Top Pick for
Manual espresso machine
Best espresso and coffee machines in Australia 2021
We’ve done extensive research, read real customer reviews and drank hundreds of cups of coffee to choose the 6 best espresso machines in Australia for a range of budgets.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Top Pick for
High-end espresso machine
Top Pick for
Pod espresso machine
Top Pick for
Portable espresso machine
How did we pick this list?
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.
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte
Best manual espresso machine
Finder Score:
★★★★★Pros
- Excellent customisation to get your coffee right for you
- Good option for someone with a bit of experience
- Very sleek and professional looking
Cons
- Pricey
- Bit of a learning curve for absolute beginners
- It takes longer than an automatic machine, which you might not love if you’re impatient
Why we chose it
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.
Jura Giga 6
Best high-end automatic espresso machine
Finder Score:
★★★★★Pros
- Can make 28 different types of coffee
- Includes 2 grinders and can hold 2 different types of beans at once
- Coffee settings are extremely customisable
Cons
- Very expensive
- Heavy and somewhat bulky
- Not the most stylish design
Why we chose it
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.
Wacaco Nanopresso
Best portable espresso machine
Finder Score:
★★★★★Pros
- Espresso everywhere
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
Cons
- A lot of effort for a fairly small shot of coffee
- Cleaning isn't fun
- Price may not suit everyone
Why we chose it
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.
Nespresso Creatista Pro
Best for cafe-quality milk
Finder Score:
★★★★★Pros
- The milk is so silky I want to wear it as a robe
- Easy to create custom drinks
- Can prepare coffee and milk at the same time
- Heats up much faster than other models
Cons
- It’s $1,250
- Sliding bar for choosing how much water to put in a coffee doesn’t give measurements
- Doesn’t automatically clear the pod from the chamber
Why we chose it
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.
Nespresso VertuoPlus
Best pod espresso machine
Finder Score:
★★★★★Pros
- Makes a delicious-tasting coffee
- Easy-to-use 1-touch system
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Takes up a bit of kitchen bench space
- No milk frother included
- You have to commit to a unique system of Nespresso pods
Why we chose it
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.
Rocket Giotto Cronometro V
Best high-end espresso machine
Not yet rated
Pros
- Commercial espresso machine technology
- Long-term reliability
Cons
- Doesn't come with a coffee grinder
- At almost 28kg, it's not easy to move around
Why we chose it
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.
Amazon prices last updated on 6 December, 2021 at 10:01 am
Methodology
- Our editorial team researched and reviewed hundreds of brands and products from a wide variety of websites.
- Each product was cross-checked to ensure similar ratings, reviews and experiences had been documented from a variety of sources.
- The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
How to compare espresso machines
- Temperature controls. If you like your coffee piping hot, be sure to check the temperature options before making a purchase.
- Grinder. If a coffee machine doesn't come with 1, you are looking at an additional expense.
- Water tank. Will it be large enough to suit your needs?
- Size and weight. Is your kitchen big enough and is the machine light enough to move it around?
- Cleaning. How often will you need to clean your machine and is it difficult to do so?
Read more on this topic
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Jura Z10 review: The world’s first hot and cold brew automatic espresso machine
The Z10 is a fully automated coffee machine that makes delicious cold brew in just minutes, but it’s not cheap.
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Nespresso Creatista Pro review: Turns out you can put a price on barista-quality milk
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.
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De’Longhi PrimaDonna Soul review: Almost as delicious as it is expensive
Very, very good coffee with minimum effort and maximum cost.
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De’Longhi La Specialista Arte review: Control your cup of morning brown
This semi-automatic coffee machine is a great option for coffee lovers who like to customise their brew to personal perfection.
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De’Longhi Magnifica S review: A great compact coffee machine for the home
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.
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Lavazza Desea review: Premium coffee pod machine
Pod coffee is about convenience above all else, but the premium frills of the Lavazza Desea give it an extra degree of convenience.
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Nespresso VertuoPlus: Cafe-style coffee at the push of a button
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.
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Nespresso Creatista Plus review: Superior cafe-style coffee
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.
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Lavazza Jolie Plus review: Simple but slow pod coffee
The Lavazza Jolie Plus provides a tasty cup of coffee for a pod machine, although it's not particularly quick.
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Wacaco Nanopresso review: Get portable espresso anywhere you can boil water
The Wacaco Nanopresso is an incredible feat of design that will deliver delicious espresso coffee in the most remote of locations, though you will have to work for it.
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