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Top 10
Splurge-worthy machines from Breville, JURA, Rancilio, Lelit and La Marzocco.
By the New Coffee Makers editors · Updated
Quick answer: The best luxury espresso machine for most people is the Breville Oracle Jet ($1,999.95), which automates grinding, tamping and milk while still pulling a real portafilter shot. If you want true push-button convenience choose the JURA E8; hobbyists should look at the Breville Dual Boiler, Rancilio Silvia Pro X or Lelit Bianca V3, and the La Marzocco Linea Micra is the café-grade splurge.
Above $1,000 you are paying for consistency, dual boilers, sturdier parts and, on superautomatics, real convenience. Manual machines here usually need a separate high-quality grinder; the Breville Oracle models, De'Longhi Maestro and the superautomatics have one built in.
Best overall luxury
Breville
Breville's automatic manual machine grinds, doses, tamps and textures milk for you while still pulling a true portafilter shot. For people who want café-quality drinks without learning barista skills.
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Best touchscreen luxury
Breville
A dual-boiler machine with automatic grinding, tamping and milk texturing, run from a swipe-and-select touchscreen. Ideal for households making several milk drinks at once.
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Best for enthusiasts
Breville
Separate boilers let you brew and steam at the same time with precise temperature control. A favorite of hobbyists who pair it with a quality standalone grinder.
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Best for hot and cold drinks
De'Longhi
A superautomatic that makes hot cappuccinos and cold foam drinks alike, with dozens of one-touch recipes. Perfect for iced-latte fans who want café variety at home.
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Best hands-on De'Longhi
De'Longhi
A manual machine with a built-in grinder, smart tamping and an automatic milk wand. For people who enjoy making espresso by hand but want help with the fiddly parts.
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Best Swiss superautomatic
JURA
JURA's popular all-rounder makes espresso, cappuccino and long coffees at the touch of a button with very little upkeep. Best for offices and busy homes that value reliability and simplicity.
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Best compact luxury
JURA
A slim, design-forward superautomatic that fits under cabinets and still makes milk drinks with one touch. Great for smaller kitchens where looks matter.
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Best Italian dual boiler
Rancilio
The famous Silvia rebuilt with dual boilers and precise temperature control, built from commercial-grade parts. For buyers who want a machine that lasts for years and can be serviced.
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Best for flow profiling
Lelit
A dual-boiler machine with a wooden paddle that lets you control water flow during the shot. The pick for serious hobbyists who love experimenting with light roasts.
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Best café-grade machine
La Marzocco
A scaled-down version of La Marzocco's café machines, with app control and seven colors. The ultimate splurge for coffee lovers who want a commercial pedigree on the counter.
If you drink espresso or milk drinks every day, a machine over $1,000 typically delivers more consistent temperature, faster back-to-back drinks and a longer service life. Occasional drinkers are usually well served by a machine under $1,000.
A dual boiler machine has one boiler for brewing and another for steam, so you can pull a shot and froth milk at the same time, each at its ideal temperature.
Some do: the Breville Oracle Jet and Oracle Touch, the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro, and superautomatics like the JURA E8 and De'Longhi Eletta Explore. The Breville Dual Boiler, Rancilio Silvia Pro X, Lelit Bianca and La Marzocco Linea Micra need a separate grinder.
Superautomatics such as the JURA E8, JURA ENA 8 and De'Longhi Eletta Explore are the easiest, making drinks at the push of a button. The Breville Oracle Jet is the easiest machine that still uses a traditional portafilter.
We chose current, widely sold models with strong buyer reviews and expert coverage. We didn't test these machines ourselves. Prices are the lowest list price we found on the maker's or a specialist retailer's own product page, and change often. Ratings appear only where the seller publishes them; we don't show Amazon prices or ratings.
Photos are Creative Commons images from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one and on our photo credits page; where no licensed photo exists we show an illustration.