Italian Espresso Machines to Make the Perfect Italian Espresso at Home

by Mama Loves A Drink

A handpicked selection of the best Italian espresso machines available online to help you make the perfect cup of Italian coffee at home, every time.

If you love Italian espresso, you know that finding the perfect cup outside of Italy is often a challenge.

If this is the case, we can help!

After a long quest for the perfect Italian coffee machine, able to recreate the taste of Italian espresso anywhere in the world, we have identified five that we believe do just that!

This is our handpicked selection of the best Italian coffee machines for the home you can get online right now.

Looking at espresso machines as a gift for a coffee connoisseur? Then don’t forget to also check out our selection of gifts for coffee lovers!

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close up on an italian espresso machine with a white cup - great italian espresso machines

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How to choose the best Italian espresso machine

When looking for the best Italian espresso machine, there are a few things to take into account. The main specs to look for are:

Size and weight

Italian espresso makers come in many shapes and sizes.

They range from small machines that can fit on an office desk to semi-professional appliances that take up serious real estate on your kitchen countertop.

When buying an espresso machine online, being familiar with the space you are buying for it is paramount, especially if you have more than one possible location in mind for your coffee maker.

Take also into account how heavy the machine is: some are so heavy you will need help to move them. Consider this carefully if you want to experiment with your kitchen layout especially.

Espresso machine accessories

The second thing to consider when picking the perfect Italian espresso maker is its accessories.

Do you need to make espresso-only or do you need a frother?

And what type of cup will you use: just an espresso cup, or maybe you need more choice, to cater to the taste of guests or just your own desire to make different drinks at different times?

If you like to have the freedom to go from espresso to cappuccino to latte, then a machine with a removable tray that can accommodate different size cups or the presence of a milk frother is paramount.

Cleaning and maintenance

Nothing kills the joy of a beautiful cup of espresso more than having to clean hard-to-reach spaces every time you want to make a cup so choosing a machine with easy-to-clean specs is, in our view, crucial.

Many machines are now up to the task, with removable trays and easy to clean parts but some bigger, more professional models can still be tricky.

When choosing, make sure your bigger and better coffee machine is also easy to clean or you may quickly find your investment to be a burden more than an aid.

15 bar pressure

Many espresso machines nowadays boast a ’15 bar pressure’, which is a measure of the strength of pressure applied to the brewing process.

Many argue this is the sweet spot for the perfect brew however, it is not a deal-breaker: while this is a nice to have, do not discount a good coffee machine if it has a bar of 9.

Pressure is one of the things that go into making a great Italian coffee, the choice of a good quality Italian coffee brand and the quality of the machine as a whole are as important, if not more.

Best Italian espresso machines you can get online right now

So in the absence of being in Italy, here are the best Italian espresso machine brands we recommend you can order online to enjoy your favourite Italian brews at home.

The best espresso machines to recreate a traditional Italian breakfast or an energizing coffee break are:

ProductMakeSpecial FeaturesLarger cups
De'Longhi ECP3120 15 Bar Espresso MachineCappuccino system for frothing
Slim design
Yes
De'Longhi ECAM35020B Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso MachineGreat for iced coffeeYes
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Minimalist design
Great for lattes and cappuccinos
No
De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso MachineDual Heating system
Great for Americancos
Yes
Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso MachineSeveral colours to integrate with your kitchen
No

De’Longhi 15 Bar Espresso Machine with Advanced Cappuccino System

De Longhi has been making Italian coffee machines for decades so you know that if you get one of their espresso machines, you will get a quality product that will make excellent coffee every time.

This 15 bar espresso machine is our Italian espresso machine of choice for people looking for a good-looking entry-level espresso machine for the house that can also make a good cappuccino.

This De Longhi espresso maker specs we like:

  • Stylish and non bulky, perfect for all types of kitchen, even small ones (size: 9.62 x 7.25 x 11.87 inches)
  • Perfect to make espresso and cappuccino, thanks to a built-in cappuccino system for perfect frothing
  • 15-bar pressure, considered by many the perfect amount for consistent results and taste
  • The three-in-one filter holder for one espresso shot, two shots, plus one for an easy-serve espresso pod
  • Accommodates taller cups

De’Longhi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine TrueBrew – best Italian espresso machine for lovers of Iced-Coffee

Another excellent Italian espresso machine by De Longhi is the ‘Dinamica’, a fully automatic coffee and espresso machine with an iced coffee function, perfect for treating yourself to perfect coffee all year round!

This machine has an easy-to-use command panel that allows you to set and forget your machine and always get your espresso exactly as you like it (5 settings).

A quick heat-up time and an easy-to-use foam maker for your cappuccino needs.

Some of the specs we love about Dinamica:

  • Beautiful design
  • Bean to cup machine
  • Advanced manual frother,
  • Easy to clean, parts are dishwasher safe
  • Setup to make iced coffee as well as standard hot espresso and cappuccino drinks

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

Another excellent Italian espresso machine for the house is the Silvia espresso machine by the Rancilio brand.

This is a traditional style semi-automatic espresso machine with a clean and minimal design and extra touches such as an ergonomic handle that make it close in look and feel to commercial style models.

The Silvia comes with a 7-gram coffee scoop, a plastic tamper and two filter baskets.

It has big and easy-to-operate buttons.

It is important to notice that this is an espresso machine and doesn’t take bigger cups.

Some of the specs we like about this espresso machine:

  • Made in Italy
  • Commercial grade features such as ergonomic handle
  • Milk frother to make lattes and cappuccinos easily
  • Automatic switch off button after prolonged inactivity, for safety

De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Knock Box

If you are serious about your home espresso and budget is not an issue, then you should look at the De Longhi La Specialista.

This is a large countertop espresso maker with an integrated grinder with Patent Pending Technology that guarantees the freshest possible cup of espresso every time.

This is a beautiful machine suitable for bigger kitchens and is designed with the classic coffee house look in mind, for a timeless appearance.

Specs we love about this espresso machine:

  • Integrated grinder for the freshest taste
  • 1 second quick start for super efficient coffee making
  • Dual Heating System so you can heat up your milk straight after your coffee, with no waiting time
  • Easy to clean
  • Proprietary Smart Tamping Station significantly reduces mess and coffee waste

Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine

We close this list of our favorite Italian espresso machines with a coffee maker by Gaggia, one of the most established coffee machine makers in Italy.

The model we recommend today is the Gaggia Classic Pro, an easy-to-use, sleek-looking espresso maker perfect for smaller kitchens and even office coffee stations.

This is an entry-level semi-automatic espresso machine with a milk frother, a commercial-style 58 mm portafilter and single and double shot baskets.

Things we love about this espresso machine:

  • Sleek, minimalist design
  • Easy to use commands
  • Commercial system wand for frothing
  • Made in Italy

We hope you enjoyed this selection of the best Italian espresso machines available online and it helped you find one that is perfect for you. Happy shopping!

You can find more of our favourite drink products for mamas here!

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