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If you’re a coffee lover or junkie of beverages and espresso, an espresso machine is a must-have in the kitchen.
Whether you own an office or a team with espresso lovers, having a productive espresso machine in the office kitchen is almost inevitable.
It helps you to cut down daily visits to your local coffee shop and get your caffeine fix right in the comfort of your kitchen.
There are many options out there on the market, but after a series of extensive research, we have made a list of five of the espresso machines user $400 for you.
We evaluated each of them on time to brew, consistency, ease of use, taste, and how loud they were.
The top favorites were automatic and super-automatic machines that were simple to use, easy to set up, and didn’t require any technical skills.
Read on for our espresso machine reviews and buyer’s guide that will help you make the right decision.
Top 5 Espresso Machine Under $400 – Review in 2021
Without further ado, let’s get to our top 5 and find out what makes them special with their benefits.
Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso Machine
Since 1970, this US-based company has been producing machine that brings a rich coffee experience into their customers’ homes.
Café Barista espresso is a 3-in-1 mid-ranger coffee maker that brews three kinds of coffees-latte, cappuccino, and espresso.
This machine features an electric 15-bar pump that generates powerful pressure to extract rich flavors during the brewing of the caffeine.
With this simple-to-use espresso maker, you can easily become a café expect even if it’s your first time.
It helps you choose between double or single shots, thanks to its one-touch controls that you can access easily.
You can also froth the milk automatically into latte and cappuccino selections with an adjustable control knob.
Furthermore, the machine features a removable milk reservoir that enables you to store leftover milk not used during the brew in the refrigerator. All you need to do is fill the machine with milk and let it determine the amount needed.
A recipe book was included to help you create impressive coffee drinks at the comfort of your home within 45 seconds.
This machine also has a control panel at its upper section that allows you to select the style/type of coffee you want just at the tap of a button.
The Mr. Coffee Café Barista espresso machine offers you three different colors to choose from (Silver, Red, and White). And as a matter of fact, It is our top-rated espresso machine under $400.
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Related Guide: Toaster Oven under $100
EspressoWorks 7 Pc All-in-One Espresso Machine
Our list of the good espresso machine under $400 will not be complete without mentioning this compelling product.
Apart from the fact that many end-users have complemented the sleek design of the device, its portability, ease of use, and compact size also make it ideal for usage in the office or home where there are limited spaces.
EspressoWorks offers a low-budget buy option with a machine that comes with a built-in milk frother and many accessories.
There won’t be any need to purchase extra accessories since it comes with a set that includes all the required accessories such as; tamper, measuring spoon, portafilter, electric grinder, and stainless-steel frothing cup.
This powerful machine looks great in the kitchen, thanks to its stainless-steel finish offering aesthetic value.
You don’t need to worry about unplugging and plugging your machine since it comes with a unique auto-off feature that turns off after 25 minutes of inactivity. Most end-users have rated this product as a high-quality espresso machine.
Furthermore, it features a 15-bar pump pressure system that helps to create your coffee with a bold taste within 45 seconds.
You can easily see the water gauge, it comes with a removable water tank that allows you to see the level of water left in it.
What’s more? For both single and double shots, it features a stainless-steel high-quality filter with two basket options and milk frothing cup to make delicious and creamy cappuccinos and lattes.
The only downside of this machine is that its espresso quality is a bit questionable, and the unit itself quickly pushes water through the coffee bottom, thereby leaking.
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Nespresso by De’Longhi Espresso Machine
If you are looking for a cost-effective machine, this espresso maker from De’Longhi is one of the best money can buy.
It’s affordable and brews your coffee just as good as the more expensive and high-end espresso machines.
In terms of design, this machine is compact, portable, and lightweight. If you have limited space in your office or home kitchen, you wouldn’t have a problem finding where to place this device.
For higher performance, Nespresso boasts a 19-bar pump system that offers barista-style single-serve coffee every time with an input power of 1710 watts.
In just 25 seconds, the fast heating system of this unit would have reached the ideal temperature.
Also, it is highly versatile, thanks to its lungo buttons and adjustable cup size with the two programmable espressos. For simple and quick cleaning, it comes with a removable water tank, capsule container, and drip tray.
Furthermore, there’s an automatic energy-saving function that switched off the machine after 9 minutes of non-use. This function can be extended from 9 to 30 minutes.
What’s more? Nespresso offers you free complimentary gifts of the original capsule welcome kit with special aroma profiles.
To create the ideal finish for your single-serve cappuccino and lattes, it comes with an Aeroccino 3 milk frother.
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EspressoWorks 10 Pc All-in-One Bundle Espresso Machine
This is the elder brother of the 7 Pc All-in-One espresso machine. It’s got all the same features, but then there’s a special programmable mode and 1.4L larger water detachable tank. This means that you can make up to 19 shots of espresso with a full tank.
The brewing process of this espresso maker is fast, and it perfectly extracts the aroma and flavors of your coffee bean, thanks to its sturdy one-touch pump pressure system that offers up to 19 bars of pressure. (The bigger pressure output on our list).
This unit boast of a 120V plug-in electric coffee grinder that allows you to grind your own espresso beans to the desired texture.
Also, the tamper and measuring spoon is easy to scoop and helps to measure the perfect amount of coffee or espresso grind.
All you need to do is choose your amount, and the machine would do the rest, thanks to its high-quality portafilter that comes with single or double-shot baskets. Each of these baskets has a max line to ensure that the ideal amount is placed in.
