My first espresso machine was a $150 disaster. It barely produced crema, the steam wand was useless, and I spent more time cleaning it than drinking coffee. After six months, I sold it on Craigslist for $40.
My second machine was $400. That one lasted four years and made decent espresso throughout.
The lesson: there’s a minimum viable price for home espresso. Below it, you’re wasting money. But you don’t need to spend thousands to get there.
Here are espresso machines under $200 that are actually worth buying—and one important caveat before you read further.
The Honest Truth About Budget Espresso
Machines under $200 make acceptable espresso. Not great espresso. Acceptable.
You’ll get crema. You’ll get espresso-like flavor. You can make lattes and cappuccinos that taste decent. But you won’t get the nuanced shots you’d get from a $1,000 machine or a good coffee shop.
If you’re okay with that tradeoff—espresso at home for the cost of a month of coffee shop visits—read on. If you want true cafe-quality shots, start saving for something in the $400-600 range.
Best Under $200: Breville Bambino (On Sale)
Price: ~$300 full price, ~$175-200 on sale
The Bambino is technically over budget at full price, but it goes on sale frequently—Black Friday, Prime Day, random Amazon sales. At $175-200, it’s the best espresso value available.
The thermojet heating system reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds. No 30-minute warmup like traditional machines. The automatic steam wand produces legitimate microfoam for lattes—not just heated milk with bubbles.
Shot quality is good. The 54mm portafilter is smaller than commercial size but adequate. Pressure is consistent. With fresh beans and a decent grinder, you get proper espresso with good crema.
Downsides: Small water reservoir. The drip tray fills quickly. Requires patience with the automatic steam wand (it takes practice to get the angle right).
Best for: Anyone who can wait for a sale and wants the best shot quality under $200.
Consistently Under $200: De’Longhi EC155
Price: ~$100-130
The EC155 has been around forever. It’s the machine that taught thousands of people how to make espresso at home. It’s not fancy, but it works.
This is a pressurized portafilter system, which means it artificially creates crema even with mediocre grind consistency. That’s actually good for beginners—you can use pre-ground espresso and still get decent results.
The steam wand is manual (unlike the Bambino), which gives you more control if you learn to use it properly. The learning curve is steeper, but the ceiling is higher for latte art.
Build quality is plastic-heavy but durable. Mine lasted three years of daily use before I upgraded.
Downsides: Small portafilter (looks toy-like compared to bigger machines). Longer warmup time. The pressurized system limits shot quality once you get better at espresso.
Best for: True beginners who want to learn espresso without a major investment.
Best for Milk Drinks: Mr. Coffee Café Barista
Price: ~$180-200
If lattes are your goal more than straight espresso, the Café Barista focuses on milk drinks. It has an automatic milk frother that produces foam at three different densities.
You load milk into a reservoir, select your drink type (latte, cappuccino, etc.), and the machine handles both the espresso and the milk. One-button drinks.
The espresso itself is fine—nothing special. The milk drinks are convenient and reasonably good. It won’t match what a skilled barista does, but it beats most home attempts at steaming milk.
Downsides: The milk system needs cleaning after every use (or it gets gross). Single boiler means slow transitions between brewing and steaming. Limited control for espresso enthusiasts.
Best for: People who mainly drink lattes and value convenience over control.
Most Compact: De’Longhi Dedica EC680
Price: ~$200 (sometimes lower)
The Dedica is only 6 inches wide—by far the slimmest espresso machine in this range. If counter space is limited, that matters.
Performance is similar to the EC155 but with a nicer build. The stainless steel body feels more premium than plastic competitors. The steam wand is better designed.
It uses ESE pods OR ground coffee, which adds flexibility. The pods are convenient but expensive; I’d stick with fresh grounds.
Downsides: The slim design means a small drip tray that fills fast. Water reservoir is awkward to remove. Like all budget machines, limited shot quality.
Best for: Small kitchens, apartments, or anyone who needs the smallest possible footprint.
Grinder Matters More Than Machine
Here’s the thing nobody tells beginners: your grinder matters more than your espresso machine.
A $500 machine with a $50 grinder produces worse espresso than a $150 machine with a $150 grinder. Espresso requires extremely fine, extremely consistent grounds. Budget blade grinders can’t do it. Even budget burr grinders struggle.
If you’re spending $200 on a machine, plan to spend at least $150 on a grinder. The Baratza Encore ($170) is the minimum for passable espresso. Better options: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro ($200) or used Rancilio Rocky.
Yes, this means the real cost of entry for home espresso is $350-400. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either using pre-ground (which limits your potential) or doesn’t know what good espresso tastes like.
What About Nespresso?
Nespresso machines make concentrated coffee that resembles espresso. They’re convenient, consistent, and require zero skill. But it’s not quite real espresso—the crema is artificial, the pressure is lower, and the capsules limit your coffee choices.
If you want caffeine with minimal effort, Nespresso is fine. If you want to learn espresso and eventually make cafe-quality drinks, save for a real machine.
My Recommendation for Most People
Wait for the Breville Bambino to go on sale. Sign up for price alerts on Amazon and CamelCamelCamel. When it drops below $200, buy it.
If you can’t wait or don’t want to spend that much, the De’Longhi EC155 is an honest machine that teaches you the basics. Expect to outgrow it in 1-2 years if you get serious.
And whatever machine you buy, invest in a decent grinder. That’s where the real flavor comes from.
