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 really start to add up.
The good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune on an expensive espresso machine for home. There is a huge range of affordable espresso machines under $200 that make great coffee.
If you are looking for the best espresso machine for under $200, you are in the right place. We compare the features of some of the best budget espresso machines on the market.
These inexpensive espresso machines 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.
Click here to see our top pick for the best espresso machine under 200 dollars
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
In the table below is a handy summary of all the best inexpensive espresso machine options reviewed in this article. All of these coffee machines offer great value for the money.
This table will help you compare the espresso machine brands side by side. Sort the table by clicking on any of the headers.
Keep reading below for our more detailed espresso machine reviews.
| Image | Model | Type | Frother | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | DeLonghi EC702 | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.6 | Check |
| Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.4 | Check | |
 | Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.3 | Check |
 | Capresso EC100 | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4 | Check |
 | DeLonghi EC155M | Semi-automatic | Yes | 4.2 | Check |
 | Nespresso Essenza Mini | Capsule | No | 4.4 | 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 |
Looking for other alternatives? For the next step up in price range we review the best espresso makers under $500 here. If you are looking for a fully automatic machine we review the best automatic espresso machines here.
Features Of The Best Affordable Espresso Machine
If you are looking for an inexpensive espresso maker it is good to know some of the main features to keep in mind when 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. They pull a single shot of espresso.
A semi automatic espresso machine has a pump to extract the espresso. At this price point on a cheap espresso maker the controls are often manual and many have a steam wand to froth milk.
When looking for the best affordable home espresso machine, the semi automatics are a good option and you will find a number of these in our espresso maker reviews.
Automatic espresso machines do all the work for you. Budget friendly automatic machines typically extract the espresso and froth the milk for you. On more expensive automatic espresso makers they also grind the beans and self-clean.
On our list of the best budget home espresso machine under 200, you will find all of these types of machines listed.
Steam Wand
If like me 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. On some machines this will be a manual frother. On an automatic machine it may be built in.
The quality of the steam wand has a big impact on how well you can texture milk, so if this is an important feature for you, check the reviews for any issues with the steam wand on the affordable home espresso machine options on our list.
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 boilers are 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.
Single boilers generally provide a more consistent water temperature, which is good for producing quality espresso, but they tend to be more expensive than thermoblock machines. A thermostat is used to control and vary the temperature for the espresso and milk.
Double boilers are found on premium espresso machines. They provide ultimate temperature control and the ability to run the espresso and heat the milk at the same time.
Temperature Control
Maintaining a consistent temperature is an important feature on a home espresso maker. The ideal temperature to pull espresso is lower than that for heating milk, so a thermometer is used to manage temperature changes on the machine.
Many espresso machines under 200 will have one thermostat to control the temperature of the water and steam. However 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
Below are recommendations for the best affordable home espresso machine under $200. We cover manual, semi-automatic and automatic espresso machine options.
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.
The reason it is so popular is the easy to use one touch control panel and automatic milk frother. It doesn’t get any easier than this for your morning coffee.
Simply add your ground beans to the portafilter, press the button and you will have a cappuccino whipped up in no time! For this reason we think it is the best budget all in one espresso machine at this price point.
The Mr Coffee Espresso Machine features include a 15 bar pump espresso machine with a large removable water tank. The portafilter has two baskets for single and double shots and the drip tray is removable to fit larger cups. The simple control panel gives you flexibility to choose the style of coffee drink and the size.
It is relatively compact in size at 12.6” high x 8.86” wide x 11.22″ deep and comes with a measuring scoop and a plastic coffee tamper.
The milk is frothed automatically and added directly to your cup. You can choose a latte or cappuccino style drink. Note you don’t have any control over how the milk is textured but if you are looking for the best inexpensive cappuccino maker with automatic frothing, this is a good choice.
We recommend using dark roast espresso coffee beans for maximum flavor on this machine.
Pros
- Simple control panel
- Automatic milk frothing
- Fits a larger mug
Cons
- Limited control over milk texture
The Mr Coffee Cafe Barista is the best automatic espresso machine under 200 on our list. If you are a looking for a 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 De Longhi EC702 espresso maker is an excellent choice. This machine has a long list of features that really set it apart from others on our list and why it is our top pick for the best affordable espresso machine under 200 on the market.
The Delonghi home espresso machine has a 15 bar espresso machine pump system with a stainless steel single boiler. It has the popular 3 in 1 pressurized portafilter for easy espresso extraction and a large 44 ounce water reservoir. Like the Mr Coffee it is relatively compact at 12.5” tall x 11.3” wide x 8.2” deep
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 generously sized drip tray.
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.
- 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
This DeLonghi espresso machine really 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 looks great in any kitchen.
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. You will notice from the picture it has a lot more plastic housing than the Delonghi. It comes with a large 46 oz water tank plus a small cup warmer and removable drip tray which is handy for when you have a larger mug.
