Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601UK
Our score: 8.2/10 out of 102 L tank · 37 cm tall · Automatic steam wand milk system
Espresso machines
An espresso machine leaves the grinding, dosing and tamping to you, or helps with some of it. That takes practice, and in return you control every shot. The big splits are whether a grinder is built in, how fast it heats up, the portafilter size (54 or 58 mm decides which baskets and tampers fit) and whether the steam wand textures milk for you or by hand.
Before you buy
- Budget for a grinder. Without a built-in grinder you need fresh, fine-ground coffee. Dual-wall baskets forgive supermarket ground coffee; single-wall baskets need a proper grinder.
- Check the portafilter size. Sage's Bambino and Barista Express machines use 54 mm baskets and the Oracle Jet 58 mm. Tampers, baskets and seals are sold by size.
- Plan for upkeep. Expect a tablet cleaning cycle every few hundred shots (Sage asks every 200), regular descaling, water filter changes and a group seal that wears out.
Not sure an espresso machine is for you? Which coffee machine should you buy? sets it against bean-to-cup, pod and filter machines.
Top picks
-
Best overall
Sage the Barista Express Impress
Built-in grinder plus assisted tamping that corrects the next dose
- 2 L tank
- 2-yr warranty
- 41 cm tall
-
Best for milk drinks
Sage the Bambino Plus
Hands-free milk texturing with three temperatures and three foam levels
- 1.9 L tank
- 2-yr warranty
- 30.4 cm tall
-
Best premium
Sage the Oracle Jet
Automatic grind, dose and tamp plus hands-free milk on a 58 mm group
- 2.3 L tank
- 2-yr warranty
- Automatic steam wand milk system
More machines
4 machines, sorted by our score
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB
Our score: 7.8/10 out of 101.7 L tank · 2-yr warranty · 40 cm tall
De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685.M
Our score: 7.5/10 out of 101.1 L tank · 2-yr warranty · 30.5 cm tall
De’Longhi Stilosa EC260.BK
Our score: 7.1/10 out of 101 L tank · 2-yr warranty · 28.5 cm tall
Espresso machines questions
Do I need a separate grinder?
Only if the machine has none built in and you want to grind fresh beans. The Bambino Plus has dual-wall baskets for pre-ground coffee, and the Dedica and Stilosa take ground coffee or E.S.E. pods. A model with a grinder, such as the Barista Express Impress, saves buying one.
What size tamper and milk jug do I need?
Match the tamper to the portafilter: 54 mm for Sage's Bambino and Barista Express machines, 58 mm for the Oracle Jet. Sage sells its stainless milk jug as a separate part.
How long does an espresso machine take to heat up?
Sage says its ThermoJet machines, such as the Bambino Plus, are ready in about 3 seconds. Thermoblock and boiler machines take longer, and not every maker states a time.
How often should I clean and descale it?
Run the back-flush cleaning cycle with a tablet when the machine asks; the Bambino Plus asks every 200 shots. Descale when the descale light comes on: Sage suggests every 60 to 90 days in hard water, and a new water filter every three months.
What does the bar figure mean?
It is the pump's rating as the maker states it, usually 15 or 19 bar. Espresso is brewed at a lower pressure than that, so a higher figure doesn't mean better coffee. We show it but don't rank machines on it.
Which parts wear out?
The silicone seal around the shower screen wears and needs replacing; Sage sells it as a spare and the manual shows how to fit it. Water filters, cleaning tablets and descaler are the regular consumables.
Espresso guides
- The best espresso machines for home: picks with and without a grinder, for beginners, milk drinks and small budgets.
- Compact coffee machines that fit under kitchen cupboards: the smallest machines of each type, sorted by height.
- How to descale a coffee machine in a hard-water area, and how often.
Other types of machine: bean-to-cup machines, pod machines and filter coffee machines.