If you’ve been looking for the espresso machines under $500, then you’re in luck because that is the topic of todays conversation.
In addition to sharing seven of the espresso machines, we’ll also be discussing the features found in costly espresso machines as well as sharing some handy tips with you to make sure you buy the right machine to meet your needs.
Let’s go!
The 7 Best Espresso Machines Under $500
Finding an espresso machine under $500 doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, but the amount of choices available can often make this process far more difficult than it needs to be.
To help you make the best possible decision we’ve put together this list of seven of the espresso machines in this price range.
Breville BES840XL/A the Infuser
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The Infuser Espresso Machine is brought to you by Breville, a reputable supplier of kitchen appliances that is fast gaining in popularity amongst espresso aficionados everywhere.
This sleek machine accommodates both single & double shots and boasts volumetric control. Maintenance is made easy thanks its helpful ‘Empty Me!’ and ‘Clean Me!’ alerts and the dedicated hot water outlet means this machine can make a whole load more than espressos.
The Infuser is packed with exciting features like an Auto Purge feature to automatically adjust water temperature and PID temperature control technology to ensure your cup is never cold.
Included with every purchase of the BES840XL/A Infuser are single & dual filter baskets, a coffee scoop, stainless steel frothing jug, water filter holder and a cleaning tool with disc & tablets.
Dimensions: 13.7 x 11.5 x 13.2 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Warranty: 1-year warranty
Color: Stainless steel
Pressure: 15-bar
- Comes with all the accessories needed
- Packed with features
- Power saving mode after 1 hour and Auto shutoff after 3
- Café quality Microfoam steam wand
- Includes a cup warmer
- Repair Cost little bit expensive Once the warranty is up.
Gaggia Brera Super Automatic
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Gaggia’s Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine is making waves within the coffee community. Synonymous with espresso excellence, Gaggia has not disappointed with this espresso machine.
This espresso machine features a classic stainless steel brushed look that is loved by many. The Pannarello wand means that cappuccino and latte lovers can also enjoy this machine while its Rapid Steam technology means nobody is left waiting for their brew of choice.
With five adjustable grind settings to choose from, as well as the Gaggia Adapting System, your perfect espresso is achieved at the touch of a button on its simple to use intuitive LED userface.
Included with every purchase of the GaggiaBrero Super Automatic Espresso Machine is a grease tube and measuring spoon.
Dimensions: 12.4 x 10 x 17.5 inches
Material: Stainless steel and plastic
Warranty: 1-year warranty
Color: Silver
Pressure: 15-bar
- Programmable brewing
- Built-in burr grinder
- Adjustable cup sizes
- The water tank is smaller so needs to be refilled often
- Requires a high level of maintenance
KitchenAid KES0504OB Nespresso
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If you can’t get enough of your Nespresso pods, this one is for you! KitchenAid has made many a coffee lover happy with its KES0504OB Nespresso Bundle.
This is for people who are solely focused on a great cup of espresso and don’t care much for lattes or cappuccinos. Its easy loading capsule system and adjustable cup shelf make for an easy espresso making experience.
The KitchenAid KES0504OB Nespresso Bundle features a 30 second heat up time and six pre-programmed brew strengths to choose from.
Included with every purchase of the KitchenAid KES0504OB Nespresso Bundle is a milk frother.
Dimensions: 13 x 8.2 x 13 inches
Material: All metal
Warranty: 1-year warranty
Color: Onyx black
Pressure: 19-bar
- Brew strength selector
- Quick heat up time
- Adjustable cup size shelf
- Only compatible with Nespresso pods
- Removing the water reservoir is little difficult
Saeco HD8645/47 Vapore Automatic
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Saeco has been satisfying coffee fiends needs for over 30 years now and show no sign of letting up. If the HD8645/47 Vapore Automatic Espresso Machine is anything to go by, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Thanks to the five grind settings available to choose from, you’re guaranteed a cup to your liking.The classic milk frother allows you to indulge in a creamy cappuccino if you’re so inclined. Easy one-touch operation makes this espresso machine simple to use, clean and maintain.
The Saeco HD8645/47 XsmallVapore Automatic Espresso Machine includes no accessories or additional equipment.
Dimensions: 15.2 x 16.7 x 15.3 inches
Material: Plastic
Warranty: 1-year warranty
Color: Black
Pressure: 15-bar
- Includes ceramic grinders
- Auto cleaning function
- Maintenance alerts
- Slightly expensive for the features it offers
- The water tank is smaller so needs to be refilled often
Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus
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Breville seems to be dominating in this price range of espresso machines. The BES500BSS Bambino Plus is another great product that will do its job well while looking gorgeous on your kitchen counter.
The Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus makes use of ‘Oracle Touch’ which consists of pre-infusing ground coffee and using PID technology to keep the temperature at its optimum. An automatic steam wand ensures that milk temperature and texture can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Included with every purchase of the Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus is a portafilter, single and dual filter baskets, stainless steel frothing jug and other small tools like a metal razor, tamper and rubber filter cleaning insert.
