10 Best Espresso Machines Under $600

Share or reference the article?

Another day, another coffee. The time has come for you to make a choice— because odds are you’ve been putting this off for too long.

Because choosing an espresso machine can be really hard. There are so many of them, and to the untrained eye they all seem so very similar. So making a decision seems like an impossible thing.

That’s why we are lending you our experience in this matter and bringing you the very best ten options under the price range of $600.

By Marcelo.

Affiliate disclosure

This page may contain affiliate links – we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through these links. This is at no extra cost to you.

600 dollars tends to be where the “line” is.

This line separates home use espresso machines with espresso machines that have more commercial functionalities.

So, you can find all sorts of good home espresso machines in this price range. Once you go over 600, you really just start shopping for features that you don’t need.

Top Three Coffee Machines Under $600

Best Quality: Gaggia Classic Pro
Best Price: De’Longhi Dedica
Best Convenience: Nespresso Lattissima One

Top espresso machines under $600

De’Longhi Dedica

The Dedica has been the undisputed best De’Longhi machine for newbies for a long time.

It’s got a combination of features, simplicity, and price that makes it one of De’Longhi’s most accessible espresso machines, not to mention one of the most popular ones.

One of the most clever things about the Dedica is its design. It’s incredibly narrow, which means it takes up very little counter space— just the thing you want in a home espresso machine.

As for the coffee and milk, the Dedica is a very powerful machine and does everything as good as you’d expect a De’Longhi machine to. It doesn’t disappoint.

More of Our Favorites

Breville Barista Pro – An excellent manual espresso machine for home use
Philips 3200 Series Espresso Machine – Easy-to-use fully automatic coffee machine for small office or home use
Rancilio Egro ONE Touch – High capacity fully automatic commercial coffee machine for professional use
Koa Coffee – Premium hand-picked Hawaiian coffee – have you tried American coffee yet?

Breville Duo Temp Pro

Breville and their signature, classy all stainless steel look. You can’t help but love it, both retro and modern at the same time.

The Duo Temp Pro is quite ambitious. It has very few buttons, making it extremely easy to operate. It is the easiest machine to operate on this list.

And yet, despite being such an easy machine to use, the specs are very close to those of a professional machine. The Duo Temp Pro’s espresso is close to perfection and you won’t believe you managed to make such good coffee by yourself.

The main feature on this espresso machine is its heating system. It makes sure your brewing water is always at the ideal temperature; not one degree more nor one less.

Calphalon Temp iQ

Simple things are appreciated when it comes to already complicated enough espresso machines.

The Calphalon has an easy-to-use dial for one shot, two shots, steam, and hot water. No need for buttons and/or complicated options.

This espresso machine also has a super convenient cup warming tray, which lets you place coffee cups or mugs on top of it when you turn it on.

By the time you go to make your coffee, the cups are warm!

This helps keep your coffee hot for longer and, believe it or not, it also contributes to a better overall flavor.

Gaggia Classic Pro

For those that might not know, Gaggia is sort of a big deal in the world of espresso machines.

This company was the first to invent piston-driven espresso machines back in 1945.

So, for almost a whole century, Gaggia has remained at the top of the game.

Even now, their machines are of the best quality. They make a flawless espresso and they can be compared to professional-quality machines.

This particular model, the Classic Pro, is a throwback to more retro machines. There are no buttons but actual switches, which can be more satisfying to use.

The steam wand is operated via a dial, which is also a very retro feature.

The design is very square and chunky, something you rarely see nowadays. It’s actually quite fashionable and fits neatly in most spaces precisely because it is so square, so it ends up being a big plus.

Nespresso Lattissima One

Introducing a capsule espresso maker for a change.

A not any capsule espresso maker: the Nespresso Lattissima One, a one-of-a-kind coffee maker that is particularly good at making lattes and cappuccinos.

The way that it works is by completely doing all of the work for you. The only thing you have to do is put milk in it and it’ll do the rest for you.

