Espresso is a kind of strong black coffee that is brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure to pass through finely-ground coffee beans. To be able to enjoy quality espresso in your home on a daily basis, you need the best espresso machine.
And to ensure that you don’t go wrong in your choice of an espresso coffee-maker, you would find the opinions of coffee addicts on Reddit quite helpful.
Best Espresso Machines: Reddit Users to the Rescue!
When it comes to quality coffee brewing and an impressive espresso machine, Reddit users really matter. Their practical experiences and helpful reviews will make the difference between a bad espresso machine and a good one. Our editors have also curated a list of the best espresso machines according to thousands of Reddit users’ opinions, and you only need to make your selection from this impressive list:
1. Gaggia Classic Pro
The Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine is designed to make you a true barista at home. The coffee maker has been around for decades, but you might want to check out the Gaggia Classic Pro (2019). It is a true classic that is only available in stainless steel finish. Designed and manufactured in Italy, addicted coffee users on Reddit said the machine is a must-have for any serious coffee devotee.
The Gaggia Classic Pro (2019) weighs only 7.3 kg and measures 23 x 38 x 24 cm. It has a professional steam wand and two traditional 58mm filter baskets as well as a standard 14g pressurized basket. Ardent coffee lovers on social media communities testify that users can brew a quality espresso with exquisite crema with this coffee machine.
If you like this espresso machine, here are more reasons to get it:
- 6 new intuitive user interface
- Dip tray redesigned for extra stability
- 3 filters for ground coffee and POD
- Cup holder for espresso cups and glasses
- Professional steam wand
- 15 bar pump
Reddit users’ experiences with Gaggia Classic Pro:
10JQKAce: I was almost sold on the Lelit but I am now very inclined to get the Gaggia instead and do the OPV, PID mods. You know Gaggia classic has been set in my wishlist for a couple years, since I started getting into specialty coffee.
Helloitsmebee: Initially, I was eyeballing the Brevilles (as that’s one of the most popular brands you might see in your regular shops), but came across this sub. After reading more, I decided on the GCP, seeing that the Gaggia Classic has a reputation for being a tank and can last decades with care and maintenance.
JoeSmithDiesAtTheEnd: Even with the PID upgrades, the Gaggia Classic is a horrible choice for anyone who cares about milk drinks — and if you don’t care about milk drinks, at that point you should consider a Robot. The Gaggia Classic also has a tendency to empty the boiler on its own…. If the machine is just sitting powered on and idle for extended periods of time, the water will slowly drip out of the steam wand and the boiler rarely ever refills itself.
2. Rancilio Silvia Pro
Forum users seem to like the Rancilio Silvia Pro espresso maker for obvious reasons. They testify that the new makeover boasts of two PIDs, a digital display, two different boilers, and various coffee capabilities with ease. It comes with a barista kit that includes shower cleaning brush, water softener, double spout portafilter, rubber backflush disk, cleaning tablets, coffee measuring plastic spoon, and professional black wood tamper with stainless steel 58 mm flat base.
The Rancilio Silvia Pro has a dimension of 25 x 42 x 39 cm and boasts of an ergonomic portafilter with 8g and 16g filter baskets. The machine is made of stainless steel body and features an adjustable cut tray and brass brewing unit. It has an interactive digital display that works for shot timers, temperature indicators, and water alerts among others. The machine also has a built-in 2-liter water reservoir.
If you like this espresso machine, here are more reasons to get it:
- Professional barista kit
- Ergonomic portafilter
- Energy-saving insulated boilers
- Multidirectional stainless steel steam wand
- Dual boiler
- Dual PID
- Easy cleaning solutions
Reddit users’ experiences with Rancilio Silvia Pro:
Redproff10: My family has used different kinds of espresso machines over time, but recently we happen to like the Silvia Pro more after its modifications. We also like the fact that it is easy to pull down for cleaning purposes. Up you go, Rancilio Silva.
Boddegim: The brewing technology applied for this espresso maker is superb. Little wonder Reddit users score it highly. I’m delighted making coffee every morning with this intuitive espresso machine.
Metous: I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the Silvia Pro and I can attest that all I heard is true and verifiable. I now enjoy making my own espresso coffee with this modest machine.
3. Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express is all about converting a coffee bean to espresso in under one minute. This moderately-priced espresso machine is an all-in-one home solution to espresso needs at home. It enables the user to grind the beans and then extract the entire flavor using quality PID methods for a satisfactory coffee experience.
