Enjoying a great cup of coffee is the perfect way to start your day.
If you enjoy drinking espresso or a latte, you probably already know those trips to your local cafe or Starbucks can be really expensive.
The good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune on an expensive espresso machine. There is a HUGE range of affordable espresso machines available to make great coffee at home.
The biggest challenge is how to choose between the best budget espresso machines on the market. With the help of our reviews you can compare espresso machines to find the best espresso machine for under $200.
These cheap espresso machine options offer great value for money, will pull a good shot of coffee and free up your hard earned cash to spend on something other than your daily coffee fix.
Our Top Pick – Best Espresso Machine for under 200
DeLonghi EC702 Espresso Machine
Our top pick for the best affordable at home espresso machine with the best mix of features and reliability in this price range is the DeLonghi EC 702.
It looks great, has all the basic features you would expect, plus some extras that set it apart from the others in our list.
Click here to check the price on the best $200 espresso machine
Best Espresso Machine for under $200 Comparison
The following chart compares the best inexpensive espresso machine options.
This table will help you compare the espresso machine brands side by side. Sort the table by clicking on any of the headers.
You can find more detailed espresso machine reviews below.
| Model | Image | Type | Frother | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.3 | Check |
| DeLonghi EC702 |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.6 | Check |
| Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.4 | Check |
| Capresso EC100 |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4 | Check |
| DeLonghi EC155M |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.2 | Check |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini |  | Capsule | No | 4.4 | Check |
| De Longhi BAR32 Retro Espresso Machine |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4 | Check |
| Mr. Coffee Espresso Maker |  | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.1 | Check |
| Flair Manual Espresso Maker |  | Manual | No | 4.3 | Check |
| Bialetti Moka Express |  | Manual | No | 4.2 | Check |
Features Of The Best Affordable Espresso Machine
Here are some of the main features to keep in mind when reading our best espresso machine for home reviews.
If you are unsure about any of the terms used to explain the home coffee machine features, head over to our Coffee Glossary for an explanation.
Machine Type
There are basically three types of espresso machine:
- Manual
- Semi-Automatic
- Automatic
A manual espresso machine is typically controlled with a lever, do not require electricity and are for the coffee lover who wants to learn everything about coffee.
A semi automatic espresso machine has a pump to extract the espresso, often has a steam wand to froth milk but still requires input from you to prepare the coffee. On a cheap espresso maker the controls are often manual.
Automatic espresso machines do all the work for you. From grinding the beans to extracting the espresso and frothing the milk all at the push of a button. These are typically more expensive espresso machines.
When searching for the best budget home espresso machine under 200, there are a lot of great semi automatic espresso machine options. You will find a number of these in our espresso maker reviews.
Steam Wand
If you enjoy drinking a latte or cappuccino, then a steam wand to froth milk is an important feature to look for when comparing good cheap espresso machines.
The best cappuccino maker under $200 will have a steam wand on the side of the machine. The quality of the steam wand has a big impact on how well you can texture milk, so always check the reviews for any issues with the steam wand on any affordable home espresso machine.
Boiler Type
There are three main types of boiler in all espresso machines.
- Thermoblock
- Single Boiler
- Double Boiler
The boiler heats the water used to extract the espresso and heat the milk.
When comparing expensive vs cheap espresso machine features, the boiler type is one of the main differences. Thermoblock is the most common boiler type in a good entry level espresso machine. They are are fast to heat, reliable and more compact than many single boiler machines.
Temperature Control
Maintaining a consistent temperature is an important feature on a home espresso maker.
Most espresso machines under 200 will have one thermostat to control the temperature of the water and steam. The best cheap espresso machine options will have dual thermometers to control both the water and steam temperature separately.
Best Espresso Machine under 200 Reviews
The Mr Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker is one of the most popular and best rated affordable espresso machines on the market today. We think it is the best budget all in one espresso machine at this price point.
This 15 bar pump espresso machine has a one touch control panel and automatic milk frother. The only thing you need to do is grind the beans and you will have your favourite coffee whipped up in no time!
We recommend using dark roast coffee beans for maximum flavor on this machine.
Mr Coffee Espresso Machine Features:
- Portafilter with two baskets (single or double shots)
- Large removable water tank
- Sliding removable drip tray
-
Accessories including measuring scoop, plastic tamper
- Compact size: 12.6” high x 8.86” wide x 11.22" deep
Pros
- Simple Control Panel
- Automatic Milk Frother
- Fits a larger mug
Cons
- Limited control over milk froth texture
Our Verdict
The Mr Coffee Cafe Barista is the best automatic espresso machine under 200 on our list. If you are a looking for an budget all in one espresso machine, this is the one for you.
