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30-second read
Our picks in 30 seconds
Two ways to make espresso at home, side by side: the cheapest of each kind in our check.
Super-automatic · built-in grinder
No. 1Cheapest super-automatic
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
Pump espresso machine · built-in grinder
No. 2Cheapest semi-automatic with a built-in grinder
Breville Barista Express
15bar, pump pressure as published
$499.95 at Seattle Coffee Gear, the lowest price we found. Thermoblock / thermocoil; 15 bar; tank 67 oz; 12.5 x 13.2 x 15.8 in.
- Boiler
- Thermoblock / thermocoil
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Water tank
- 67 oz
- Size (W x D x H)
- 12.5 x 13.2 x 15.8 in
- Weight
- 22.09 lb
- Power
- 1600 W
- 4 stores in stock; the next lowest is $499.95
- the store shows a compare-at price of $699.95
- Seattle Coffee Gear$499.95
$699.95 - Breville$499.95
$699.95 - Espresso Outlet$699.95
- Majesty Coffee$699.95
- Whole Latte Love$499.95
$699.95out of stock
$499.95 $699.95price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Pump espresso machine
No. 3Cheapest pump machine (add a grinder)
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'LonghiPrices 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
Contents
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Three kinds of machine make espresso at home. They differ less in the cup than in who does the work: the machine, you with a pump, or you with your arm. Here is what each asks of you, and how the in-stock models of each kind compare on price and size [calc]. We have not tested them.
| Kind | Models in stock | Price range | Median price | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super-automatic | 28 | $399 to $4,399 | $999.95 | 12.4 to 15.15 in | 16.5 to 17.7 in |
| Pump, built-in grinder | 11 | $499.95 to $2,199.95 | $849.95 | 15.8 to 18.5 in | 13.2 to 16.25 in |
| Pump, no grinder | 44 | $149.95 to $3,599 | $1,629.47 | 10.98 to 16.5 in | 9.25 to 22 in |
| Manual lever | 9 | $159 to $3,299 | $685 | 10 to 29 in | 12.5 to 22.83 in |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Super-automatic: the machine does the barista's job
Beans in the hopper, water in the tank, a button: it grinds, doses, tamps, brews and, on most models, froths milk with a carafe or a wand. 28 super-automatics in our check, from $399. You give up control over the grind size range, dose and shot timing beyond the settings the menu offers: compare the depth column above and check the counter with will it fit.
Semi-automatic: a pump and a portafilter
You fill the portafilter, tamp, lock it in and start the pump; you stop it, or the machine does on volumetric models. 55 pump machines, of which 11 grind the beans for you. More steps, more control, and a learning curve that the stores themselves describe in their product filters ("Skill Level", "Learning Curve" at Seattle Coffee Gear).
Manual lever: your arm is the pump
A direct lever (Flair, La Pavoni Europiccola) puts the pressure in your hands; a spring lever (Profitec Pro 800, Bezzera Strega) loads a spring that pushes the water. 9 levers in stock in our check, from $159. Some, like the Flair models, have no boiler: you pour hot water from a kettle, so they draw no power of their own. Every lever needs a grinder.
Every model with its store prices: the comparison. What each kind costs per cup with your habit: the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a super-automatic and a semi-automatic espresso machine?
A super-automatic grinds the beans, doses, tamps, brews and usually froths milk at the press of a button. A semi-automatic has a portafilter: you grind (or the built-in grinder does), dose and tamp, then the pump brews when you start and stop it.
Is a lever espresso machine better than a pump machine?
It is different: you make the pressure by hand (direct lever) or with a spring you load. There is no pump to wear out and some need no electricity at all, but every shot is in your hands. We have not compared their shots: we compare what they publish.
Is a super-automatic worth it?
If you value one button over control: it removes the grinder and the learning curve. Our cost calculator compares a super-automatic and a semi-automatic plus grinder on the same beans, milk and electricity.