11 Best Fully Automatic Espresso Machines Under $1000

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What’s the main thing that influences our decision when buying a coffee machine?

For some, it’s how many features it has. For others, it may be a matter of size and look. And many people value convenience more than any of the above.

But, in reality, price trumps everything.

By Marcelo.

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And particularly when it comes to super automatic espresso machines, this is more true than ever. Because of all the functionality they offer, they tend to be quite expensive.

So in this article we’re gonna focus on super automatic espresso machines under $1000.

This is considered a medium-range for this kind of machine.

My list is composed of the best of the best that you can find in this price range.

Before we get to it, here’s a quick top three!

Jura Ultra Compact

So many features and power packed into such a small machine. Convenient, small, and good: the ultimate coffee maker.

Philips 3200

Probably the most satisfying to use machine of them all. It’s good, it does all the work by itself, and it’s a breeze for the user.

De’Longhi Perfecta

True craftsmanship: if you’re looking for the ultimate espresso experience, the De’Longhi performs best in this department.

And now, to our list! These are some of the best fully automatic espresso machines, in no particular order.

Philips Automatic Espresso Machine (3200)

The first of two Philips that made it into our list.

Philips, to our pleasant surprise, really knows what coffee lovers are looking for. It’s got a very slick touchscreen that is easy and actually fun to use.

At one side, you can choose from a range of different beverages (cappuccino, espresso, latte macchiato), while the right side has customizing options like coffee volume, strength of the brew, and amount of foam.

One of the most salient things about this machine is that it has the patented Philips Latte Go.

You’ve probably seen something similar before. A milk/container/frother.

But the Latte Go is really unique.

Why?

For one, it doesn’t have tubes, which are a nightmare to install and clean after using.
Secondly, it has a high-speed system that really gets a nice froth going.

All in all, an amazing machine.

De’Longhi Magnifica

The Magnifica is a little bit of an oddball. Usually, for super automatic espresso machines, companies go with a design that feels next-gen or futuristic, because that fits with this type of machine.

But no. This machine actually looks a little outdated because instead of a touchscreen it has a lot of physical buttons, dials, and whatnot. But it turns out that’s exactly what makes it so charming!

You see, many fully automatic machines are over the top with the whole touchscreen and UFO-looking control panel to try and make it look cool. But ease of use matters way more than how it looks.

And the Magnifica is just about the easiest, most satisfying machine to use out there. It does everything that you would expect from any other super automatic machine, and it does it consistently, and without hassles.

Jura Ultra Compact Coffee Center

Jura is in the business of super automatic coffee machines.

They are the super automatic guys.

The Ultra Compact is in fact one of their best (and most inexpensive) machines as of yet.

When Jura says “perfect espresso”, they mean it. They have something called the Pulse Extraction Process—instead of a long, prolonged stream of water, the machine uses short bursts of water at high speeds.

This achieves a perfect espresso full of flavor, aroma, and crema.

The grinder on this beauty is one of the best you can ask for, too.

Gaggia Anima

Gaggia, everyone knows, makes great coffee machines. So when they ventured into the fully automatic market, people were excited.

And they managed to meet everyone’s expectations with the Anima, a wonderful machine that combines that classic Italian coffee maker look with all the features that you would expect a super automatic machine to have.

Anima’s greatest strength is the digital display. It’s a little outdated as of now, but it’s still one of the most reliable ones.

You can choose from several different drinks and program your coffee using this little screen with the help of the buttons at the sides.

Its milk frothing system is external, much like Philips’ Latte Go system.

And since we’re comparing, it’s great and achieves silky foam, but it falls quite short when compared side to side with the Latte Go.

De’Longhi Magnifica XS

A known name in the game which is most well known for their semi-automatic machines: De’Longhi.

The Magnifica comes in several models, but the XS really takes the cake.

In terms of design, it is quite compact for a super automatic espresso maker.

But what stands out the most is that operating this machine feels so natural thanks to its easy-to-use, intuitive controls right on the front of the machine.

Thanks to how it’s designed, you can clearly see what to do without having to depend entirely on a small digital display—which happens more often than we’d like with this type of coffee maker.

