Shopping for a home espresso machine can be a nightmare. But the good news is that the quality of these coffee makers increases with 500 dollars budget. For the price tag, you get more high-end features, better espresso quality, and more freedom when it comes to making coffee.

After all, you don’t want to spend a fortune on a home espresso maker that’s not built to last and is constantly causing you issues. After long research and personal experience, I’ve listed the top espresso machines under 500.

There are numerous options out there, but to ease your research, have a look at this detailed review to help ease your decision and find the best machine for your needs.

[su_note note_color=”#fcf7e6″]When you buy a product via the links on IlCappuccinoExpress.com, I may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.[/su_note]

What is the best espresso machine under 500?

Best espresso machines under 500

Breville BES840XL the Infuser Espresso Machine With Grinder – Best Overall

Breville the Infuser is one of the most popular espresso machines on the market and one of my favorite picks on this list. It packs numerous features that aren’t easily found in this price range. That’s why will Infuser easily satisfy even the more demanding espresso lovers on a daily basis.

When I first set my hands on the Infuser, it was exciting to discover all the features that would daily elevate shots of espresso, making it a solid home machine for the espresso. Breville automatically adjusts water temperature after steaming, making sure of the optimal extraction temperature of espresso.

What’s more, the machine is excellent for beginners and more serious brewers since it allows you to fully automatize the process of brewing if you so desire. If not, use your knowledge to pull an espresso.

Another unique feature of this machine is the dry puck feature. That means it removes excess water from the ground coffee in the filter basket, allowing for a cleaner and mess-free disposal of the grounds. Last but not least, it enables you to monitor the pressure during the extraction process and the froth want swivels so that you can use it with pitchers of various sizes.

Pros

• Standard 15-bar pressure
• Flexible shot control
• Auto-purge function
• 61oz removable water tank
• Removable drip tray
• PID technology
• Stainless-steel portafilter
• 54mm tamper
• Dry puck feature
• 360-steam wand for microfoam

Cons

• No built-in grinder

Breville is a well-designed and built all-in-one (almost) home espresso maker. It’s a top pick with consumers and it’s one of my favorite machines as well. With its various and well-designed features, it’s able to pull delicious and creamy shots of espresso. It’s an excellent option for beginners and those more experienced alike since it can be programmable if you so desire. The only disadvantage is its lack of grinder, but that’s not really a minus after all. The brewer packs amazing features for the price range. With a few bucks extra you can invest in a solid coffee grinder and use it for other types of coffee you brew at home.

Specifications: 12.5 x 12.5 x 13.2 inches, weighs 17 pounds, with 110 to120 V, and 1700 Watt.

Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine – Best Entry-Level

For a home espresso machine, Gaggia Classic is one of the best entry-level models available. This is a semi-automatic classic espresso maker with a combo of features and commercial components that make this brewer a real machine and not a kitchen appliance.

When I first considered Gaggia it was because I was looking for a solid espresso maker but didn’t want to spend too much on it. I wanted something simple yet effective that would deliver on all levels. after detailed research and a few test runs, I decided to buy Gaggia Pro. I have worked with commercial espresso machines before but I was really surprised when I tried this machine. It’s meant for home use, but it warms up fast, it pulls a high-quality espresso, and what I loved most was the microfoam I was able to make every time. I’m not a fan of big bubbles in my milk, so getting a creamy silky texture is important.

Gaggia Pro is a solid all-in-one espresso maker that’ll easily enable you to save money in the long run. It uses ESE pods as well as ground coffee. While it has a slight learning curve, there are plenty of videos online to demonstrate how to use it.

This machine allows you to make different types of espresso-based drinks, from tasty lattes to creamy cappuccinos, and my favorite, rich macchiato. It’s an excellent alternative to espresso makers in the higher price range.

