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If you're a daily coffee drinker, having an espresso machine at home can help cut back on expensive cafe trips and make you feel like a professional barista right at home.
If you want true-blue espresso, you'll need some hardware as Moka pots and Turkish coffee pots only make something that resembles espresso. This concentrated coffee beverage is brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground beans under high pressure of 9 bars or more -- something only a machine can do properly.
Quality automatic espresso machines require an investment -- budget between $350 and $700 for one that can deliver genuine café-quality espresso drinks (or straight shots for purists). Consider it against what you'd otherwise spend on daily cappuccinos, lattes and double espressos at your local coffee shop.
CNET's experts have spent months testing espresso machines from top manufacturers, including Breville, Ninja, DeLonghi and Nespresso, to find the best of the best for at-home espresso making. From budget picks and compact models to the best espresso machine for most homes and one fully automated at-home system, we have picks for everyone.
After pulling shots from more than 20 models, these are the six best espresso machines in 2026.
Best espresso machines
Chris Monroe/CNET Photo Gallery 1/5 Chris Monroe/CNET Best espresso machine overall Breville Barista Express Pros Has ample customization options
Smart dosing technology for balanced espresso
Powerful built-in burr grinder
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