Dimensions: 12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Warranty: 2-year warranty
Color: Brushed stainless steel
Pressure: 15-bar
- Slim design doesn’t take up too much counter space
- Incredible heat up time of 3 seconds
- Café quality Microfoam steam wand
- No built-in grinder
- Reports of leakage
Gaggia 14101 Classic Semi-Automatic
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Another one of the best coffee make for under $500 is the 14101 Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker by Gaggia.
This espresso maker is so popular because it possesses features that are usually only found in commercial models, minus the hefty size and price tag including a 3-way solenoid valve and durable portafilter. These features are all encased in a rugged housing of brushed stainless steel that is commercial-looking in its design.
A 20 second heat up time and easy, user friendly controls make operating this machine a delight. The Turbo-Frother steam wand means you can also use this espresso maker to make cappuccinos, lattes and other milk-based beverages if you’d like.
Included with every purchase of the Gaggia 14101 Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker are three filter baskets, a measuring scoop and a tamper.
Dimensions: 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Warranty: 1-year warranty
Color: Silver
Pressure: 17.5-bar
- Passively heated cup warmer
- Heavy duty properties usually associated exclusively with commercial machines
- Quick heat up time
- Requires frequent cleaning
- Little bit Noisy when operating
Espressione 8212S Fully Automatic Silver
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This fully automatic espresso machine is brought to you by Espressione, a North American supplier of all thing’s coffee.
The Espressione 8212S packs an impressive 19 bars of pressure and boasts five grind settings to choose from. The design of this machine is contemporary with a modern, yet simplistic, feel. A built-in frothing wand means you can also make other beverages above and beyond espresso.
In just 22 seconds, the Espressione 8212S is heated and ready to start making your espresso. Thermo Block technology is used to regulate the brewing temperature to ensure the optimum water temperature is achieved and maintained.
Included with every purchase of the Espressione 82S12Sare threepackets of cleaning solution.
Dimensions: 7 x 15.6 x 12.4 inches
Material: Steel
Warranty: 1-year
Color: Silver
Pressure: 19-bar
- Built-in burr grinder
- Extremely quiet when operating
- Auto shut off
- Costly compare to others
Feature Comparison: Espresso Machine Under $500 vs Under $300
When we look at the features found in the best espresso machines, it’s clear to see that cheap espresso machines just don’t match up.
Besides being made with stronger, better quality materials and typically requiring less maintenance, there are features found in espresso machines that usually aren’t found in espresso machines under 300
These features typically include:
- Built-in grinders
- Better temperature control technology
- Faster heat up times
- Higher bar pressure
- Additional features like auto shutoff, auto cleaning functionalities, programmable brewing and advanced frothing capabilities.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying an Espresso Machine Under $500
Before deciding on which espresso machine to buy, you should keep the following factors in mind.
Semi-Automatic, Fully Automatic or Super Automatic
The decision to go for a super automatic, fully automatic or semi-automatic espresso machine is a personal one and depends on how much effort you want to put into making your espressos. This decision is often governed by budget restraints as super automatic and fully automatic machines cost significantly more than semi-automatic machines do.
Semi-automatic espresso machines require you to grind and tamp the coffee beforehand, thereafter they take over the process until you decide the shot has been completed and manually stop the process.
Fully automatic espresso machines typically work at the touch of a single button and control the brew time for you, but still require you to grind and tamp the coffee before using the machine.
And finally, super automatic machines do everything the semi-automatic and fully automatic machines do, except they have the ability to grind built-in.
Pressure
A high pressure is required to achieve a beautiful espresso. Pressure is measured in ‘bars’ and it is common knowledge that the higher the bar pressure, the better quality of espresso achieved.
To achieve a truly delicious cup of espresso, we recommend opting for an espresso machine that offers no less than 15 bars.
Materials Used
Espresso machines in this price range are usually made with high-quality materials that ensure they operate optimally, are durable and can withstand continued usage over a longer period of time.
Stainless steel is known for its high level of durability, so if you want an espresso machine that will last a long time opt for one made with this material.
Dimensions
The days of espresso machines being large, bulky eyesores that consume a huge amount of counter space are long gone. In saying that, some machines do take up more space than others.
It’s important to take note of the dimensions to make sure that you have enough counter space to accommodate your new appliance. You will also want to ensure you have enough space under the counter to store the machine when it’s not in use.
Warranty
Because it is possible to get espresso machines for much cheaper than those found in this price range, you want to be secure in the knowledge that the money you’re spending is money well spent.
All high-quality espresso machines under $500 manufactured by well-established, reputable brands should come with a warranty of at least 1 year.
Conclusion
Even though there are quite a few aspects to consider before making your mind up regarding which espresso machine to buy, once you know what to look out for finding the perfect espresso machine is much easier.
The espresso machines we’ve discussed today are all fantastic products that we can happily recommend. Jampacked with features and functionality, most espresso enthusiasts looking for a machine in this price range would be thrilled with any one of the seven listed espresso machines.
Are you ready to buy your very own espresso machine? Use this list and keep our buyers guide in mind to become the proud owner of one of these espresso machines.