Pros

• Single and double shot
• Stainless steel housing
• Brass portafilters
• Compatible pods and ground coffee
• Heats up fast
• 72oz removable water reservoir
• Commercial steam wand (for microfoam)

Cons

• Sharp drip tray

You’ve probably already spent more money on cheap coffee makers and a daily dose of caffeine from your local coffee shop. Gaggia is bound to minimize those expenses and provide you with delicious espresso day after day. For best effects, get a tamper of higher quality if this one doesn’t work for you. Since it’s an espresso machine, it requires regular maintenance if you want it to work for years to come. Overall, Gaggia Pro is a solid home espresso maker that’s excellent value for money.

Specifications: 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches, it weighs 20 pounds with 110 voltage, and works on 1450 Watt

Breville Nespresso Creatista Single Serve Espresso Machine – Best for Single Serve

For a stylish espresso maker that packs impressive features, Nespresso Creatista is an excellent package. This espresso maker can pill a single-serve espresso without being too demanding. With the attached milk frother, this coffee little machine can easily turn you into your own personal barista, whipping high-quality lattes and cappuccinos in no time.

Nespresso machine allows you to choose a shingle shot or an espresso-based drink with one touch of a button; ristretto, espresso, and lungo, apart from cappuccino, flat white, latte, latte macchiato, and milk froth. The machine enables you to choose from different settings to fully adjust the amount of coffee, milk temperature and texture with auto frothing.

Since it’s a single-serve machine and an automatic one, it can be perfect for an office or a dorm since it’s quite small and doesn’t take up much space. You can make latte art wherever you feel like it because it’s excellent for milk-based coffee drinks especially with the variety of settings and options.

 

Pros

• 10-seconds heat-up
• Removable drip tray
• 50oz removable water tank
• Auto-purge steam wand
• 4 milk texture levels
• Milk temperature setting
• Automatic frothing
• Comes with a milk jug
• 2-year warranty

Cons

• Coffee pods are pricy

This is a compact machine, great for small kitchens or work areas also because it has an automatic shutoff. Nespresso Creatista wants you to get started with their machine since they give a welcome gift to each new buyer. Keep in mind the machine only uses coffee pods, but the machine is easy to clean and if you’re a novice to espresso without a will to learn coffee chemistry, this is an excellent brewer that will allow you to save money and enjoy every shot of espresso you pull. This coffee maker is especially suitable for milky coffee lovers: you’ll be able to get creamy lattes and cappuccinos whenever you desire!

Specifications: 13 x 5.9 x 11.9 inches, weighs 10.9 pounds, with 110V.

Gaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine – Best Automatic Machine

Another Gaggia on the list, Brera is a super-automatic espresso machine that has a few features more than Gaggia Classic for about the same cost. They both look classy and stylish, making any coffee station seem professional.

I have had a chance to pull many shots with Brera and it’s a great alternative to its sister since it’s automatic. You don’t need any extra gadgets for this machine as it comes with an inbuilt ceramic burr grinder with 5 settings.

I was surprised by how fully programmable this machine is. The pre-infusion function allows coffee to bloom, which results in a higher-quality espresso. The frothing wand works also as a hot water dispenser, ideal for an americano and tea.

Brera is another espresso machine that needs regular maintenance with descaling.

Pros

• Pre-infusion function
• Contains a ceramic burr grinder
• Programmable brewing
• User-friendly
• Hot water dispenser
• 40oz removable water reservoir
• Adjustable cup sizes
• Two colors available
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• Only one boiler

While you won’t be able to steam milk and pull a shot of espresso at the same time, Brera is an excellent option for those who’re set on getting an automatic Gaggia machine.  It’s a user-friendly and solid espresso maker that’s perfect for a smaller household. It comes with auto shut-off and it’s an excellent entry-level automatic maker, straightforward to use and clean as well.

