Wouldnt it be amazing to wake up every morning to the aroma of your very own espresso machine brewing you a fresh cup of deep dark joy? Nowadays, it is quite easy to find the best espresso machine under $300 for you, whether you be a busy student, a freelancer who has clients over for business meeting or simply a lover of gourmet coffees who likes to have more than one cup of java a day.

To create this article, weve considered several essential features each espresso machine possesses. We looked at the pressure it uses it create a cup of perfectly brewed coffee. We also checked whether a model uses ground coffee, ESE pods, or capsules. Inclusion of a frother will allow you to not only make espressos, but also cappuccinos, lattes, and other beverages. Finally, the dimensions will tell you where you can put your new appliance while the warranty period determines how long youll be covered should something go wrong.

Top 5 Espresso Machines under $300 Review 2019

If you are in the market for a new home espresso machine, we have done your homework for you by highlighting the five top models currently available. We also wrote in-detail reviews of each product with information from manufacturer websites, product descriptions, and consumer reviews to find the best espresso machine under $300 to fit your lifestyle. The buying guide at the end of this thorough review will further assist you in your shopping.

Buying Guide

Aside from simply loving a cup of espresso, whenever and wherever you want, buying an espresso machine can save you a lot of money. Considering that the cost of buying that daily cup of espresso at a caf or restaurant can be anywhere from $3.00 to $8.00 and that this does not include the tip to your barista, your espresso machine might very well pay for itself in a month or two. The guide below is designed to further assist you in your search for the ideal unit.

Features to consider while choosing an espresso machine

Well start with features you need to pay close attention to when choosing the best espresso machine for your lifestyle, whether it be a manual espresso machine, asemi-automatic espresso machine, a completely automatic machine such as the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine, a practically professional grade coffee maker with 19 bars such as the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Expresso Maker, or a machine that comes with enough accessories that you could practically open your own coffee house as is the case with our EspressoWorks All-In-One Espresso Machine & Cappuccino Maker.

Pressure

The theory is that the more pressure bars the espresso maker possesses, the more it will taste like it was made by a barista in a real Italian coffee house. Most espresso machines under $300 have a pressure rating of 15 bars, but our Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker that is number three on our list has a pressure bar rating of 19 bars. True commercial machines used in coffee houses feature a rotary coffee press, not a vibratory one, but the heavier the pressure, the more likely you are to create an espresso drink that tastes like it was produced in a real coffee house.

Water reservoir capacity

The water reservoir capacity of an espresso maker matters if you want to serve up several espresso-based drinks at once, or if you simply do not have the inclination to fill up a smaller reservoir on a daily basis. The espresso maker with the largest reservoir capacity on our list is the Cuisinart EM-200, which has a removable 64-oz. water tank allowing you to make espressos for a week straight without having to change the water.

However, true coffee gourmands will tell your that the reservoir size does not matter unless you are having a party and serving several people, as a great cup of espresso should always be made with fresh filtered water every day. If a large capacity isn't what you're after, check out our review of the best single serve coffee makers, designed with more individual use in mind.

K-Cup pods vs. Nespresso capsules vs. ground coffee

In general, the more old school" the coffee maker is, the more likely it is to have variable stainless steel slots that allow you to choose whether or not you want to make single or double shot expressos. For instance, the EspressoWorks All-In-One Espresso Machine & Cappuccino Maker can only make espresso with grounds. Some machines like the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine, only use pods particular to their brand (Nespresso pods in this case), while other types, such as the Delonghi EC680M can convert back and forth from using grounds to using pods.

Which beverages it can make?

When choosing an espresso machine, you might want to take into account whether or not the unit is versatile enough to make several styles of coffee as is the case with the EspressoWorks All-In-One Espresso Machine & Cappuccino Maker.

If you drink your espresso black, you don't need an attached or accessory milk frother when you buy an espresso machine. However, four of our top five choices do come with an attached milk frother which allows you to make other espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos, lattes (and if lattes are your thing, we recommend checking out our review of the best latte machines) and flat whites. The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine comes with a separate cup-shaped unit called the Aerocinno Milk Frother that retails for about $100 if bought on its own and it allows you to make both cold and hot froth for your caffeinated drinks.

Dimensions

If you have less counter space, then you might want to buy a smaller or more compact espresso machine such as the rectangular Cuisinart EM-200 or the towering tube-shaped Delonghi EC680M that is designed to nicely fit into a kitchen counter nook. Most espresso machines for under $300 are smaller than the pro models you find in cafes, so its usually effortless to accommodate even an appliance like the Nespresso Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine, which comes with a separate cup-shaped milk frother and a tall tubular glass water reservoir on the side.

Warranty

At the very least, any espresso machine bought for under $300 should have a one-year limited warranty, but some, like our Editor's Choice in our top five espresso machines, has a two-year limited warranty. The Cuisinart EM-200 even offers an impressive three-year limited warranty. Make sure that the warranty covers steamer nozzles and plastic parts, as they are most likely to snap off or break.

Other features

Additional features to look for when shopping for an espresso machine include a push button control panel, a timer to allow you to program that first cup of java in the morning and an adjustable cup tray that lets you to fit taller cups and small coffee thermos's beneath the coffee and frother spout. Some units, such as the EspressoWorks All-In-One Espresso Machine & Cappuccino Maker, also come with their own accessories including a coffee grinder, measuring spoons, frothing cup, and espresso cups. The Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine on our top five list also comes with a sampler of twelve Nespresso coffee capsules, which is a nice bonus to have.

Some safety tips

Here are some vital safety tips for using espresso machines.

FAQ

Our Verdict

Our Editors Choice, the Delonghi EC680M got top marks at 9.9 out of ten because it is compact and clean looking and its narrow tubular shape does not take up much counter space. We also liked the fact it takes both ground and ESE pods as well as that it had a generous two-year warranty.

Our second choice, the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine with a rating of 9.8 is about as great it gets when it comes to espresso machines and touch and go push-button technology, offering five coffee cup sizes, a separate easy-to-clean frother and a selection of twelve gourmet Nespresso capsules so that you can decide what your favorite flavor is before you buy a flat of them at the Nespresso store.

Our third choice, the Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker features 19 bars of pressure for making double or single shot drinks, comes with an attached milk frother, adjustable drip plate (to accommodate larger sized cups and thermoses) and a removable 22 oz. milk reservoir that can be stored in the refrigerator when not in use.