Compact espresso makers and small coffee machines are becoming more and more popular, especially in the modern world of small apartments and relocations.
Here are 21 of these.
Which one is for you?
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By Jozo Salmanić – Croatian barista with 15 years of experience.
Top 3 In Their Respective Categories
Best small superautomatic: DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Doesn’t need electricity: AeroPress
Best for home espresso-making: ECM Mechanika V Slim
Best Hot And Cold Compact Coffee Makers
Isn’t it amazing to use one machine to brew cold and hot coffee? And imagine if you could do the same with tea.
These two machines can do both. No pods or capsules are required.
Ninja CP307 – Best Small Coffee Machine For Home
Have you always wanted a coffee/tea maker that can make from one cup to one carafe of your favorite drink?
If you have a household that loves coffee and tea, Ninja CP307 is your best buy.
The machine has separate baskets for tea and coffee, so the flavors never mix. The system automatically recognizes what you put inside and offers you brew options.
The handy dialer lets you pick the size of your drink – from a cup to a massive carafe.
You can make enough coffee or tea for the whole family, or your small office.
The thermal carafe will keep your concoction warm for up to two hours.
Ninja CP307 also comes with a milk frother, which is rare for drip coffee makers.
Now you can make hot or cold milk foam for your lattes, frappes, or similar delights. This frother doesn’t warm the milk, it only whips it.
The best thing? You can use bagged tea, as well as the leaves.
As for the coffee, the machine only accepts pre-ground coffee.
Mr. Coffee Iced And Hot Coffee Maker For Summer And Winter
One of America’s favorite brands of coffee makers can still surprise you with innovation.
Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker takes under 4 minutes to brew your favorite hot or cold coffee.
Brew hot coffee in a large variety of sizes. Add ice to a tumbler, and you have your perfect summer refreshment.
No pods. Fill the reusable filter with your favorite ground coffee.
If you want to use Mr. Coffee for hot or cold tea, you can.
I recommend using separate paper filters, so your flavors don’t mix.
On the left side, you can find a dual-sided scoop with all the necessary measurements, and on the other side, you choose a type of drink, hot or cold.
You use the practical tumbler as a measurement for your water, too. The tumbler is also a cup. As a bonus, you also get a lid and a reusable straw.
Best Capsule Coffee Makers
Ah, pods, capsules, K-cups, and such. So many coffee machines on the market, and they all seem to use different capsules. It can get confusing.
That’s why I kept it simple.
You can find the four best small capsule machines in the next section.
Keurig K-Mini – Best Simple Capsule Coffee Machine
When I say mini capsule coffee maker, I usually talk about this one.
Keurig K-Mini is a winner in the simplicity contest. All you need for coffee making is an opposable thumb.
You put one cup of water in a tiny tank on the back of the machine. Then you put the K-cup in its place. Put your favorite mug on the drip tray and press the bigger of two buttons that this machine has. That’s all you have to do.
The slim design paired with an almost endless choice of capsules is the reason why K-Mini is so popular.
Besides standard K-cups, this machine is compatible with reusable ones. You can fill ‘em with your favorite ground coffee.
Depending on the amount of water you put in the tank, K-mini makes 6 to 12 oz of coffee. The machine simply uses all the water in the reservoir.
Lavazza BLUE Compact 910 – Italian Classic
Lavazza is one of the leaders in the coffee equipment market, and its capsule machines are top-class.
Lavazza BLUE Compact 910 is an espresso capsule machine for all espresso lovers who want their shot made quickly and without fuss.
You don’t have to buy big or expensive machines anymore.
This model has that sleek Italian design all coffee aficionados adore. It also has a practical compartment for used capsules.
The machine should work only with Lavazza BLUE capsules. However, many other capsule makers are compatible with this model, and you won’t have issues with that.
Lavazza beans remain one of my favorite choices for a classical Italian espresso, and this machine will get you almost the same feeling, for a much lower price and less hassle.
Nespresso Vertuo Next – Smart Pod Recognition
This multi-purpose pod coffee machine is one step further.
Nespresso Vertuo Next (made by DeLonghi) can make espresso and a standard coffee. All you need is an appropriate Vertuo capsule.
You pick pods for a single or double espresso, or 5 to 14 oz cups of Joe. The machine automatically recognizes the pod type and adjusts the temperature, water quantity, and brewing time.
When you open the machine head, the previously used pod pops up into pod storage, which is pretty awesome.
You put the Vertuo pod inside the head, lock the head, and wait until the light signals the perfect time for brewing.
Press the central (and only) button, and enjoy your espresso or regular coffee.
This is one of the rare machines that can do both types of coffee, and the price is certainly attractive.
Cuisinart Single-Serve – Simple And Effective
One look at this simple capsule maker, and you will fall in love.
Why?
