The 9 Best Coffee & Espresso Machines of 2023

The De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee and Espresso Machine won over our hearts

Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, Southern Living and more during her time as the E-Commerce Editorial Apprentice while she was an undergraduate fashion student at Iowa State University. Her passions include fashion and beauty writing as well as makeup artistry and styling. You can find her on Instagram to follow along on her creative journey.

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Home coffee and espresso makers have long gotten a bad rap for producing sub-par beverages, but recent technology upgrades are changing that.

With the cost of your daily dose of caffeine on the rise — and long lines at Starbucks making the morning rush all the more stressful — the benefits of an at-home brewing solution have never been greater. (Even celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Alba know the joy of a quick DIY cup.) When searching for a modern home coffee and espresso maker, Kaleena Teoh, co-founder of Coffee Project NY, recommends looking for one has great steaming pressure, produces a smooth espresso shot, and is easy to clean.

We tested 10 different coffee and espresso maker combos to find out which ones make café-worthy drinks. The winner is the De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee and Espresso Machine for its easy setup, split design for espresso and coffee, and impressive milk frother.

Read on for the 9 best coffee and espresso machines that PEOPLE Tested.

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After a series of tests, the De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee and Espresso Combination Coffee Maker provided the closest thing to the barista experience. For those looking to make incredible coffee at home, the machine's split design makes it possible. A café-style portafilter for espresso and an adjustable milk frother take up one side, while a 10-cup glass carafe for drip coffee occupies the other. Our testers agreed that this is coffee they'd be happy to wake up to.

"For drip, this was the Goldilocks of the group, with a 10-cup carafe that makes it a versatile crowd-pleaser for nearly any coffee drinker," says Chris Hallowell, owner of Turning Point Coffee Roasters. "But where it really draws a line in the sand from other models is with its impressive milk texturing for cappuccino fans."

The device is easy to set up and features an intuitive design that guides even beginners through preparing their favorite beverage. You'll also save time by being able to simultaneously brew espresso and drip coffee. Our testers found the machine's coffee to taste like an Americano, with a flavor that is both rich and bold. Users can also expect a wonderful aroma and espresso that is "jam-packed with flavor."

Foam quality is also superlative, and the machine is quick to steam and demonstrates a quick recovery time between drinks. To top it off, it's also fairly easy to clean, with minimal coffee grinds trapped in the crevices.

But be warned, the De'Longhi is loud, not unlike the roaring sounds you hear in an actual coffee shop, and frequent cleaning is imperative to avoid water overflow leaking out the back when the drip tray fills.

Price at time of publish: $309.95

Grounds or pods: Grounds and E.S.E. pods | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 11.02 x 14.52 x 12.79 inches | Brew sizes: 12 cups | Reservoir capacity: 47 ounces

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Compact in design and comprehensive to use, the Nescafé Dulce Gusto Coffee Machine is the perfect, (relatively) inexpensive espresso machine to add to your home. Our testers appreciated the smooth brew and bold flavor that this machine produced in with its corresponding Nescafé coffee pods — especially considering the price. If you're not in the mood for espresso, this machine can still offer you a caffeine kick.

You can easily switch between 15 customizable pressure levels to deliver cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and even cold brews. Simply use the toggle stick at the nape of the machine to adjust the level of pressure, enter a pod, close the lid, and your work is done.

Our testers felt that the final product tasted "like a mix of coffee and espresso," which is great for the strong-coffee lover, but not so much for the everyday drinker. If you're looking for a super clear cup of coffee, you may have to spend a little extra on a different model.

Price at time of publish: $109.35

Grounds or pods: Pods | Frother: Yes, internal | Dimensions: 6.5 x 10.8 x 11.7 inches | Brew sizes: 10 cups | Reservoir capacity: 45 ounces

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The Miele CM5300 Countertop provides a luxe coffee-making experience thanks to its intuitive touch controls, sleek design, and rich, barista-worthy coffee. Our testers found it to be very intuitive and simple to control, with easy-to-follow instructions appearing on its LED screen. It's also good about notifying users when the tray needs to be emptied.

The customizable device can adjust coffee bean grind size, allowing for whatever type of drink you'd like with only the click of a few buttons. It comes with nine preset drink options, ranging from go-tos like lattes and cappuccinos to more creative concoctions like ristrettos and macchiatos.

"This maker is great if you want a really impressive cup, without any of the work," says Hallowell. "The machine grinds the beans at the touch of a button with its integrated burr grinder, tamps and pulls the espresso, prepares the milk froth—and voila."

Hollowell also noted that the machine has a metal block that heats the system (rather than a big reservoir that needs to heat up), improving recovery time and allowing our tester to make six drinks back-to-back. The downside, however, is the amount of cleaning required; this is one "needy" device, with a drip tray, tray cover, coffee grounds container and water container that all have to be washed regularly. Also, the manual suggests cleaning out the brew unit and main dispenser about once a week.

