like if you buy a semi-automatic machine for under $100. The steam wand was hard to move out of the way during brewing and produced very firm, almost merengue-like foam. If youre focused on this price point, get the Nanopresso.

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Do You Want To Make Specialty Drinks Such As Cappuccinos And Lattes

If espressos or Americanos are your drink of choice, you may not need to invest in fancy machines with all the bells and whistles. A simple 15-bar espresso model like the Delonghi Stilosa may be just what you need.

However, if you enjoy drinking cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites regularly, you may want to add more features to your machine. It may be worth it to invest in a machine with a quality milk steamer and a dual heating system like the La Specialista or All-in-One Combo maker to streamline your coffee-making process.

Kitchenaid Ks6403 Semi Automatic Espresso Machine

Award:HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: The dual smart temperature sensors inside this espresso maker allow it to communicate data throughout brewing actively. This allows for an optimal temperature at every stage. It also has a commercial-grade portafilter.

ProsCons

• Steamer is not that great

Youll love that this model has dual smart temperature sensors. These sensors can communicate with each other during the brewing process, which ensures an optimal temperature every step of the way. This creates a more authentic espresso experience. While the espresso machine is a fantastic piece of technology, the same cannot be said for the steamer wand. Multiple consumers report that they had difficulty using it to make foam.

There is also a 58-millimeter portafilter that is commercial grade. You wont have to worry about the filtration process and will never have espresso grounds leak into your cup. It also keeps the heat evenly distributed across the grounds. There are two recessed spouts on the portafilter, granting a flat base to the user. This allows for easier, more efficient tamping. Beyond this, youll enjoy a dosage selector so you can create a single or double shot.

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Programmability How Much Do You Need

This dictates how much control you have over the brewing process.

Although super automatic espresso machines do the work for you, many of them still let you choose from a range of settings or pre-programmed options. With super automatic espresso machines, you might want to control grind size, temperature, or shot strength. Some super automatic espresso machines let you adjust almost every detail, while others are mainly meant to run on a standard program:

They take some of the work out of your hands Select a program and press a button. Its much harder to mess it up, but youre still in control.

If youre the type who likes customization, go for a super automatic espresso machine with a high level of programmability so you still have a say in how your coffee is made.

Want to get a better sense of what home espresso making might actually look like? Check out our great video on espresso basics:

Rancilio Silvia And Rocky Espresso Bar

If you want to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee, you will need freshly ground coffee beans. The Rancilio Silvia and Rocky Package is the best semi-pro espresso machine because you get a coffee maker and coffee beans grinder.

best-value semi-automatic espresso machine

When you purchase the two together, you can be assured that you will wake up to the best cup of coffee in the morning. The two together can be better than most coffee machines that you can purchase from the market.

The Rancilio Silvia V6 and Rocky espresso bar package also comes with two drawers. One of the drawers can be used for keeping the accessories associated with the espresso machine. The other is a knock box which has the wooden rod that you can use to remove the coffee grounds from the portafilters.

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Delonghi Ec685m Dedica Deluxe Automatic Espresso Machine

The Dedica Deluxe Automatic espresso machine is ideal for a budget investment while providing excellent espresso shots and lattes. It may not provide the same level of performance as the models mentioned above, but youll enjoy the key features that allow you to control every cup you create.

This is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, with parts that are easy to remove. You can create multiple cups without waiting for the machine to heat, as the Advanced Cappuccino System keeps the temperature at an optimal level for your next brew.

If you have limited space but love a homemade latte in your day, this espresso machine could fit the bill. It may not have all the bells and whistles you get with some of the larger options, but this DeLonghi can make an impressive espresso drink if you have done everything right.

Pros

• The drip tray and water tank are small
• Some users reported issues with the steam wand clogging

Capresso Caf Select Espresso Machine

If you want to go a step ahead and enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of coffee that comes with a thick and rich crème, then opt for the Capresso Café Select Espresso Machine. This machine is competitively priced at $249.99.

The Capresso Café Select Espresso Machine has an advanced boiler with a water reservoir which helps the machine maintain the water at a particular temperature. This is essential if you are to make a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, which is at an optimal temperature.

The heavy-duty die-cast steel body of the coffee machine gives it a sleek appearance, not to mention the fact it also makes the machine quite durable. You do not have to worry about damaging the machine even after heavy usage.

Because the machine has been made keeping in mind the commercial coffee machines. You can now brew stores like thick cappuccinos, lattes, and double-shot espressos even at home with the Capresso Café Select Espresso Machine.

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Breville Bes870xl Barista Express Espresso Coffee Machine

Overall, the Barista Express is our first pick because of the best semi-automatic espresso machine price for the home. This machine is semi-automatic and reasonably accessible whether you are a beginner or an expert. It is one of the best semi-automatic coffee machines.

It is similar to the automatic Barista Touch, with fewer instruments and a few whistles. So it has automated features that help me adjust my coffee but emphasize these defaults a little more. Includes a built-in stainless steel grinder conical burr, lamp cleaner, 1/2 pounds closed hopper bean hopper, 54mm tamper, hot rod, and foam jug.

Great no matter where you look, this machine comes to be highly recommended. The main drawback is the price, but it is still cheaper than most super-automatic machines.

BREVILLE BES870XL BARISTA EXPRESS ESPRESSO-Features:

• Volumetric Control