Cuisinart single-serve coffee maker is just what its name says, no useless bells and whistles.
It makes one serving of coffee, and it does it oh so well.
You will find a 40 oz water reservoir on the back. Fill it with water, and you did 80% of the job. If you don’t have enough water in the reservoir, the “add water” light will blink.
You will find a power button on the right side. Under it, you have three cup sizes: 6, 8, and 10 oz. If you want to fit a large cup, remove the drip tray. Don’t worry, it’s designed for that.
This Cuisinart model is compatible with any K-cup pods and reusable filter cups. Perfect for trying different beans, or occasionally switching to decaf.
Compact Espresso Machines
When I say compact, it doesn’t just mean small. Compact machines don’t lack any features. The features are just better organized in a smaller space.
Don’t trust me? Take a look at these eight magnificent beasts (and where to find them).
Breville Barista Express – Best Compact Espresso Maker For Specialty Coffee
Have you always wanted one home coffee device for all your caffeine needs?
Breville Barista Express goes from fresh bean to hot espresso in less than 60 seconds.
The built-in conical grinder grinds directly into the basket, and you can finely tune the grind with 16 levels.
Every little detail of this flawless machine screams “specialty coffee,” and you will have difficulty finding a better compact espresso maker for your home, especially at this price.
This little fellow has everything, a manual steam wand, a hot water pipe, and a built-in tamper. No wonder it’s one of the most popular home-line espresso makers out there.
In this package, you get all the gizmo you need for everyday coffee brewing, from a milk jug to a scoop, even a tiny hex wrench for maintenance.
DeLonghi ECP3420 – Simple And Small
Small espresso machines should be simple and powerful. DeLonghi ECP3420 fits that frame perfectly.
This is a powerful DeLonghi machine with one purpose – to make really, really good espresso. The large dial has clear options – on, off, espresso and steam. You can make espresso using pre-ground coffee or ESE pods.
DeLonghi ECP3420 is one of the best affordable small espresso makers on the market.
It is small, powerful, made from stainless steel, and will fit every kitchen counter or college dorm room.
A powerful boiler keeps enough heat for pulling one espresso shot after another, and a top-of-class frother will make every cappuccino a work of art.
The frother is a bit short, so you will need a smaller pitcher. However, it also shoots hot water for your Americano, and it’s powerful enough.
Profitec GO – Best Compact Espresso Machine With Retro Design
This unusually designed espresso maker got me skeptical at first. Boy, I was wrong.
Profitec GO is an almost indestructible coffee machine that gives out a retro vibe but has convenient scientific solutions under the hood.
Profitec GO takes around 6 minutes to be fully ready. After that, use PID temperature control to find your perfect brew temperature. The machine will effortlessly replicate your recipe day after day.
As for the controls – simple is the way to describe them. Buttons for on/off, espresso, and hot water. Use a retro gauge to release the power of the steam wand.
A large dial on the left controls the pressure of your espresso, and a PID dial also serves as a brew timer.
Calphalon Compact – Designed For Every Kitchen
When an espresso maker this slim has a cup-warming surface, you know every detail is covered.
Calphalon Compact Espresso Machine is sleek, space-saving, and very affordable.
If you drink just one coffee per day, your investment in this beautifully designed small espresso maker will start paying off after a month.
Not to mention you will drink better espresso than in most places.
No control panels or retro gauges here. Just buttons for a single or double espresso, and a surprisingly effective steam wand, considering the size of the machine.
The stainless steel body ensures the machine is here to stay, and the cup-warming surface is a nice touch.
Overall, an extremely well-built espresso machine that won’t break your budget.
Rancilio Silvia PID – Best Small Espresso Machine For Home
I have a thing for modern espresso machines that look retro, and Rancilio Silvia PID is the perfect example.
The old switch controls for on/off, brewing, and hot water got me down memory lane, as well as the steam wand gauge. However, built-in PID, fast heating, and overall sturdiness ensure you bought a modern machine in a classical Italian body.
Rancilio Silvia PID is meant for brewing old-fashion espresso.
It even comes with a 9-gr basket for a single espresso, which is old-school measurements.
If you want a durable and elegant machine for your everyday espresso (or cappuccino), this one will give you everything you wanted and more.
Breville Bambino – The Fastest Heating Espresso Maker
This fast-heating espresso machine gets ready much quicker than you in the morning.
Breville Bambino takes only a few seconds to heat up.
Wonders of ThermoJet system and PID temperature control. Your water will always be 200 °F with this coffee maker.
Portafilters have an 18 g capacity, a bit more than you expected, but this machine is for specialty coffee, not your classical espresso roast. You also get single and dual-wall portafilters.
The controls are as simple as they can be, one shot, two shots, steam, and hot water.