Price at time of publish: $1,569.99

Grounds or pods: Grounds | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 18.2 x 9.5 x 14.25 inches | Brew sizes: 8 cups | Reservoir capacity: 1.3 liters

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For more experienced coffee makers, the Espressione Stainless Steel Machine may be worth the added time and effort. The sleek stainless steel machine involves a bit more setup, which isn't a bad thing for those who enjoy their daily espresso ritual. Users must add the grounds and tamp the coffee properly before attaching the portafilter to pull the shot. But as our testers discovered, the extra effort pays off with a memorable and tasty brew.

The Espressione overperformed with our testers, making espresso shots that were consistently longer than those of competitors, with gentler extractions (meaning fewer sour and bitter notes). The shots were closer to the full flavor and body of real espresso that you'd get from a professional machine at your local coffee shop.

"Responsible for the cleanest cup of coffee we tried during our testing and espresso with a great body, the Espressione was impressive from the start and quickly made our top list," one tester said.

Despite the amount of prep work, cleaning this device is surprisingly easy. The Espressione's removable front water tank and drip tray were both effortless to clean by hand.

Price at time of publish: $247.99

Grounds or pods: Grounds and E.S.E. pods | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 14.6 x 13 x 14.6 inches | Brew sizes: 10 cups | Reservoir capacity: 1.5 liters

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Nespresso is one of the biggest names in at-home espresso makers and provides the perfect tool for beginners with their Vertuo and Milk Frother. The small machine makes tasty beverages at rapid speed with the touch of a single button.

Our testers found the heating speed to be only three seconds, easily the fastest of all the devices, making this the perfect fit for anyone with limited time in the morning. Beyond its extraordinary speed, the device is also surprisingly quiet. It produces a really thick, velvety crema and espresso with a taste that is bold and bitter, without being acidic. "I was so impressed by the velvety crema that came out of the Vertuo for each drink we made, as well as the taste in batches of all sizes," says our tester.

The Nespresso can produce coffee, but be warned it really is just an Americano (i.e. a diluted espresso). It can also be frustrating having to brew multiple pods if you want more than one cup at a time. That said, it shoots the discarded pods into the side bucket, so cleaning is minimal. She adds, "Offering speedy prep, low maintenance and excellent coffee and espresso beverages, the Nespresso Vertuo is a true bargain."

Price at time of publish: $152.46

Grounds or pods: Pods | Frother: Yes, in bundle deal | Dimensions: 8.32 x 11.91 x 11.93 inches | Brew sizes: 1 cup | Reservoir capacity: 40 ounces

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We love a Keurig coffee maker, but if you're new to the brand or looking to upgrade, which one should you buy? In our testing, we found the Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve Coffee, Latte and Cappuccino Maker the best of them all. This versatile coffee maker is perfect for a busy kitchen, thanks to its many options — including regular coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, and espresso shots. You can even top off your creations with foam, heated up by the machine's easy-to-use frother.

Our testers mostly agreed that they would gladly brew a cup of the Keurig K-Cafe's coffee every morning, dubbing the flavor as "rich but light, with a clean aftertaste." They noted that the taste was average, but that makes it easier to blend with your favorite creamer. It also has a deep water reservoir (so you don't have to refill it between every cup), and the frother can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher.

It's worth mentioning that where one tester tasted a full-bodied and aromatic coffee, others felt that it could have been stronger or clearer. But at the end of the day, they felt confident that they'd come back to this machine every morning.

Price at time of publish: $184.99

Grounds or pods: Pods | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 12.5 x 15.3 x 11.7 inches | Brew sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounces | Reservoir capacity: 60 ounces

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Your home coffee station will get a professional upgrade with the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker. French press coffee-drinkers will love this machine's concentrated formula and attached carafe (so you can keep the coffee coming). Our testers were impressed by the fluidity of this machine's brew, calling it a "smooth cup of coffee with a little americano vibe."

This machine can make lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, iced coffee, and more thanks to several settings, convenient 10-cup carafe and fold-away frother. Our tester described the taste as "very sweet up front," followed by a "smooth finish."

Some testers noted a thinner coffee texture, but overall thought that it "hits all the right spots." The coffee snob may taste the difference in texture when it comes to this brew, but an average latte-lover will be happy with the delicious cups that are produced from this Ninja.

Price at time of publish: $139.99

Grounds or pods: Grounds | Frother: Yes | Dimensions: 8.75 x 11.99 x 15.04 inches | Brew sizes: 10 cups | Reservoir capacity: 50 ounces

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"This is what I'm talking about," said one of our testers after trying the Bialetti Moka Express. If you like to kick it old-school style, then you'll love this machine for its traditional stovetop design and even better flavor. This tiny espresso and coffee maker is best for individual use, as it can only brew up to a 3-cup pour, but that shot of coffee is some of the best you'll be able to make at home.

