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Our picks in 30 seconds
The same rule, limited to the 19 machines at $500 or less: the cheapest that meets each condition.
Pump espresso machine
No. 1Cheapest espresso machine under $500
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260
15bar, pump pressure as published
$149.95 at De'Longhi, the lowest price we found. Thermoblock / thermocoil; 15 bar; tank 33.81 oz (fills from the top); 8.07 x 13.5 x 11.22 in.
- Boiler
- Thermoblock / thermocoil
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Water tank
- 33.81 oz (fills from the top)
- Size (W x D x H)
- 8.07 x 13.5 x 11.22 in
- Weight
- 8.61 lb
- Power
- 1100 W
- the water tank fills from the top
- De'Longhi$149.95
- Whole Latte Love$149.95 out of stock
$149.95price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Check price at De'LonghiSuper-automatic · built-in grinder
No. 2Cheapest under $500 with a built-in grinder
Gaggia Brera
n/ppump pressure not published
$399 at Whole Latte Love, the lowest price we found. Thermoblock (super-automatic); tank 40 oz (fills from the top); 10 x 17.5 x 12.4 in.
- Boiler
- Thermoblock (super-automatic)
- Pump pressure
- not published
- Water tank
- 40 oz (fills from the top)
- Size (W x D x H)
- 10 x 17.5 x 12.4 in
- Weight
- 18 lb
- Power
- 1400 W
- 2 stores in stock; the next lowest is $499
- the store shows a compare-at price of $499
- pump pressure not published on the pages we read
- the water tank fills from the top
- Whole Latte Love$399
$499 - Gaggia North America$499
$399 $499price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Super-automatic · built-in grinder
No. 3Cheapest super-automatic under $500
Gaggia Anima
n/ppump pressure not published
$499 at Whole Latte Love, the lowest price we found. Thermoblock (super-automatic); tank 60 oz (fills from the top); 8.7 x 16.93 x 13.38 in.
- Boiler
- Thermoblock (super-automatic)
- Pump pressure
- not published
- Water tank
- 60 oz (fills from the top)
- Size (W x D x H)
- 8.7 x 16.93 x 13.38 in
- Weight
- 17.5 lb
- Power
- 1400 W
- 2 stores in stock; the next lowest is $699
- the store shows a compare-at price of $699
- pump pressure not published on the pages we read
- the water tank fills from the top
- Whole Latte Love$499
$699 - Gaggia North America$699
$499 $699price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Pump espresso machine
No. 4Cheapest under $500 with a boiler, not a thermoblock
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe
15bar, pump pressure as published
$314.10 at Whole Latte Love, the lowest price we found. Single boiler; 15 bar; tank 47 oz; 11 x 12.5 x 12.75 in.
- Boiler
- Single boiler
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Water tank
- 47 oz
- Size (W x D x H)
- 11 x 12.5 x 12.75 in
- Weight
- 13.2 lb
- Power
- 1300 W
- 2 stores in stock; the next lowest is $349
- the store shows a compare-at price of $349
- Whole Latte Love$314.10
$349 - Gaggia North America$349
$314.10 $349price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Manual lever
No. 5Cheapest lever under $500
Flair Classic
leveryou set the pressure by hand
$159 at Flair Espresso, the lowest price we found. No boiler: you add hot water; 6.25 x 12.5 x 10 in.
- Boiler
- No boiler: you add hot water
- Pump pressure
- not published
- Water tank
- not published
- Size (W x D x H)
- 6.25 x 12.5 x 10 in
- Weight
- 5 lb
- Power
- not published
- power not published on the pages we read
$159price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Check price at Flair EspressoPrices shown by the stores on November 7, 2026 (holiday sale prices included). We have not tested any of these machines: we compare the published specifications. The commission never decides a pick. How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Crema Count is meant to be paid through affiliate links: if you buy through a link to a store, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. No program has accepted the site yet, and a commission never decides a pick. How we choose.
On November 7, 2026, 19 espresso machines were in stock at $500 or less at the stores we read: 12 pump machines, 3 super-automatics and 4 manual levers. 1 of the pump machines has a grinder built in. Prices below are the lowest in-stock store price; holiday sale prices included. We have not tested any of them.
What $500 buys, and what it does not
- Heating. 12 use a thermoblock or thermocoil, 2 a single boiler, none a dual boiler or heat exchanger.
- Grinder. A machine without one needs a grinder: the cheapest in our check is the Baratza Encore ESP at $199.95, which takes most of these machines above $500.
- Tank. Published tanks run from 33.81 to 72 fl oz.