The Magnifica is a magnificent coffee maker with extremely good espresso thanks to its steel burr grinder which is precise and delivers perfect grind size every time.

Mcilpoog Super Automatic Coffee Machine

What colors did kings, sultans and tsars wear throughout all of history?

That’s right. It was red, just like the stunning Mcilpoog super automatic espresso machines.

It is a really unique take on a coffee maker.

The front side is completely dedicated to the brew unit and steam wand, which leaves a really strong first impression. It’s not cluttered with buttons and dials.

People’s favorite feature about the Mcilpoog is its steam wand.

It is super small and yet surprisingly easy to use. It is a rotating dial that lets you adjust the pressure of the steam; it works wonderfully.

A great choice for latte and cappuccino lovers.

Gaggia Velasca Prestige

The Velasca is one of Gaggia’s best machines to date.

They managed to pull off a design that still feels like a classic Gaggia machine and, at the same time, like a super automatic, modern coffee maker.

The buttons feel very clean and comfortable to use, although it could use a better screen. The digital display honestly feels very outdated and cheap.

The milk frothing system is terrifyingly good.

It rivals both Philips machines’ Latte Go, and in many cases outperforms mostly because it is much quicker in heating up the milk.

Philips Automatic Espresso Machine (2200)

The 2200 is a beautiful machine. It is clear by now that in terms of design, look and overall feel both Philips machines are vastly superior to any other on this list.

It is, however, lacking. It performs great; it does everything that any other super automatic machine does—oftentimes faster and better. And it does it while looking fabulous.

But we can’t help to point out that this model does not come with the Latte Go, which is honestly a lot of what made the Philips 3200 so attractive.

Still a great buy, however, if you’re more into black coffee.

Excellent performance, great price.

Jura D6

Barely within our price range, the D6 has to be presented as one of the most high-spec coffee machines on this list.

The D6 comes equipped with the best parts you could ask for, and you can really tell the difference. The espresso is the real deal.

It grinds coffee beautifully—it does come with an AromaG2, which is one notch below what the Jura Ultra Compact has, yet it still outperforms all other machines on this list.

Although the milk system is just not enough. It is a separate container which has to be attached using a tube and this whole process can be quite annoying.

Not to mention the tube has to be thoroughly cleaned after each use. Not great for a machine that’s supposed to be about ultimate convenience.

De’Longhi Perfecta

The Perfecta is elegant, classy, and very satisfying to use.

Its digital display feels smooth, unlike many others on this list—despite not being touchscreen it still looks good and is actually easy to use. There’s one plus.

But the defining feature that makes this a great choice is its milk frothing system. The container itself is much better designed and definitely more ostentatious than the Latte Go.

It has a sturdy handle, too, which makes it easier to remove and attach.

When it comes to performance, it does perform in the same category as the Latte Go, but the container itself is of much higher quality.

Hipresso Super Automatic

Although being a very good machine for what it offers, the Hipresso isn’t really the choice for a devoted coffee lover.

The coffee is good, sure, but it isn’t the kind of coffee that a dedicated home barista could appreciate.

But where the Hipresso truly shines is in a different environment: a big household, a small office.

That’s where the Hipresso really shows its strengths.

Which is the ability to churn out coffee after coffee with no delay and a great, big touchscreen which is accessible to just about anyone.

The names of the drinks with little images are up on the screen and all you have to do is touch them. As convenient as it gets.

Buying Guide

Which machine to buy? Even with this guide, the choice isn’t that clear, is it?

Don’t worry. Here’s a few things to look for in a coffee machine that’s good for you:

Design

Design is very important for two reasons: first, every kitchen has different needs. You can’t get a huge espresso machine when you know there’s not nearly enough space in your kitchen.

Second, you want a machine that you like to look at.

Performance

What kind of performance do you actually need?

While it might be tempting to go for the most expensive machine because of its specs, it’s a waste of specs if you’re going to just use it once a day to make one cup of espresso.

Pick a machine that really fits the needs of your household—don’t go over it, nor the opposite either.