Water is heated with a stainless steel lined thermoblock heating system and it has simple manual controls. The pressurized portafilter helps draw a consistent espresso and the manual steam wand comes with a froth attachment for cappuccino lovers.
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
The Capresso EC100 is a great entry level coffee machine and is one of the best low cost espresso machine options on our list.
The Breville Cafe Roma coffee machine is the entry level machine in the Breville espresso machine range and poses strong competition for the Delonghi machine range.
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.
The Breville ESP8XL comes with all the features you would expect such as 15 bar pump pressure, a thermoblock pump, pressurized 3 in 1 portafilter, 40 ounce water tank and a swivel steam wand. It is quite compact too at just 12″ tall x 9″ wide x 9″ deep.
But there are a few extra touches we like including the modern and durable stainless steel casing and accessory pack including a stainless steel milk pitcher and tamper. For this reason we think it is one of the best budget espresso maker options on our list.
This machine seems to take a little longer to get to the right temperature when swapping from extraction to milk frothing, but for the price this isn’t a huge concern.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Accessories included
- Stainless steel casing
Cons
- Single thermometer
- Low cup clearance
The Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine is comparable to the DeLonghi EC702 apart from the dual thermostats offered on the De Longhi. It comes with a 1 year warranty and offers some of the best espresso machine value you can find at this price point.
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 Delonghi EC 155 which has been around for quite a while.
The new Delonghi EC155M espresso machine has a better designed drip tray and the portafilter lock is now made from steel instead of plastic. It is still a very compact espresso machine at just 11” tall x 7” wide x 9” deep.
This machine has all the standard features including 15 bar pump pressure, pressurized 3 in 1 portafilter, swivel steam wand and 35 ounce water reservoir. The drip tray is removable and there is a small cup warmer on top.
But De Longhi include a number of features on the EC155 and EC 155M that are usually only found on more expensive machines. Features like the stainless steel boiler with two thermostats, panarello attachment and self-priming function really set it apart from many others on the list.
This is one of the main reasons why we think the DeLonghi EC155 espresso machine range are the best espresso machine under 100.
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
The main difference between the DeLonghi EC702 and this machine is that the EC155 has a smaller boiler and the steam wand is also shorter.
The DeLonghi EC 155M espresso machine 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 a super easy to use single cup coffee maker that is one of the most popular machines on the market.
The Nespresso Essenza Mini has a 19 bar pump system, rapid 30 second heating time, 2 programmable cup sizes and automatic switch off after 9 minutes.
It is also light enough to pick up and pack away when not in use or add to your luggage for a weekend away. If you are concerned about the rubbish generated by the pods, Nespresso has implemented a recycling program which is worth looking into if you love this machine.
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.
Note: If you like a milky coffee, you will need to purchase the aeroccino milk frother too.
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
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.
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.
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 really good place to start.
It may not have the most modern style, but it has a simple to use manual interface, 15 bar pump pressure, uses a thermoblock heating system and has a large 40 ounce water reservoir.
The Mr Coffee Espresso maker is a little deeper than others on our list at 11.4″ tall x 9.45″ wide x 10.63″ deep and comes with a one year warranty.
Unlike the other Mr. Coffee espresso 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.
Pros
- Well known brand
- Affordable price
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Longevity may be an issue
- Single thermostat
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.
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 with stainless steel brewing head produces 45 ml of espresso under 8-12 bar of pressure with a simple hand lever.
The aluminium stand comes in a number of different colors and the detachable brew head is easy to clean. Simple to use, no power or batteries required, it produces an excellent espresso wherever you are.
The Flair Manual press comes with a 5 year warranty and measures 10″ tall x 6″ wide x 12″ deep. 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.
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
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, produces an excellent espresso and is by far the cheapest espresso machine on our list.
Water is placed in the bottom stainless steel heating vessel and coffee grounds are placed in the filter. Screw the top on and place the Bialetti Moka Pot 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. Not only that is is compact and portable and comes in a range of sizes from 1 cup to 12 cup.
I just love the convenience, price and ease of this coffee maker.
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
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. Check both the height and the depth of your bench top.
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.
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.
If you are a beginner barista, the panarello steam wand attachments can help you make better foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
Likewise if you only drink black coffee, there is no need to pay extra for an espresso machine with a 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. Learning how to grind the beans, get the right pressure through tamping and running the coffee through the machine all teach you how to make great espresso drinks.
But if you don’t have time or interest in building barista skills, then an automatic espresso machine with a milk frother is a better option.
Features
While the number of unique features on a cheap vs expensive espresso machine may be less, there are still differences worth considering.
Boiler types, stainless steel or plastic, cup warmers and steam wands all vary. We suggest you review the features for each machine, identify which are important to you and look for those features in our inexpensive espresso machine reviews.
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!
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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