Every machine at $500 or less
| Machine | Type | Boiler | Pump | Water tank | W x D x H | Weight | Power | Lowest price, Nov 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Longhi Stilosa EC260 | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 33.81 oz (fills from the top) | 8.07 x 13.5 x 11.22 in | 8.61 lb | 1100 W | $149.95 at De'Longhi Check price |
| Flair Classic | Manual lever | No boiler: you add hot water | not published | not published | 6.25 x 12.5 x 10 in | 5 lb | not published | $159 at Flair Espresso Check price |
| Flair 2GO | Manual lever | No boiler: you add hot water | not published | not published | not published | 4 lb | not published | $169 at Flair Espresso Check price |
| De'Longhi ECP3630 | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 37.2 oz (fills from the top) | 7 x 10 x 12 in | 9.79 lb | 1100 W | $199.95 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $199.95) Check price |
| De'Longhi Classic EM450M | Pump espresso machine | not published | 15 bar | 57 oz | 8.89 x 11.14 x 12 in | 9.28 lb | 1350 W | $229.95 at Whole Latte Love (3 stores, up to $229.95) Check price |
| Gaggia Espresso Evolution | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | not published | 40.6 oz | 7.8 x 10 x 11.9 in | 8.15 lb | not published | $249 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $299.99) Check price |
| De'Longhi Dedica Duo EC890 | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 34.83 oz | 6 x 12 x 13 in | 10.36 lb | 1450 W | $249.95 at Whole Latte Love (3 stores, up to $249.95) Check price |
| Breville Bambino | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 47 oz | 7.75 x 12.75 x 12.5 in | 10.42 lb | 1560 W | $299 at Espresso Outlet (4 stores, up to $299.95) Check price |
| Gaggia Carezza Deluxe | Pump espresso machine | Single boiler | 15 bar | 47 oz | 11 x 12.5 x 12.75 in | 13.2 lb | 1300 W | $314.10 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $349) Check price |
| Flair 49 PRO | Manual lever | No boiler: you add hot water | not published | not published | 7.5 x 13.5 x 11 in | 7 lb | not published | $359 at Seattle Coffee Gear (2 stores, up to $359) Check price |
| Gaggia Brera | Super-automatic, grinder | Thermoblock (super-automatic) | not published | 40 oz (fills from the top) | 10 x 17.5 x 12.4 in | 18 lb | 1400 W | $399 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $499) Check price |
| Turin Axis lever | Manual lever | Heated brew path, no steam boiler | not published | not published | 7.75 x 14.5 x 13 in | 19.8 lb | 180 W | $469 at Espresso Outlet Check price |
| Gaggia Anima | Super-automatic, grinder | Thermoblock (super-automatic) | not published | 60 oz (fills from the top) | 8.7 x 16.93 x 13.38 in | 17.5 lb | 1400 W | $499 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $699) Check price |
| Gaggia Classic Pro E24 | Pump espresso machine | Single boiler | not published | 72 oz | 8 x 9.5 x 14.2 in | 20 lb | 1425 W | $499 at Whole Latte Love (2 stores, up to $549) Check price |
| Breville Bambino Plus | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 64 oz (fills from the top) | 7.7 x 11.8 x 12.6 in | 10.91 lb | 1560 W | $499.95 at Whole Latte Love (5 stores, up to $499.95) Check price |
| Breville Barista Express | Pump espresso machine, grinder | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 67 oz | 12.5 x 13.2 x 15.8 in | 22.09 lb | 1600 W | $499.95 at Seattle Coffee Gear (4 stores, up to $699.95) Check price |
| De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | 15 bar | 54 oz | 8.15 x 13.6 x 12.9 in | 13.67 lb | 1450 W | $499.95 at Whole Latte Love (3 stores, up to $499.95) Check price |
| De'Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM22080 | Super-automatic, grinder | Thermoblock (super-automatic) | 15 bar | 60.87 oz | not published | 20.29 lb | 1250 W | $499.95 at De'Longhi Check price |
| SMEG ECF02 | Pump espresso machine | Thermoblock / thermocoil | not published | 37.2 oz | 6 x 13 x 13 in | 10 lb shipping | 1450 W | $499.95 at Seattle Coffee Gear Check price |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Run any of them against your café in the cost per cup calculator, check the space with will it fit under my cabinets, or see every price in the full comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a good espresso machine for under $500?
You can get every kind: thermoblock pump machines from De'Longhi and Breville, a single-boiler Gaggia, entry super-automatics from Gaggia and De'Longhi, all-in-one machines with a grinder, and manual levers. What you give up is listed in each card: smaller tanks, thermoblocks instead of boilers, plastic, missing figures. We have not tested them.
Is a $500 machine with a built-in grinder better than a machine plus a grinder?
It is cheaper to start: the grinder alone costs $180 or more in our check. A separate grinder can be replaced or upgraded on its own. The cost calculator adds the cheapest grinder to machines without one, so you can compare both setups.
Do I need a super-automatic under $500?
Only if you want one button. Under $500 our check lists the super-automatics shown in the table below; they grind, dose and brew for you, at the price of less control over the shot.