Top Pick for
Manual espresso machine

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Top Pick for
Manual espresso machine
Top Pick for
High-end espresso machine
Top Pick for
Pod espresso machine
Top Pick for
Portable espresso machine
Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on actual customer reviews. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the espresso machines with the highest review score within those parameters.
Espresso machines produce a stronger product than standard coffee makers, which typically make drip or filter coffee. Espresso coffee is the basis for drinks such as a flat white, cappuccino or long black.
If you're looking for a bit more control over your homemade coffee, you might want to consider a manual machine like the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte.
Manual machines typically range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The La Specialista Arte falls on the lower end of this range, with an RRP of $749. However, several retailers offer it for less.
Manual machines are generally meant for the budding barista who likes to grind their own beans and take a hands-on approach to their coffee. And the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte is perfect for this. It includes manual dosing, extraction and tampering as well as different temperature options and ground settings.
Add your favourite roasted beans, select your cup volume and you're off and running. It has a steam wand to help you make a cappuccino or a latte and it automatically adjusts the water temperature after steam.
Here's our full review of the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte.
In the 2021 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 8,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 9 product categories.
For Coffee Machines, DeLonghi was ranked 1 for overall rating, 3 for value for money, 1 for ease of cleaning, 1 for features and functions, 2 for performance.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
The Jura Giga 6 is an ultra-automatic espresso machine with every bell and whistle you could possibly want. It makes 28 different types of coffee and has 2 grinders that can hold 2 different types of beans at once.
Even though it's an automatic machine, the settings are fully customisable, so you can adjust the temperature, foam and strength of your coffee to get your perfect brew each time.
However, the Giga 6 also comes with a very high price tag.
For more information, check out our full review of the Jura Giga 6.
The Wacaco Nanopresso is the best portable espresso machine, with high ratings from customers across eBay and Amazon.
Strong, robust and still lightweight, the Nanopresso holds up to 80mL of water and doesn't require electricity or compressed air; it only needs boiling water and finely ground coffee. Once you add the water and grounds, you simply pump it manually to produce coffee.
At just 15.6cm and 336 grams, it is easy to carry on any trip and all components can be separated for simple cleaning.
It comes with a built-in espresso cup, filter basket and measuring scoop, but you can also purchase an expansion pack called the Barista Kit, which has a larger water tank so you can make a double espresso on the go.
Here's our full review of the Wacaco Nanopresso portable espresso coffee machine.
The Nespresso Creatista Pro from Breville is the top-of-the-range Nespresso machine with all the bells and whistles. While all Nespresso machines extract the coffee in the exact same way, the main difference is that the Creatista Pro comes much closer to approximating barista-quality milk.
So if you're someone who values a top-notch latte, flat white or cappuccino, this is definitely worth considering.
Here's our full review of the Nespresso Creatista Pro.
In the 2021 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 8,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 9 product categories.
For Coffee Machines, Nespresso was ranked 4 for overall rating, 2 for value for money, 3 for ease of cleaning, 2 for features and functions, 1 for performance.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Our choice for the best pod espresso machine is the Nespresso VertuoPlus BNV420.
A common complaint about pod espresso machines is that the capsules are too small to produce a satisfying volume of coffee. The Nespresso VertuoPlus solves that problem, boasting 5 different pod sizes, from espresso to an extra-large alto.
In addition to making delicious coffee, the 1-touch system makes it incredibly easy to use. The Nespresso VertuoPlus also uses centrifusion technology, where the capsule spins at 7,000 rotations per minute. This helps produce a crema or froth, which is another major selling point.
Here's our full review of the Nespresso VertuoPlus. If you're curious about how pod machines compare to bean-based machines, check out our full guide on bean vs pod coffee machines.
In the 2021 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 8,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 9 product categories.
For Coffee Machines, Nespresso was ranked 4 for overall rating, 2 for value for money, 3 for ease of cleaning, 2 for features and functions, 1 for performance.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Not yet rated
It only takes a quick scan of reviews for the Rocket Espresso Giotto range to see why Rocket Espresso had the best overall rating for coffee machine brands in the 2019 Finder Retail Awards. Customers rave about the reliability, minimal cleaning and overall quality of the coffee. More than 1 reviewer plans to pass their machine onto their children!
As you would expect from our pick for the best high-end espresso machine, it comes with a price tag to match, with a recommended retail price of $3,590.
The Rocket Espresso Giotto Cronometro V uses technology typically only found in commercial espresso machines, so you can get that cafe flavour at home. Stability and temperature are controlled with the help of a PID temperature controller, insulated boilers and digital shot timer.
It comes with a stainless steel finish and can either be plumbed to water mains or run from an internal tank.
Finally a good, automatic coffee machine that doesn’t cost the same as a used car.
The Jura S8 makes superior coffee, but no-one is awake enough to deal with the milk system in the morning.
The Z10 is a fully automated coffee machine that makes delicious cold brew in just minutes, but it’s not cheap.
Nespresso’s top of the range coffee machine is excellent and luxurious, despite being $1000 more than the base model that makes the exact same quality coffee.
Very, very good coffee with minimum effort and maximum cost.
This semi-automatic coffee machine is a great option for coffee lovers who like to customise their brew to personal perfection.
The De’Longhi Magnifica S is a great automatic machine with manual elements that coffee lovers will enjoy. But it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models.
Pod coffee is about convenience above all else, but the premium frills of the Lavazza Desea give it an extra degree of convenience.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus is an incredibly simple yet way to achieve great tasting coffee at home as long as you have spare bench space and don’t require a milk frother.
The Nespresso Creatista Plus is a premium pod coffee machine that makes coffee to suit your personal taste, complete with frothing wand and expensive price tag.