Who Makes the Absolute Best Espresso Machines?

So, who makes the absolute best espresso machines? I would love to tell you, but it’s not quite that easy. You see there are four types of espresso machine and within each of these four types there are a number of popular manufacturer and also maybe a hundred or so actual models.

Another problem with the idea of finding the absolute best espresso machines is this. How do you rank them? Is a Mr. Coffee 4-shot machine for $64 necessarily inferior to a DeLonghi Magnifica for $750? That’s kind of like comparing a Porsche to a Ford Taurus. Sure, everybody knows a Porsche is better than a Ford Taurus. That is everyone except millions of Taurus drivers who would have to walk if a Porsche was the only thing they could buy.

So, price range has a lot to do with the absolute best espresso machines. But not, perhaps, in the way you might think. What I’m saying is the absolute best espresso machines don’t necessarily cost more money.

Okay, if money’s not an option, then the Mr. Coffee is not going to be the best. It’s a steam driven machine and the espresso that comes from this type, usually, is watery and just not the best. Is the DeLonghi Magnifica the overall best, regardless of money? Well, let me tell you, it makes one heck of a cup of espresso. But then again, so do a number of other machines.

So, it’s not just the taste of the espresso that comes from the absolute best espresso machines that counts. Shouldn’t ease of use count for something? If so, then kudos again go to the DeLonghi machine, again. If not, and if it doesn’t matter than you have to spend a few weeks perfecting how you grind the beans, for instanct, then the DeLonghi machine has a lot of company. From Krups, for instance.

Either way, the absolute best espresso machines are not absolute. They’re relative to you and your needs and your budget. Once you figure out what you want the machine for, how much time you have to devote to the science and art of espresso making, and how much money you want to spend, then perhaps, you can get a bead on the best over all machine.