The brewing is almost silent, so you won’t be waking anybody in the morning. Well, only if you tap on the smooth stainless steel this machine is made of.
ECM Mechanika V Slim – Best Small Espresso Machine
This all-inclusive espresso machine gives a nostalgic vibe. However, looks can be deceiving.
ECM Mechanika V Slim is a tech miracle. Every part is carefully crafted and multipurpose.
If you want a stainless steel goddess that lifts your espresso brewing to a sky-high level, you will choose this machine.
Rotary valves bring us back to the beginnings of the espresso machines, as well as the whole steampunk vibe.
The heat exchanger enables simultaneous brewing and steaming of milk. You have a steam wand, as well as a hot water wand.
You can control the brew temperature using a simple switch. Lower the temperature for darker roast, or maximize it for additional steam power.
ECM Mechanika V Slim has a reasonable price. A durable build, a heap of options, and a beautiful design will greet you every day if you decide to buy it.
Solis Barista Perfetta – Perfect For Beginners
Do you want an espresso machine for beginners and smaller kitchens? This one will amaze you.
Solis Barista Perfetta has a one-minute heat time, a perk many pricier solutions lack. It also has two portafilter baskets (pressurized and non-pressurized) for both espresso masters and apprentices.
If you want high-class features for an entry-level price, Solist Barista Perfetta is your choice.
A manual steam wand will froth milk instantly, and it won’t affect the coffee extraction. And you can always control the pressure on a large gauge in the front.
There is also a hot water nozzle, a rare sight in compact espresso makers.
The controls are simple: one shot, two shots, and steam. When you find your perfect extraction time, you can save it using the Prog button on the left, and replicate your perfect espresso over and over.
The most amazing thing?
This machine also works with Easy Serving Espresso pods.
The Most Compact Coffee Makers Around
Being compact is one thing. But these four coffee makers will fit any space, and some can even fit in your pocket.
And they will fit every budget.
Aeropress Is The Best Mini Coffee Maker
This small coffee maker is, without a doubt, a game changer in the world of compacts.
AeroPress is still one of my favorite coffee brewing methods, and it’s shocking what this weird-looking machine can do.
Cold brew or drip style? All possible, and you don’t need heavy or expensive machines.
AeroPress will cost you less than a week’s worth of coffee in coffee shops and will offer new and amazing ways to enjoy your specialty beans.
For starters, you don’t need electricity. Just find a way to heat the water, and you can brew espresso-like drinks. Not a true espresso, because you can’t produce that much pressure, but close enough.
Put the ground coffee inside, pour hot water over it, and gently push. That’s all you have to do, but you can do it in a million ways and get different results.
Hario V60 – Best Small Drip Coffee Maker
When we talk about the simplicity of coffee-making, you can’t go much simpler than this ceramic coffee maker.
Hario V60 is a drip coffee maker and it looks like a bottomless coffee cup. You put it on the carafe and put a paper filter inside. Add a couple of spoons of freshly ground beans, pour hot water onto it, and watch the coffee drip.
For decades, V60 has been one of the most popular coffee makers on the market.
Simple use, attractive price, and high-quality ceramics – who could ask for more?
The cone shape ensures prolonged coffee extraction.
You will get the best results with a medium roast, although V60 is the perfect experimenting vessel for all coffee beans on the market.
Keurig K – Slim – The Best Keurig Compact Coffee Maker
Slim is the best way to describe this K-cup coffeemaker.
Keurig K – Slim can fit your bookshelf, although it’s not the best place.
If you want a simple, reliable, and affordable K-cup coffee maker, Keurig K – Slim is your weapon of choice.
A large water tank holds up to 46 oz of water. Amazing. You can choose between 8, 10, or 12 oz cup sizes.
The controls are as simple as they can be. You can choose a cup size, add water, descale or brew the coffee. After a couple of uses, you’ll do it with your eyes closed.
This machine is also compatible with Keurig universal reusable coffee filters. You buy the reusable pod, and fill it with your favorite coffee.
Aeropress Go – Best Compact Coffee Maker For Travelling
It’s amazing how technology advances, and now you have a separate category of travel espresso makers.
AeroPress Go is a smaller version of the original thing, but it gets you one to three shots of an espresso-like beverage.
Of course, you can always make a coffee concentrate and dilute it with hot water to get an Americano.
AeroPress Go is small, durable, and simply makes spectacular coffee.
The package contains a scoop, stirrer, lid, and travel cup – everything you need.
It will become your companion on every camping trip, and you can take it to your workplace.
Why deprive yourself of top-class coffee anywhere, anytime?
Compact Super Automatic Coffee Makers
Superautomatic coffee makers don’t have to be café sized to produce excellent coffee with one touch of a button.
I have 3 examples to prove it.
Philips 4300 LatteGo Is An Inspiration To Others
When other coffee makers get “inspired” by you, you know you have a great coffee machine.
