8 Best Espresso Machines for Exceptional At-Home Coffee

Best espresso machine for flat white

Nespresso Essenza Mini with Aeroccino Frother

• Price: $$
• Type: capsule
• Size: 4 x 8 x 13 in.
• Color options: white, gray, black, green, red
• Refund policy: 30-day money back guarantee

A flat white is a popular drink made from espresso mixed with steamed milk. It has more espresso than a latte, and no froth — unlike a cappuccino. It’s a fabulous canvas for latte art.

If it’s your fave, you may want a machine that will help you get it right every time — and that’s where the Essenza Mini comes in. It can brew you the perfect shot of espresso from one of the many Nespresso pods available, while the Aeroccino can whip up a perfect microfoam for you at the press of a button.

The only drawback to having anytime access to flat whites is (because you have to buy Nespresso pods) your coffee budget may end up going up instead of down.

Best espresso machine under $200

K-Cafe Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker

• Price: $
• Type: capsule
• Size: 13 x 15 x 12 in.
• Color options: chrome
• Refund policy: 30-day money back guarantee

A Greatist editor fave, this machine clocks in at just under $200, and is the perfect buy if you love your specialty coffee drinks. It’s also a good pick if you live with your boo and want one machine that covers all your fave types of at-home coffee.

It brews single-serve coffee, shots of espresso, and extra-strong brews (for when you need a little extra), and comes with a dishwasher-safe frother to help you easily make all of your faves.

It’s compatible with all K-cups — so you can brew regular coffee pods on the espresso setting or buy stronger espresso pods. (We’ve done both and regular coffee K-cups still make a fire latte.)

The only drawback is that the K-cup pods can get expensive after a while, and a few reviewers say that their machine failed in less than 6 months.