According to our testers, all of the desired taste components were present in the Bialetti's concentrated pour. They described it as a "full bodied cup of coffee with a smooth finish," and thought of it as a "very enjoyable" way to get the day going. Its rich taste and mouthfeel can be attributed to its time spent brewing on the stove — just how your grandparents would do it. And better yet, this machine is zero waste thanks to its utilization of every coffee bean in the moka pot.

The pot's only drawback is that it can only produce one 3-cup serving at a time, meaning you'll have to wash the machine in between each use — which can get tedious for the frequent coffee-drinker. However, those who appreciate a good espresso or small serving of concentrated coffee will love this tried-and-true pot for rich, traditional java.

Price at time of publish: $52.95

Grounds or pods: Grounds | Frother: No | Dimensions: 4 x 5.6 x 6.7 inches | Brew sizes: 3 cups | Reservoir capacity: 4.3 ounces

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Espresso and coffee lovers alike will rejoice for the Jura AI Piano, a sleek machine that crafts bold and rich brews that our testers loved. Not only can this smart machine make traditional espresso shots and cups of coffee, but it can produce ristrettos, too, so you can get a strong jolt of flavor and caffeine in a smaller amount of coffee.

This no-fuss coffee machine produces a brew that's equal parts bold and rich as it is creamy and smooth. This is a hard balance to strike in taste and texture, making this a must-have for those willing to splurge on a coffee machine. Our testers reported that it's actually more of an espresso machine than a coffee machine, because it creates an americano when it's on the regular coffee setting.

We recommend this chic machine to someone who likes espressos and long espressos or americanos, but we don't recommend it for the casual coffee sipper. However, for those with a more refined palette (and upscale taste in machinery), this is the coffee maker for you.

Price at time of publish: $699

Grounds or pods: Grounds | Frother: No | Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.4 x 17.5 inches | Brew sizes: Not listed | Reservoir capacity: 37 ounces

Since we're not all professional baristas, it's important to know how simple an espresso machine is to set up and use before purchasing. It's worth noting how much of each type of drink you can make at once, as well as what features the machine comes with: a built-in coffee grinder, a milk frother, a tamper, etc. Also check to see if it requires any special filters and if it's programmable to brew and shut off automatically. Basically, you should know how much work will be involved with your machine every morning.

If you're sacrificing your daily coffee run, you want to know you're still getting a high quality product. Read reviews to get a better sense of overall taste and drink characteristics – smoothness, mouthfeel, amount of sediment, richness, acidity, etc. Teoh recommends looking at the portafilter to make sure it is not too narrow. She says this is important for an even extraction, which results in a better brew.

As for brew speed, an ideal time is between 23 and 29 seconds, so make sure the device's brew speed falls in that window. You should also verify how long it takes to brew a cup of coffee, as well as a full pot.

No one is looking for extra chores, so find out if the machine is easy to clean and if any of the parts are dishwasher-safe. Also, check to see if it needs to be disassembled to clean and, if so, how easy that process is. In our testing, the Espressione Stainless Steel Espresso Machine was praised for its easily removable front water tank and drip tray. This clever feature makes it easy to clean all the nooks and crannies of the machine.

Espresso makers usually go on sale on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day. You can also typically find models on sale on Amazon, though they may not always be the brand you are looking for.

We tested 10 espresso makers in our industrial kitchen setting. Unless required to use the company's own pods or coffee, we used the same brand and type of coffee and the same grind(s) for all the tests. We brewed the maximum amount of drip coffee each machine can produce and also pulled three espresso shots, noting the taste and time. We tested each device's special features, such as milk frothers, to note how well they work. We finished the test by cleaning each device and noting how difficult the required process is.

No, the machines required to make drip coffee and espresso coffee are different. The methods of preparation and the size of the grind differentiate the two. To make drip coffee, the coffee maker heats water and then disperses it over coarsely ground coffee and a filter. In comparison, an espresso coffee maker creates high pressure to force water quickly over tightly packed, finely ground coffee beans. There are some machines, like the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker, which can brew both espresso and coffee but perform best when it comes to coffee. Others like the Jura A1 Piano can also do both, but brew better espresso than coffee.

The beans used for espresso are the same as for other types of coffee; the difference is how finely the beans are ground. The fine grind of the beans and the lower water-to-bean ratio make espresso coffee thicker and stronger than regular coffee. However, not all machines will require beans to be ground up to create your morning cup — the Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker and Nespresso Vertuo are examples of machines that operate with pre-prepared pods.

Regular coffee and espresso coffee are made differently. Not nearly as strong as espresso, regular coffee is made with more water and coarsely ground coffee beans. Espresso coffee is made with less water and packed, finely ground beans. As a result, espresso coffee is more robust and is often served in tiny cups due to its intense flavor.

"The espresso machine creates the pressure to push water through very finely ground coffee that is tamped," Teoh explains, creating a distinction between the two. "Coffee machines usually use a gravity brewing method — imagine water being pulled by gravity, passing through coffee grounds in a paper filter, creating what we know as regular or drip coffee," she says.

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