Espresso Machines
Espresso at home, from a stovetop pot to a commercial-grade machine. Only what we'd put on our own counter.
This list is short on purpose. Most espresso machines are fine and forgettable. These are the ones we think earn the counter space.
- N°01
La Marzocco
Linea Micra
The one to buy if you want café espresso and never want to upgrade again. A dual-boiler, commercial-grade machine shrunk to home size, built in Florence, and heavy enough that it never moves when you lock in the portafilter.
$$$ Made in ItalyWeight 19.0 kgCapacity 2.0 LSince 2022
- N°02
Lelit
Bianca PL162T
For people who want to play with the shot itself. Two boilers handle brewing and steaming at once, and the walnut paddle lets you change how fast water hits the coffee while it pours.
$$$ Made in ItalyWeight 27.2 kgCapacity 2.5 L
- N°03
Olympia Express
Cremina
Espresso by hand. There is no pump; your arm on the lever sets the pressure. It takes practice, it is almost silent, and many from the 1960s are still pulling shots.
$$$ Made in SwitzerlandWeight 10.9 kg
- N°04
La Pavoni
Europiccola
The same idea as the Cremina for about a quarter of the price. You pull the shot with the lever, and the brass boiler holds enough for about eight cups. The group gets very hot, and the first few weeks take patience.
$$$ Weight 6.5 kgCapacity 800 mlSince 1961
- N°05
Alessi
9090 Espresso Coffee Maker
A moka pot, so the same caveat as the Bialetti below. It makes strong stovetop coffee, not true espresso. You buy it for the shape. Richard Sapper's 1979 design won the Compasso d'Oro the year it came out.
$$$ Made in Italy
- N°06
Bialetti
Moka Express 3-Cup
Not true espresso. A moka pot brews at a fraction of a machine's pressure, so there's no crema. But it makes a strong, dense cup on any stove, costs very little, and has barely changed since 1933.
$$$ Capacity 130 mlSince 1933