To protect you from burning your hands, it features two high-quality double-walled cappuccino glasses and two premium double walled espresso cups. Also, there are built-in heating trays that help to keep your cups warm at all times.
If you’ve ever wanted to make coffee like a true barista, this machine is meant for you. It has a 16 cappuccino art stencil template to make your dreams come true.
What more? The reservoir and milk frother is easy to fill and clean since it comes with an adjustable control knob.
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Gaggla Carezza Espresso Machine
If you’re impressed with fancy and new technology, lightweight plastic construction, and you think everything was better in the ’90s, then this product is for you.
It is a semi-automatic coffee and espresso machine that provide great-tasting coffee with eye-catching body designs and retro aesthetics.
The Carezza machine features a special portafilter built to brew your coffee when its pressure reaches the standard brew pressure of 9 bar. This feature makes it easy to create a thicker crema on an espresso or coffee.
Also, there’s a double basket that can hold up to 18 grams of ground coffee for a richer and fuller drink.
Just within a minute, the Gaggia Carezza is at brewing temperature, ready for use.
The pre-infusion allows the coffee to bloom, soaking the grounds evenly before brewing full-bodied extraction.
Furthermore, it features an auto shut-off that helps to switch the machine into an idle mode to save energy after nine minutes of inactivity.
Only with the push of a button, this espresso maker will heat up quickly again when it’s needed.
To help keep your coffee hot for a longer time, this unit boast of a heated metallic plate at the top of the machine, which keeps your cups warm.
Also, it comes with an auto-frothing Pannarello wand attachment that makes your cappuccino and lattes velvety and nice with great taste.
Besides, the detachable water tank is larger enough to hold a fairly generous 1.4 liters of liquid. The only problem we had with this machine was its operational quirks, and you can end up with weak, pale cream if you’re not careful about how the grounds are arranged because the tamper is not included.
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What To Look For Before Buying
Mentioned earlier, there are different options available on the market, which makes the buying process a bit tricky.
So, when you want to buy an espresso machine for under $400, there are a few important things you need to consider before making the right choice.
Therefore, we’ve compiled a list in our buying guide below:
Durability
The durability of your espresso machine is an important factor you need to consider before buying it.
Durability helps to determine the functionality of your machine for a long time. You would not want to buy a machine that will develop faults within a short time after purchase.
So, check out its efficiency; a durable espresso maker should be able to work all day without breaking, overheating, or developing faults.
Grinding Capacity
All espresso machines have two main types of grinding, which is either a separate grind or built-in grinder.
Most espresso makers without built-in grinders will surely need a separate grinder, although the high-end machines use to come with a built-in grinder. So, you need to check out for the type of grinding capacity of the machine.
Especially if you have a bunch of people using the machine or you personally brew a lot, make sure you get the one with a higher capacity grinder.
Bars of Pressure
The bars of pressure from the machine determines how fast you can pull a shot, so it is important to also consider the amount of pressure that your machine can offer.
To make a perfect espresso, the water must be forced through the coffee grounds, at least at nine bars of pressure.
You should probably go for something higher than that so that your espresso can be made with a thick crema quickly.
Materials Used
The materials used for the machine’s body construction is also a vital factor you need to consider before buying it.
You should go for a machine made of quality parts such as stainless steel. Machines with plastic components are also good because they’re relatively lighter than the ones with metal parts.
The plastic components are the superficial parts like the water tank or outside of the machine. Other components, like the heating coil or pressure pump, should be made of metal.
Machine Size
If you have limited space in your kitchen, then the size of the machine is crucial. Many of the models on our list are portable with compare sizes. Although the slimmer the machine, the smaller its water tank will be.
Even if you have enough space in your kitchen, you wouldn’t want a unit that will take up a larger space.
So, make sure you check for the size of the machine to know if it’ll fit on your countertops.
Ease of Cleaning
If you’re going to use the machine every day, it will be great if it’s easy to clean. Check if it comes with a front-loading water tank or other removable parts to ensure easy cleaning.
Ease of Use
You must check out if the machine is user-friendly; some machines are very difficult to use, especially if you’re a first-time user.
But, almost all the espresso makers on our list offer an automatic experience that gets everything done with a push of a button so we’ve got you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve got some answers to espresso machine frequently asked questions to get you more acquainted with it.
Coffee is brewed by basically running hot water through the ground up coffee beans. Espresso, on the other hand, is brewed by compelling steam or heated water through super finely ground, pressed, dark roasted coffee beans.
The major difference between the two is that espresso is prepared using steam as well as pressure, drawing out the natural flavors and aroma much more than the regular coffee brewing methods.
The crema will let you know if you’ve made a perfect espresso. There will be a creamy brown foam with a nice fluffy layer on top of the drink.
This crema is the end product that shows that you’ve done a good job.
The cleaning operation of your espresso maker depends solely on the type of machine you have. Most parts of the machine only require wiping it with a damp cloth.
You should be very careful when wiping down the steam wand because there is a high risk of steam burns since it can be clean only when hot. Use the dishwasher only if the manufacturer specifies it.
The portafilter is a device that you place your ground coffee before being placed in the group to brew espresso. It is that filter handle you put your coffee into.
The portafilter has a filter screen usually held by spring; this is called the portafilter basket.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you find resources in our reviews of the espresso machines and a buying guide.
Most importantly, we hope it has helped you find the right espresso maker for your needs.