>> Click here to check the latest prices and read more reviews
DeLonghi EC702 Espresso Machine Review– Best Value Espresso Machine
If you are looking for the best traditional espresso machine under 200, the Delonghi EC 702 is an excellent choice.
This is one of the few top espresso machines under 200 with a stainless steel boiler. Boilers tend to have a longer life than thermoblock systems and can maintain a more consistent temperature.
You can use both ground beans and easy serve espresso (ese) pods with this machine. Note that the clearance between the spout and drip tray is smaller than the Mr Coffee but it can accommodate taller mugs by removing the drip tray.
De Longhi EC702 Espresso Maker Features
- Stainless steel single boiler
- 15 bar espresso machine pump system
- 3 in 1 pressurised portafilter
- Generously sized removable drip tray
- Large 44 ounce water reservoir.
- Relatively compact at 12.5” tall x 11.3” wide x 8.2” deep
What really sets the DeLonghi EC 702 apart are some extra features not found on many budget espresso machines at this price point. It is these features that make it our choice for best espresso maker under $200.
Extra features:
- Two thermostats to control brew and steam temperature
- Panarello wand attachment for perfect froth
- Self priming function (faster to heat up)
- Convenient side access to view the water level and reservoir
- Attractive stainless steel Italian design elements
Pros
- Sturdy stainless steel design
- Steam wand doubles as hot water dispenser
- Fast to heat up
- Simple Control Panel
Cons
- Baskets do not lock into place in portafilter
- Steam wand a little short with no sideways swivel
Our Verdict
This DeLonghi espresso machine is one of the best espresso machines for beginners. The extra features make it stand out from the rest and the classic stainless steel design will look great in any kitchen.
Despite the cons, we think the DeLonghi EC702 is easily the best affordable espresso machine under 200 on the market.
If you love this espresso machine as much as we do, we recommend you buy some great coffee beans, a good quality grinder, a small milk pitcher and steel tamper as the inbuilt tamper is a little awkward to use.
Capresso EC100 Espresso Machine Review – Best Low Budget Espresso Machine
The Capresso EC100 is a good inexpensive espresso machine offering good value for money. It doesn’t have many bells and whistles, but it can pull a decent shot of espresso and comes at a great price.
The Capresso espresso maker is a compact espresso machine at just 11.75” tall x 8.25” wide x 10.25” deep. It has a stainless steel lined thermoblock heating system and manual controls.
Features:
- Pressurised portafilter
- Small cup warmer and removable drip tray
- Large 46 oz water tank
- Manual steam wand with froth attachment
Note the Capresso EC100 has recently been superceded by the Capresso EC300. You can read the Capresso EC300 review here.
Pros
- Thermoblock heating system
- Steam wand swivels for easy access
- Filter basket locks in place
Cons
- Steam wand cannot be used to dispense hot water
Our Verdict
The Capresso EC100 is a great entry level coffee machine. It comes at a great price and is one of the best low cost espresso machine options on our list.
The Cafe Roma is the entry level machine in the Breville espresso machine range.
With stainless steel casing, thermoblock pump, manual steam wand, and accessories included, this machine represents some of the best espresso machine value you can find.
Breville Cafe Roma features:
- 15 bar pump pressure
- Pressurised 3 in 1 portafilter
- Swivel steam wand
- 40 ounce water tank
- 1 year warranty
- 12″ tall x 9″ wide x 9″ deep
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Accessories included
- Stainless steel casing
Cons
- Single thermometer
- Low cup clearance
Our Verdict
The Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine is comparable to the DeLonghi EC702 apart from the dual thermostats offered on the De Longhi.
This machine seems to take longer to get to the right temperature when swapping from extraction to milk frothing, but for the price this isn’t a huge concern.
Breville have an excellent reputation for producing quality espresso machines and the after-sales customer support is a step above many other espresso machine brands. For this reason we think it is one of the best budget espresso maker options on our list.
DeLonghi EC155M Review – Best Espresso Machine under $100
This basic espresso machine is one of the best entry level espresso maker options. The EC155M is the new model and replaces the EC155 which has been around for quite a while.
The new model has a better designed drip tray and the portafilter lock is now made from steel and is still very compact at 11” tall x 7” wide x 9” deep.
DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Machine features:
De Longhi include a number of features usually reserved for more expensive machines on the EC155. This is one of the main reasons why we think this is the best espresso machine under 100.
- 15 bar pump pressure
- Pressurised 3 in 1 portafilter
- Stainless steel boiler with two thermostats
- Swivel steam wand with panarello attachment
- Self priming function
- 35 ounce water reservoir
- Removable drip tray and cup warmer
The main difference between the DeLonghu EC702 and this machine is that the EC155 has a smaller boiler and the steam wand is also shorter.
Pros
- Great price
- Compact and easy to clean
- Steam wand swivels for easy access
Cons
- Small clearance between spout and drip tray
- Panarello steam wand attachment cannot be removed
Our Verdict
Despite the cons the DeLonghi EC155M can produce a solid espresso shot particularly when used with dark roasted beans. The DeLonghi EC155 espresso maker is one of the smallest espresso machines and at this price we think it is the best espresso machine on a budget.
Nespresso Essenza Mini Review– Best Budget Nespresso Machine
The Nespresso Essenza Espresso Maker is by far the most compact semi-automatic espresso machine on our list at just 8” tall x 4.3” wide x 12.8” deep.
It is also light enough to pick up and pack away when not in use or add to your luggage for a weekend away.
There are two lines of Nespresso espresso machines – the Original and the Vertuo. After assessing the two lines we are not convinced the higher cost Vertuo machines (and pods) produce better espresso, which is why we recommend the Essenza Mini.
The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker is also very popular but we think the sleek design of the Nespresso Essenza automatic makes it the best pod espresso machine at this price point.
Features
- Rapid 30 second heating time
- 19 bar pump system
- 2 programmable cup sizes
- Automatic switch off after 9 minutes
Note: If you like a milky coffee, you will need to purchase the aeroccino milk frother.
Nespresso has implemented a recycling program which is worth looking into if you love this machine.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Compact and easy to clean
- Attractive design with colour options
Pros
- Ongoing pod cost
- No milk frother
- Small water reservoir
Our Verdict
The Essenza Mini is a simple to use espresso machine with a compact design that is appealing to many people, especially if those looking for a portable espresso machine. For these reasons we have included them on our list as the best capsule espresso machines under $200.
The Delonghi Bar32 Espresso Machine is a retro styled, affordable coffee machine with a surprisingly long feature list and many positive coffee machine reviews.
It has many similar features as the DeLonghi EC155M, with just the outward design the key difference.
The pressurized 3 in 1 portafilter accepts ESE pods and ground coffee. Two thermostats control temperature for water and steam separately. The stainless steel boiler is small, but reliable.
De Longhi Bar32 features:
- 15 bar pump pressure
- Pressurized 3 in 1 portafilter
- Stainless steel boiler with two thermostats
- Swivel steam wand with panarello attachment
- 35 ounce water reservoir
- 1 year warranty
- 12.6″ tall x 10.63″ wide x 9″ deep
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Affordable Price
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Low cup clearance
- Plastic appearance
Our Verdict
The De Longhi Bar 32 retro design will not appeal to everyone, but at this price point it is one of the best espresso machines under 100.
If you enjoy drinking espresso and want to make it at home without investing in an expensive machine, this Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine is a good place to start.
It has a simple to use manual interface, removable drip tray and large water tank.
Unlike the other Mr. Coffee machine on our list, this one has a manual steam wand for frothing milk. The thermoblock is quick to heat up and the manual steam wand gives you more control over the quality of your milk texture.
Mr Coffee Espresso Maker features:
- 15 bar pump pressure
- Thermoblock heating system
- Swivel steam wand
- 40 ounce water reservoir
- 1 year warranty
- 11.4″ tall x 9.45″ wide x 10.63″ deep
Pros
- Well known brand
- Affordable price
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Longevity may be an issue
- Single thermostat
Our Verdict
The Mr. Coffee steam espresso machine is a good choice for people who want to enjoy espresso coffee at home on a budget. It comes from a well known brand and can produce good quality espresso day after day.
Alongside the De Longhi EC155 and Bar32, this is one of the best espresso machines under 150.
Flair Espresso Maker Review – Best Manual Espresso Machine under 200
The Flair Espresso Maker has the ultimate minimalist design, and requires very little space on your kitchen counter top.
If you are looking for a manual espresso machine then you just can’t go past this manual espresso maker. This lever espresso machine produces 45 ml of espresso under 8-12 bar of pressure with a simple hand lever.