If you want all the drink options of a coffee shop in your kitchen, Philips 4300 LatteGo is your perfect choice. Or its smaller cousin – 3200.
The design is so functional that DeLonghi Magnifica Evo borrowed a few things, especially the carafe for automatic milk steaming.
The color display offers more options for setting and customization, and it’s foolproof to use.
Three milk recipes are also nice – latte macchiato, cappuccino and café au lait.
You can adjust pretty much everything, from the coffee amount to the temperature.
Ceramic burr grinders are rare in budget-friendly options, but this machine packs them, and you have over 10 different settings to choose from.
You can put over 8 oz of beans in the hopper, which is more than enough.
Of course, you can use plant-based drinks with this machine, not just cow’s milk. You will have to adjust some recipes and your expectations for frothing.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo – Best Small Delonghi Espresso Machine
More functions don’t necessarily mean a bigger-size machine, and this compact espresso maker has more features than some larger commercial makers.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo is your ticket into the world of super automatics.
It’s a small, powerful, and budget-friendly machine that can save you a bunch of money you would spend in coffee shops.
Just one touch on the icon gets you your drink. You have seven different ones to choose from.
Yes, one touch includes automatically frothing your milk.
Special LatteCrema technology guarantees the bubbliest and creamiest milk frothing every single time.
Do you have your own special latte recipe? Adjust the parameters, and save your favorite coffee-to-milk ratio using the My Latte function.
The conical burr grinder has a lot of different settings for making adjustments, and you can also use pre-ground coffee if that’s your thing.
The bean hopper and the water reservoir can hold more than enough of both for a small family needs.
DeLonghi Dinamica Will Surprise You With Functions
Have you always wanted a multifunctional espresso maker, but your limited space or budget stood in the way?
Meet Delonghi Dinamica, your one-stop shop for all your coffee needs.
DeLonghi Dinamica is perfect if you want to make espresso and espresso-based milky drinks, but want to do it most conveniently.
The touch control panel makes picking your jamoke easier. Automatic milk frother gives you the silkiest and creamiest lattes every time, and you don’t have to do anything besides fill the milk container.
DeLonghi Dinamica is special for two things.
First is the dual boiler system, which means you can make your espresso and froth the milk simultaneously.
Second is a built-in conical burr grinder with more than 11 different settings for all brewing adjustments. And if you want to use pre-ground coffee, now you can, thanks to a bypass dozer.
Front-loading reservoir for water is also a nice touch. The bean hopper can hold up to one pound of fresh beans, which is more than enough for your daily needs.
In less than three minutes, this machine will get you any drink you want, which is perfect for sleepy mornings when you are late for your work.
Now let’s see what small coffee maker will suit you the best.
How To Choose The Best Compact Coffee Maker For You
All these 21 coffee makers are different, and I chose them to suit everybody’s needs.
Before choosing one, here is what you need to think about.
What Kind Of Coffee Do You Want, And How Much Does It Cost?
Espresso lovers will need espresso machines, which are usually priced higher.
Capsule machines and simple coffee makers like V60 and AeroPress are the most affordable, while drip coffee makers are in the middle.
Steam wands, pressure gauges, touch screens… it all adds to the price.
More features, more money.
That’s the rule.
How Much Coffee Can The Machine Make?
Capsule coffee makers are usually single-serve, while drip coffee makers can give you large carafes for the whole gang.
For espresso makers, it depends on the boiler size and how fast the machine heats the water. A bigger boiler means more hot water for brewing coffee and steaming the milk.
Is The Machine Easy To Use?
Capsule coffee machines and super automatics are simple to use.
You put the coffee/capsule inside, press the button, and get the coffee.
Semi-manual espresso makers have a learning curve, especially if you want to make lattes and cappuccinos. Nothing too complicated, but it takes some time to fine-tune your hand.
Can You Use A Compact Espresso Maker For Commercial Purposes?
Top-quality compact espresso makers will produce the same espresso as larger commercial models.
However, most don’t have enough boiler capacity to pull espressos and steam the milk during rush hour.
Commercial compact espresso makers exist, and they will have no problem with small-to-medium coffee shops.
However, home-line small espresso makers are not up to that task.
4 Useful Resources
Related articles for additional info.
https://www.invigocoffee.com/blogs/news/tips-that-coffee-pod-users-should-know – Tips for coffee pod users
https://entrepreneurthearts.com/the-advantages-of-having-a-coffee-machine-in-the-workplace/ – NickTheMediaGuru explains why everybody should have a coffee machine in a workplace
https://www.thespecialtycoffeecompany.com/resources/specialty-coffee/ – Everything about specialty coffee
https://www.kaffepals.com/ridged-vs-ridgeless-basket/ – Kaffepals write about different espresso baskets