The Breville Barista Express is built with brushed stainless steel and measures 12 x 11 x 13.5 inches. With a bean hopper capacity of ½ lb and a water tank capacity of 67 oz, it comes with a single or double shots setting. It also has pre-infusion and purge functions as well as several accessories. The accessories include a razor dose trimming tool, 54mm stainless steel portafilter, 1 cup/2 cup single/dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, integrated tamper, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning disc, and tablets, cleaning brush, tool and Allen Key, and water filter holder and water filter.
If you like this espresso machine, here are more reasons to get it:
- All-in-one espresso solution
- Pre-infusion and purge functions
- Numerous accessories
- 1,600W Thermocoil-Integrated heating system
- Adjustable grind amount & manual over-ride
- Dose-control grinding feature
- Precise espresso-extraction process
Reddit users’ experiences with Breville Barista Express:
Rroonnoo: Breville barista express is a pretty decent machine. With some practice, you can obtain really nice shot/latte. The best for a do it all under 1000$ machine.
Pusch85: For home use, I much prefer the Breville Barista Express over the Gaggia + grinder (Rocky in my case). It’s been a trouble-free machine for 4 years of daily use. It’s a solid starter machine that can be found for $400 new, and allow you to save up the $$$ for a nice dual boiler setup in the future. It’s really efficient in its use of space, and pulls good-to-great shots despite its inconsistencies.
Mrtramplefoot: Breville/sage is probably the least reliable espresso machine you can buy over $200. Almost everything else can be expected to last decades with proper care and maintenance with parts readily available. You’d be lucky to get 5 years out of a Breville and if something breaks, it’s probably not repairable.
4. Cafelat Robot
Cafelat Robot is a manual coffee maker designed only for espresso. It is made of stainless steel and completely devoid of plastic. It comes with a bottomless portafilter as you’d find in commercial espresso machines, and it features a 58mm stainless steel filter basket. Its filter basket also functions as a brewing chamber and this makes a boiler and pumps unnecessary.
Reddit users swear that this simple and minimalistic coffee espresso maker is the best for home use. It weighs 2.8kg (6.2 lbs) with its tamper and has lever arms to facilitate pre-infusion and ramp-up to full pressure. The machine’s body and base are aluminum while other parts are stainless steel, but its piston is made of FDA-approved silicone. And it has an aluminum or retro green finish.
If you like this espresso machine, here are more reasons to get it:
- 58mm filter baskets
- Stainless steel tamper
- Pressure gauge
- Extraction pressure
- Temperature management
- Manageable extraction ratios
Reddit users’ experiences with Cafelat Robot:
Socialguru12: I love the fact that this small coffee machine makes great espressos. Its components are so basic and it does not have any plastic parts at all. With Robot, making espresso becomes a daily delight.
Dothemath2: If you do not need to froth milk, I would recommend a Cafelat Robot or Flair pro manual espresso device. If you have your workflow down it can be pretty quick. These are less expensive and you can pair it with a good electric grinder, like a Eureka Specialita which is highly recommended on this sub.
InstigatingDrunk: Get a robot…literally the easiest setup ever. However, you need a good grinder. It’s relatively ‘cheap’ too.
5. Lelit Anna
If you desire to make fantastic espressos and impressive cappuccinos, then you might consider having the Lelit Anna coffee machine. The PL41EM brand is very suitable for home use, and the steam wand will even give you hot water for herbal infusions and other hot teas. Reddit users recommend the Lelit Anna espresso machine highly and many express desires to gift it to relatives who also love great coffees.
The Lelit Anna PL41EM espresso maker weighs 7.2 kg and measures 23 x 26.5 x 34 cm. Its water tank can take 2.7 liters of water and the coffee/water/steam pump has a rating of 15 bars. The machine has a stainless steel body capable of handling ground coffee and coffee pods. Its manometer is to pressure the coffee and it has steam/water wand. Below are the specifications for this machine.
If you like this espresso machine, here are more reasons to get it:
- Oval chromed switches
- Multidirectional steam/water wand
- Backlit manometer for coffee pressure
- Cup warmer
- 3-way solenoid valve to dry coffee powder
- 250 ml brass boiler
- Stainless steel appliance body
- Visible water level
Reddit users’ experiences with Lelit Anna:
ImLukeSome1: My father has been using the Lelit Anna since 2015 and it still works like magic. Said he likes the simplicity and near-perfect espresso mix. I may as well get it this week since another friend has equally recommended it.
Idontknowu: I barely know anything about espresso machines, but I’ve read a lot of reviews recommending Anna for its various aspects. I hope to join the thousands of users too very shortly.
Getmypak1: We’ve been using Lelit Anna for as long as I can remember. My family is a coffee drinking lot and we make our own brews. I think I like it, given that it’s sort of intuitive and minimalistic at the same time.
