The Best Espresso Machines to Fuel Your Runs and Your Day

It won’t add your name to your cup, but the Breville Barista Touch will do pretty much everything else. With touchscreen controls and a clear set of tutorials, you can make an espresso with exquisite crema or a rich latte as soon as this espresso machine is set up. It’s got a built-in grinder and an automatic milk frother that eliminate a lot of the mistakes that could leave you with bitter or weak coffee. Switch to manual controls, if you feel like taking a turn behind the coffee bar.

Your coffee journey has to start somewhere, and this simple model from De’Longhi with a removable water tank is a good first step. It’s a simple, small machine, which lets you focus on learning how to properly tamp down grounds, pull shots of espresso, and steam milk. Best of all, at this price point, you’ll have some money left to spend on great coffee beans and a grinder.

The Philips 3200 is helpful if you feel like something different from the espresso-based coffee menu every day. Pick the grind (from 12 settings) and strength for a double shot of espresso on Monday before you use the included milk frother (bonus: the container is dishwasher safe) for a latte on Tuesday. Round out the week with a coffee, cappuccino, and Americano, before running the self-cleaning cycle on the weekend. The Philips also lets you know when the grinder bin needs emptying or the water filter should be replaced.

If Goldilocks was an espresso drinker, she’d opt for the Breville Bambino Plus. The petite, stainless steel espresso maker fits easily on a counter. Meanwhile, latte fans will appreciate smooth, frothy milk at the push of a button. This is a machine that lets you tinker with the milk temperature or merely add coffee grounds and milk if all the settings are just right.

Espresso machines typically don’t leave the counter, but that doesn’t stop your craving for espresso when you head to another city for a race. That’s why Wacaco’s manual espresso maker is a reliable travel companion. Pack in ground coffee, tamp it down, and add hot water. All that’s left to do is press in the piston on the side repeatedly to create pressure and extract the shot of espresso from a small hole in the bottom of the cylinder into your waiting cup. Voila, espresso on the go.

With the Nespresso machine, espresso can be convenient. Pop in a pod. Pick a cup size. And enjoy your morning espresso (single or double) or coffee in less than a minute. With a large water tank that holds 60 ounces and an automatic shutoff, it’s easy to have a week’s worth of caffeine with minimal effort. For $50 more, the VertuoPlus Deluxe also comes with an automatic milk frother Best Espresso Machine For Black Coffee Drinkers.

Tea drinkers will appreciate the ritual of using Bialetti’s stovetop espresso maker, which was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1919. Water goes in the base followed by fresh, fine grounds in the basket. You screw on the aluminum top and heat everything to a boil. As the water pressure builds, your coffee enters the upper chamber, accompanied by a pleasing, burbling sound. After a quick stir and a pour, you’ve got a concentrated coffee akin to an Americano.

A sleek black rectangle that’s at home in any modern kitchen, the Jura A1 is a modern marvel. A conical burr grinder lets you dial in the grind for a ristretto (a short pour of espresso), espresso, and coffee. There’s also a filter system for water and a self-cleaning setting to keep your machine running smoothly. The Jura even has a 37-ounce water tank and a coffee spout that automatically adjusts its height depending on what type of coffee drink you select.