Simple to use, no power or batteries required, it produces an excellent espresso wherever you are. All you need is boiling water and freshly ground beans. The Flair Espresso Machine also comes in a convenient carry case to pack for a weekend away.
Flair Manual Press features:
- Detachable brew head for easy clean
- Aluminium stand
- Stainless steel brewing head.
- 5 year warranty
- 10″ tall x 6″ wide x 12″ deep
Note there is the option to upgrade to the chrome Flair Signature Espresso Maker – See it here!
Pros
- Portable
- Produces a quality espresso
- No power required
Cons
- Single cup only
- Must be hand washed
- No milk frother
Our Verdict
The Flair produces an aromatic, full flavoured espresso shot within minutes.
If you are looking for a portable espresso machine or want full control over the extraction process, the Flair Espresso Maker is one of the best manual lever espresso machine options. Pair it with a manual coffee grinder for the perfect travel combo.
The Flair is an excellent choice for the craft coffee lover interested in learning more about how to make great coffee.
Bialetti Moka Express Review – Best Stovetop Espresso Machine
You may question this entry in our list of best espresso machines under 200, but let me explain!
The Bialetti Moka Express is a traditional stove top espresso machine. It has a classic Italian design, is quick and easy to use and produces an excellent espresso.
Water is placed in the bottom heating vessel and coffee grounds in the filter. The Bialetti is placed on the stove top. The heat warms the water in the bottom section and pressure forces it through the coffee and up into the top section.
It produces an aromatic, full flavoured espresso shot within minutes.
Moka Pot features:
- Robust stainless steel design
- Compact and portable
- Come in a range of sizes from 1 cup to 12 cup
While technically it may not be classified as an espresso due to the lower extraction pressure, for the budget conscious espresso drinker this is a great espresso machine budget choice.
Pros
- Cheap
- Produces a quality espresso
- Robust steel design
- Portable
Cons
- Must be hand washed
- Cannot be used on induction stovetops
- No milk frother
Our Verdict
If you drink black coffee and you are looking for a portable, compact espresso machine, the Bialetti espresso machine is one of the best espresso makers under 100.
While not a true espresso machine it makes an excellent cup of coffee and is a great choice if looking for the best low price espresso machine.
How To Choose The Best Budget Espresso Machine
You will notice in our home espresso machine reviews under 200 there are many similarities in the functions of each machine. However there are small feature and design differences that will help you choose the best value espresso maker for your home.
Here are some practical questions to ask as you consider which is the best espresso machine under $200 for you.
Kitchen Space
An important consideration when reading our affordable espresso machine reviews is how much bench space you have.
Some coffee makers are bulkier than others, so check the dimensions of both the space you have in mind and the coffee espresso maker before purchasing.
We recommend you also purchase a coffee grinder like this one, so make sure you have the space for both before buying an espresso machine.
Portability
Are you looking for the best portable espresso machine?
If you have limited space and plan to store the espresso coffee maker in a different place to where you will use it, or you want to take the coffee machine away on vacation, consider the weight of the machine.
Nespresso coffee machines are compact espresso makers ideal and we have included the best Nespresso machine under 200 in our list below.
Coffee Drinks
Do you drink your coffee black or do you prefer coffee with milk?
Some good cheap espresso machine options don’t have a built in steamer. So, if you like to drink a latte or cappuccino, look for the best espresso coffee machine under 200 with steam wand.
Level Of Control
A big point of difference when making espresso at home is the level of control you have vs the machine.
If you are interested in learning the process of making good coffee at home, a manual or semi-automatic espresso machine is a good choice.
If you don’t have time or interest in building barista skills, then a super automatic espresso machine is a better option.
Features
While the number of unique features on cheap espresso machines is less than on more expensive espresso machines, there are still differences between them.
We suggest you review the features we list above, identify which are important to you and look for those features in our inexpensive espresso machine reviews below.
Budget
Espresso machine price is obviously one of the top criteria when choosing the best home espresso machine under 200. We are confident you will find the best value for money espresso machine from our list!
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So that wraps up our summary of best affordable espresso makers on the market. No matter which machine you choose, you will be well on your way to enjoying great coffee at home, every day.
You can read all of our espresso machine reviews here. If your budget can stretch a little further we recommend you check out the options under $500.
Don’t forget to purchase espresso beans for your new machine. You can see our top espresso beans options here.
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