Arguably the most popular brands for coffee machines (espresso machines, that is) on the market, all of these brands have been putting out fantastic coffee makers throughout the last two decades.
In this article, I’ll bring you the best ones by each brand:
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Gaggia Espresso Machines
Gaggia was an important player in the history of coffee. Its founder, Giovanni Achille Gaggia, patented the world’s first seamless espresso machine: up to that point, espresso machines needed to create a lot of steam in order to work.
Gaggia paved the way for the espresso machines of today.
Founded in 1948, the company has devoted all its efforts solely into making coffee machines and other coffee related products, making it arguably the most recognizable brand in the world.
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Gaggia Velasca Espresso Machine
Gaggia Velasca Espresso Machine
The Velasca is one of Gaggia’s most ambitious machines, and comes with an integrated grinder of very good quality: instead of stainless steel, the birds are made of ceramic, which means it will experience very little wear and tear.
Besides, ceramic doesn’t overheat as steel does, meaning that your grounds won’t get burnt even if you grind a lot of coffee!
There’s also a Pannarello wand for frothing milk which is the go-to model for Gaggia that produces very good results and they use it on their high-end products.
This machine is also programmable with different brewing options that each can be programmed with different temperature settings: get results that are best suited to your tastes by adjusting the brewing temperature!
Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Machine
The Classic Gaggia model!
This is a retro-style Gaggia that is very similar to how professional espresso machines worked in the 60s and 70s, but is equipped with top-notch materials and components meaning that it can rival even the most modern-looking machines of this era.
The operation is very satisfying because there aren’t any buttons, lights, or displays: just use the switches to operate the grouphead and steam wand! It is intuitive, fool-proof and incredibly satisfying!
Breville Espresso Machines
Breville is an Australian company, founded in 1932 which started out as a small home appliance brand.
And while it still is to this day, it is best known for its fantastic coffee machines and other such coffee-related products: it is one of the most popular brands for home espresso machines in the world.
Breville BES840BSXL Infuser Espresso Machine
Breville BES840BSXL Infuser Espresso Machine
Breville excels in their designs, and this machine in particular has an incredibly unique look – it is beautiful thanks to its black color which makes it stand out from all other espresso machines.
IT has all of the best features that Breville offers, like volumetric+shot control, which helps you control the amount of water used for each espresso shot. Essential feature to create better espresso and experiment with your coffee.
There’s also PiD, the Precise Espresso Extraction feature that lets you control temperature during the pre-infusion.
It works in 4° increments and by adjusting the pre-infusion temperature you can actually directly influence the flavor of your coffee.
It also comes with a wide array of different tools, not to mention an auto-purge function that cleans the machine automatically so you don’t have to!
Breville BNV250BLK Vertuo
A Nespresso and Breville collaboration! What more could we ask for?
Nespresso Vertuo is a new way to deliver coffee. Instead of regular single-size capsules, Vertuo offers different sizes and the capsules usually contain high-quality, single origin coffee.
But the real innovation happens dring the brewing. While regular capsule machines simply puncture the capsules and run water through them, these machines rotate the capsules at super high speeds to create a sort of whirlwind. This creates optimal extraction and emulsifies the oils.
The result? A super flavorful coffee and an actual layer of crema!
This also comes with an Aeroccino, Nespresso’s own separate milk frother which has very high ratings because of how easy it is to use.
It might be a little inconvenient when cleaning it, but it’s really worth the extra work as it creates a lot of foam that’s hard to get even using a good steam wand!
Delonghi Espresso Machines
Founded in 1902 by the De’Longhi family, De’Longhi actually is a huge company that has manufactured just about anything you can think of. It owns several companies around the world and they manufacture all sorts of products.
However, they are best known for their coffee makers and particularly for their designs.
The company’s design director, Giacomo Borin, was named one the world’s most influential designers in 2006.
De’Longhi ECAM35075SI Dinamica
De’Longhi ECAM35075SI Dinamica
De’Longhi comes full force with the Dinamica, a fully automatic espresso machine.
Fully automatic espresso machines are designed to do everything for you – even the thinking. They come with pre-set options for beverages: to make a latte, for example, you only need to press a button. The machine will froth and pour the milk to create a perfect latte!
This also comes with a high-quality coffee grinder, so it even grinds the coffee for you. The burr grinder has 13 different settings which, while it isn’t the industry standard, is the exact number of settings needed to make all of the drinks offered by this coffee maker, which is more than enough.
So don’t get too hung up on the number of settings – they are the exact amount needed.
The best thing about this machine is its dual heating system.
Water for brewing heats in a separate tank from the water for creating steam, meaning that wait times are greatly reduced!
No more waiting a long time for a latte or a cappuccino.
FAQ
Is Nespresso coffee espresso?
While espresso purists might disagree, Nespresso uses a system much like actual espresso machines, even if the coffee comes in capsules.
It generates pressure to force the water through the coffee grounds, which is the literal definition of espresso.
It even creates crema, the very hallmark of espresso that can only happen when enough pressure is generated as it emulsifies the oils in coffee.
So yes: Nespresso coffee is, in fact, espresso.
Is Breville the best coffee brand?
It really depends. Nowadays, there are all sorts of machines out there and no brand is necessarily better than the other – even if there was a time when Breville would have been the answer.
Even looking outside these three brands, there are definitely good home espresso machines that can surpass machines made by them. It’s all about knowing where to look!
That said, Breville does have some of the best home espresso machines on the market and continues to make great products.
What should I look for in an espresso machine?
Most espresso makers are already equipped with everything you need. Past a certain price range, all of them will make great coffee, and the rest is about features that may or may not sound desirable to you.
More features are great, but some feature-less machines, like the Gaggia classic, still manage to make near-perfect espresso!
What is a fully automatic espresso machine?
These are a kind of espresso maker that is designed to be its own barista.
That means there’s no need for a portafilter, for example, and in many cases you don’t even need a steam wand.
The machine comes with pre-inputted options for beverages like macchiato, cappuccino, etc. and all you have to do is choose that option. The machine will then make the espresso, froth the milk, and pour them into the cup.
Most of the time these machines also have a built-in grinder, which means they also grind the coffee for you.
They grind it, pour it, and even tamp it to create a great espresso.
Even without the human variable and expertise, they still manage to create very good coffee!
Photo by Daria, Burst and Adrain Agpasa