That means heating it up, frothing it, and even pouring it into your cup! The amount of work you have to do is almost none.

A great machine for latte lovers and even better for those of us who are busy all the time and can’t find the time to make a decent cup of coffee, let alone an actual latte.

Gaggia Naviglio

Another Gaggia but this time with a completely different concept.

The Naviglio goes full-on slick and modern take on the espresso machine; this machine can do it all, from frothing milk to grinding beans.

The Naviglio is quite a bargain for its price. Very rarely can you find a machine with this many features, and with such power (30 seconds heat-up time!) at such a low price.

In most respects, the Naviglio is technically a professional machine that could easily handle the workload of a small coffee shop.

The buttons and indicators make it really easy to navigate this complicated machine, which is something long-time espresso machine owners really appreciate.

Flair Espresso Maker PRO 2

There are those among espresso lovers that are actually quite vocal about how annoying espresso machines can be. They are too big, make too much noise, take up too much counter space…

Well, here comes the solution: the Flair espresso maker.

It is a completely manual espresso maker that needs no power but only the power of your arms to make a delicious shot of espresso.

Plus, the flair can be taken apart whenever you’re not using it so you can put it away whenever you need more space in your kitchen!

It is a revolutionary coffee maker that allows you to make “handmade” espresso.

Phillips 1200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

It is about time we got a touch screen on our coffee maker. After all, buttons and dials can be quite confusing in this era where we do most things via our smartphones.

The Phillips 1200 can do everything a barista can, and more. It has an internal milk tank that takes care of you just like a barista would.

This machine froths the milk and then pours it into your cup with the dexterity of an expert.

It has several options to choose from for your coffee and it can also deliver piping hot water which can be useful to make other beverages such as tea or just to make yourself an Americano.

KitchenAid Metal Espresso Machine

KitchenAid is well known for their kitchen appliances, all of them of decent quality or above.

Imagine the coffee community’s surprise when these guys came up with such a wonderful little espresso machine.

The design is amazing— a total blast from the past. Complete stainless steel exterior and a portafilter handle and steam wand that just exude a certain 1960s vibe.

Beyond its great look, the KitchenAid is equipped with some of the best specs and features that an espresso maker can have. It has dual temperature control, which means that your espresso is always on point.

The steam wand is surprisingly powerful for an espresso machine of this size and you will be positively delighted when using it— just a few seconds are enough to achieve silky foam.

Lavazza Blue Single Serve

Lavazza might not be all that well-known in the States, but it is one of THE biggest coffee companies in Italy and it is huge in all of Europe.

This machine in particular was made to excel. Lavazza has put out their very own coffee capsules, Lavazza Blue, and they wanted this machine to be better than any other on the market.

And, truth be told, they kind of succeeded! It is way more powerful and has many more features than your regular Nespresso machine.

It even has a self-rising milk frothing device!

Truly, this machine is a dream come true for capsule espresso lovers.

Buying Tips

So you’ve gone through the whole list and you’re still not sure which one is the right one for you.

Don’t worry.

Here are three things to take into account when deciding which espresso machine is best for you.

Convenience

First and foremost, owning an espresso machine is about convenience. It’s the convenience of having a good espresso in your own home.

Some machines are more convenient than others, though. If you value convenience more, then probably a capsule coffee maker is a better option for you.

Price

Under $600 can still mean very different prices. Some machines on this list cost almost twice as others.

You’ve got to ask yourself whether such a machine really adds value to your life as to justify the money you’re paying. For some, it does, but many find that it doesn’t.

Quality

Some coffee makers on this list are clearly going to be better than others. A KitchenAid definitely has its perks and might be a better fit for some households, but let’s not pretend it’s going to make coffee like a Gaggia.

If you’re very concerned about having the best coffee possible under this price range, then aim for a machine that is more about quality than any other stuff like features or look.

If you’re still deciding, you can check out reasons why you’d want to own an espresso machine.

For those who’ve already decided to be future owners, here’s a guide on how to keep your machines in mint condition.