Specifications: 10 x 15.5 x 11.5 inches, weighs 22 pounds, is 120V, and works with 1400 Watt

De’Longhi America Lattissima Pro Espresso Machine – Best for Easy Use

For people who want their coffee with minimal/zero complications, Delonghi America is a solid espresso maker that’s pod-based. The plus? Pods are recyclable, they save you the hassle of weighing and grinding coffee. The pods can guarantee that the coffee will always taste the same. This is not a machine for picky espresso drinkers!

You can choose your favorite drink from 6 pre-programmed beverages (espresso, lungo, ristretto, latte, cappuccino, and hot milk). The machine is easy to use and with a modern design, it’ll look stylish on any cupboard or even office!

Latttissima is a practical espresso maker that well-built and compact. You can easily store 16 Nespresso pods in a container behind the drip tray. What’s more, you can store the unused milk in a milk container instead of wasting it.

This is definitely not a machine for everyone, but it will make you happy day after day with creamy lattes and ease of use.

Pros

• Easy to use with touchscreen panel
• 6 pre-programmed beverages
• 19-bar pressure
• Stainless steel body
• Auto-cleaning milk carafe
• Recyclable coffee capsules
• Quick to heat up

Cons

• Expensive pods
• Not for everyone

Delonghi Lattissima is a machine with a strong startup and a strong finish. It heats up fast and the machine is very intuitive to use. There aren’t any seriously long learning curves to figure out its settings. It’s a one-touch espresso maker that it’s simple and straightforward. The coffee pods are slightly more expensive, but you’re saving the hassle of buying a tamper, an espresso grinder, a scale, and other equipment to make the perfect espresso at home.

Specifications: 10.8 x 7.6 x 13 inches, weighs 12.6 pounds, 120V.

Best Espresso Machines Under 500: A Recap

With the $500 budget, the espresso machines for home use upgrade the quality, features, and the experience of the beverages they’re making. The inexpensive espresso machines are more often than not made of plastic, whereas in this price range you can be looking at stainless steel and other qualities that improve your daily shot (with a few exceptions though, this one seems to be completely made of plastic even though it’s pricy!).

There are automatic and semi-automatic brewers available and you can choose what suits your needs and level of experience best. Also, some machines come with a learning curve, while others can be much more straightforward, targeting an average home barista who doesn’t like to get involved with the coffee chemistry too much.

After detailed research, personal experience, reading online reviews, and Reddit, I’ve compiled a list of top espresso makers for a $500 budget. All of the machines listed above are solid quality that won’t disappoint, but keep in mind that espresso machines need regular care to keep producing that fragrant cup of espresso day after day.

There is one espresso machine that stands out on the list. It’s well built with a wide array of features that aren’t too common to brewers in this price range. Breville the Infuser Espresso Machine is an impressive espresso maker that’s a bestseller for a reason. I was a bit skeptical to buy it at first, but it has been one of the most rewarding espresso makers that I’ve owned.

It has one of the best pre-infusion functions for the money. That means it pulls a high-quality shot of espresso because it enables the grounds to bloom first for maximum extraction. What’s more, it controls the temperature of the water constantly with PID technology and provides enough pressure to produce a thick and strong espresso shot with crema and rich flavor.

What I really like about this machine is the dry puck feature; the less mess a machine makes, the better! The Infuser removes excess water from the grounds in the filter basket, making them easier to dispose of. Additionally, the 360-swivel steam wand enables you easy frothing that can be used with various-sized steaming pitchers, producing creamy microfoam for all types of espresso-based drinks.

[su_divider top=”no” style=”double” divider_color=”#272423″ link_color=”#ffffff”]

Recommended Reading

[su_list icon=”icon: coffee” indent=”19″]

• 13 Best Coffee Mugs To Keep Coffee Hot
• Best Low Acid Coffee Beans (Say Goodbye To Tummy Pain)
• 10 Best Coffee Creamers and Alternatives (with Recipes)
• 15 Delicious Winter Coffee Drinks You Must Try This Season
• Best Colombian Coffee Brands: Insight Into World’s Best Coffee
• Best Espresso Machines Under $600 For Home 

[/su_list]