Five Cheap, But Actually Good Home Espresso Machines

Ahh, espresso! So rich, so creamy, so… Why do people always call it “EXpresso?” No matter. First off, let’s get one thing straight: espresso is not a roasting method, but the method of preparation in which highly-pressurized hot water is forced over coffee grounds to produce a very concentrated coffee drink with a deep, robust flavor.

Espresso, and the machines that make it have a rich history. In 1884, long before the Grande Java Chip Frappuccino was invented, one Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy was granted a patent for “new steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage” and thus was born the espresso machine.

Espresso machines became wildly popular. Of course, everyone got in the game and came up with their models. Back in 1914, Milan’s own Desiderio Pavoni made this one:

In 2017, there are many expre… espresso machines on the market. If you’re looking at price as much as quality, here are five espresso makers that are not too shabby and affordable and can be found on a small, obscure website called “Amazon.” None costs more than $100.

	Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Espresso System	Buy Now
	Bella Personal Espresso Maker	Buy Now
	Capresso Steam Pro Machine	Buy Now
	VillaWare Home Espresso Maker	Buy Now
	Bene Casa BC-99148 Maker	Buy Now

1. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Steam Espresso System w/Milk Frother

“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio a/k/a/ Mr. Coffee?” Well, he’s right here in the shape of a solid, if unspectacular espresso machine. A three-star rated machine, it outperforms “Joltin’ Joe” who only had one star (Marilyn Monroe). At $29.95, you won’t get an All-Star but a reliable .245 hitter.

Its feature include:

• Steam heat forces hot steam through the filter for dark, rich espresso brew
• Fothing arm maker creamy froth to top off your cappuccinos and lattes
• Easy Pour glass carafe serves up to 4 shots with just the tilt of the wrist
• The drip catcher is a removable, washable drip tray to collect coffee drips and keep brew space neat and clean

Here’s how “Flow901” reviewed it on Amazon:

“I suspect this product is keeping Mr. Coffee in business. You cannot expect a product at this price to perform well, yet this machine has not let me down… It makes a lovely latte and perfect foam.”

2. Bella Personal Espresso Maker with Built-in Steam Wand

This little Bella beauty claims to have “5 Bars of Pressure.” Not sure what that means, but it kinda sounds like a 1980’s Chinese martial arts movie. It’s rated a 3.5-star machine, so it should fit the bill. For awhile.

Features:

• Constant 5 bars of pressure and easy user operation delivers a truly bold and piping serving of espresso in just seconds. Brews 1-4 cups of espresso.
• Built-in steam wand gives you the option to froth and steam milk so you can prepare your very own cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos from your own home (frothing cup not included).
• Easy-pour glass decanter is marked to take the guess work out of how much water to use. Espresso scoop included serving the perfect amount every time.
• The permanent filter basket is equipped with a safety clip for easy operation. Simply detach when done brewing for easy cleanup.
• Removable drip tray and wand cover make clean up a breeze.

“Dylan” likes it. He gave it 4 stars and wrote:

The machine works great when used correctly, and it’s only $40?? Don’t let the bad reviews stop you. Until you get into units costing $100 or more, espresso at this price is going to be the same.

Not exactly a glowing review, but if money is an issue, you could do worse.

3. Capresso 304.01 Steam Pro 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

Made by the Swiss company Jura, this plucky guy has taken a beating with Amazon reviews. But hey, it makes four cups! And it… It won’t explode and spray you with hot molten espresso.

Some of its features include:

• Safety boiler cap with built-in valve
• Illuminated on/off switch
• Dishwasher safe glass carafe
• Removable drip tray for easy clean-up
• Fast heating time

And it does get its share of nice reviews: Here’s one from “Joseph Ludi”:

“This is a great machine. I wanted it because it makes “4-Cups” at a time which is one small cup for me and so I only have to make espresso twice every morning. I have another machine if I wanna get serious about pressure and temperature and steaming, etc. But for everyday use, I would buy this one again.”

Okay, so maybe Mr. Ludi owns a lot of stock in the company, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be objective! C’mon!

4. Villaware 15 Bar Pressure Home Espresso/Cappuccino Maker

Now we’re getting to the better 4-star machines. And they’re still affordable. Like this Villaware Espresso/Cappuccino one. You can tell they take their product seriously just by the way they misspell ‘cappuccino.’ This baby’s got 15-bar pressure. Still not sure what that means, but it seems to make an exceptional espresso.

Here are the features:

• Distinctive Stainless Steel design with shale accents
• Large Ergonomic Dial control
• 15 bar pressure pump
• Thermal block heating system for quick heat up
• Easy fill, removable water reservoir

But don’t just take my word. Look what “Sharon S.” had to say:

We LOVE this machine. It produces a great crema (on the coffee) and froth (on milk). It is pretty easy to use and gets “ready” really fast. We bought this machine to replace a Gaggia when its pump went out, and we didn’t know if we would be happy with a much less expensive and simpler machine.

5. Bene Casa BC-99148 4-Cup Espresso Maker with Frother, Red.

Okay, now we’re heading past the $70 mark, and maybe you’re saying, “Hey, you said these expresso makers were cheap!” Well, true, but “cheap” is relative, and believe you me, I have some cheap parents.

Features:

• 4 Cup Electric Espresso Maker
• 3.5 bar working pressure
• Swivel frother
• Glass carafe included

But 72.95 is well worth it because this Bene Casa machine gets excellent ratings. Okay, only two people have reviewed it, but they both gave it five stars!

Look at the first review from “J. Freeman”:

“Wow. Hubby got me this for my birthday. I love Cuban coffee, even being a country girl from WV. First cup and every cup since delicious and perfect. This isn’t just for Cuban coffee. That’s just my fav.

OMG! Even though she’s a country girl from West Virginia, she loves Cuban coffee. Can she be indicted for aiding and abetting that Communist regime?

Anyway, this machine seems to be worth the money. And it’s red!

No matter which expres… Espresso machine you choose, the chances are good that you’ll get what you pay for. So, if that Mr. Coffee machine conks out after six months, you have nothing to complain about. And don’t go looking for me.