The 5 Best Beginner Espresso Machines
Five beginner espresso machines, including atatix Espresso Machine with and Breville BES870XL Barista, compared by grinder needs, milk frothing, controls and cleanup.
Our top 5 beginner espresso machines
Swipe to compare price, rating and best use →
| Product | Price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
01 atatix EM3111 Compact Espresso MachineDetails ↓ | $103.98 | 4.2/5Amazon | Best compact milk frother |
02 Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso MachineDetails ↓ | $699.95 | 4.4/5Amazon | Best built-in grinder |
03 CASABREWS CM5418 Compact Espresso Machine with Milk FrothingDetails ↓ | $118.99 | 4.3/5Amazon | Best small footprint |
04 Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch Espresso MachineDetails ↓ | $980.00 | 4.2/5Amazon | Best guided touchscreen |
05 Gevi 20 Bar Compact Espresso MachineDetails ↓ | $126.99 | 4.3/5Amazon | Best compact Gevi |
01 — atatix
Best compact milk frotheratatix EM3111 Compact Espresso Machine
The atatix espresso machine lists a 20-bar pump and a milk-frothing wand. It gives a beginner a compact route to espresso and milk drinks, but ground coffee or a separate grinder and regular wand cleaning are still required.
View on Amazon ↗Shoppers comparing budget espresso machine
Reasons to avoid
−Brewer needs regular cleaning and descaling
02 — Breville
Best built-in grinderBreville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine lists brushed Stainless Steel, craft café-quality espresso shots and lattes and cappuccinos at home with this manual coffee maker with built-in grinder. Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+Stainless Steel
+manual
Reasons to avoid
−Brewer needs regular cleaning and descaling
−Manual operation takes more hands-on effort
03 — CASABREWS
Best small footprintCASABREWS CM5418 Compact Espresso Machine with Milk Frothing
The compact CASABREWS CM5418 includes a steam wand for milk drinks. It can cover espresso and cappuccino without a large machine footprint, but still needs ground coffee or a separate grinder and regular wand cleaning.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+Stainless Steel
+34 oz
Reasons to avoid
−Brewer needs regular cleaning and descaling
04 — Breville
Best guided touchscreenBreville BES880BSS Barista Touch Espresso Machine
The Breville Barista Touch uses a grinder, steam wand and touch interface for repeatable drink settings. A single-boiler or thermoblock machine can make milk drinks; dual boilers mainly help when brewing and steaming repeatedly. Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+Stainless Steel
+automatic
Reasons to avoid
−Brewer needs regular cleaning and descaling
05 — Gevi
Best compact GeviGevi 20 Bar Compact Espresso Machine
Gevi is another small portafilter-and-steam-wand option for a beginner comparing what fits beneath cabinets and beside a grinder. Its 20-bar headline is a pump specification, not evidence that it beats the CASABREWS machines in the cup. Check the exact basket size, wand clearance and included accessories, because these affect everyday use much more. Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+34 oz
Reasons to avoid
−Brewer needs regular cleaning and descaling
Price information
Amazon price and availability checked Oct 17, 2026, 10:14 PM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.
Our process
How we picked.
We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.
- 01Relevance
Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.
- 02Specifications
We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.
- 03Use case and fit
We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.
- 04Strengths and limitations
We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.
Good questions
FAQ — Beginner Espresso Machines
01How does atatix EM3111 Compact Espresso Machine address grinder needs?+
atatix EM3111 Compact Espresso Machine leads this shortlist for compact milk frother. The atatix espresso machine lists a 20-bar pump and a milk-frothing wand. Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning.
02Should I consider Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine when milk frothing matters?+
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine addresses built-in grinder; atatix EM3111 Compact Espresso Machine is here for compact milk frother. Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine lists brushed Stainless Steel, craft café-quality espresso shots and lattes and cappuccinos at home with this manual coffee maker with built-in grinder.
03How do CASABREWS CM5418 Compact Espresso Machine with Milk Frothing and Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch Espresso Machine compare on controls?+
The compact CASABREWS CM5418 includes a steam wand for milk drinks. The Breville Barista Touch uses a grinder, steam wand and touch interface for repeatable drink settings. Verify their stated controls for the exact configurations.
04What should I check about Gevi 20 Bar Compact Espresso Machine and cleanup?+
Gevi is another small portafilter-and-steam-wand option for a beginner comparing what fits beneath cabinets and beside a grinder. Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning.
05Do I need a separate grinder for beginner espresso?+
Allow for a grinder if the machine has none, and budget time for backflushing, descaling and milk-wand cleaning. For example, The atatix espresso machine lists a 20-bar pump and a milk-frothing wand. Gevi is another small portafilter-and-steam-wand option for a beginner comparing what fits beneath cabinets and beside a grinder.
The short answer
Start with the atatix EM3111 Compact Espresso Machine.
It is our first pick for this guide’s exact scope. Choose another option when its stated use case or trade-off better matches yours.
View on Amazon ↗Keep looking
Related guidesThe 5 Best Espresso Machines
Five home espresso machines, compared by grinder integration, extraction controls and milk workflow.
The 5 Best Compact Espresso Machines
Five Compact Espresso Machines, including HBN Espresso Machine and CASABREWS CM5418 Compact Espresso Machine, compared by brew method, drink choices and cleaning.
The 5 Best Home Espresso Machines
Five espresso machines for at home, chosen for consistent extraction, useful milk control and more repeatable coffee at home.
The 5 Best Automatic Espresso Machines
Five Automatic Espresso Machines compared by brew method, drink choices and cleaning, with distinct products for different uses.