Best Latte Machine – Our Reviews and Top Picks

Love a rich, foamy latte or cappuccino but cringe at the $4+ price at your favorite coffee shop? Yeah, us too—which is why we’ve compiled this list of the best latte machines for creating your own specialty coffee drinks at home.

There’s a lot to consider when buying a latte machine—automatic vs manual, steam wand vs auto-steamer, capsules vs grounds—and it can get pretty overwhelming. But don’t let the complexities of the equipment stop you from living your dream of making lattes at home.

Let’s find you a stellar machine that’ll fit your needs.

Picking The Right Latte Machine - Buying Guide

Let’s be honest: picking a great latte machine isn’t easy. There are hundreds of equipment options, dozens of features to look out for, and a lot to consider in the way of speed and convenience.

That’s why we made this list—to simplify the process for you. But if you’re in need of some extra information before you make a choice, here are some things you should keep in mind to help land on the perfect machine for your home.

Control vs Convenience

This is probably the biggest factor to consider. Some latte machines do it all for you, but others require manual setup, shot pulling, and steaming. How involved do you want your daily espresso to be?

Enthusiasts who want to learn the craft will love semi-automatic machines. These are full DIY machines that offer complete control over the coffee grounds, shot timer, and steam wand.

After speed and convenience instead? You can’t beat super-automatics when it comes to simplicity. Most of them take care of every single step, so all you have to do is select your desired drink and press a button.

Built-In Grinder

Both semi-automatics and super-automatics can come with a built-in grinder. These are pretty handy, saving you from the expense of an additional piece of gear. They also save you counter space. However, many people like to have two separate pieces of gear because it will allow them to upgrade each device separately in the future.

Price

Ultimately, it comes down to what you can reasonably afford. Semi-automatics are simpler machines with heavy-duty internals. Super-automatics are far more complicated (understandably, they do everything for you), and often end up more expensive to purchase and repair. Do what you’re comfortable with, and make sure to leave room in the budget for an espresso grinder if needed.

Best Latte Machines 2020 - Our Top 7 Picks and Reviews

We hope you got a better idea on choosing a latte machine. Let's see what are our top picks and detailed reviews. 

Jump into our quick comparison table before we get started.

Let's delve into the latte machine reviews one by one.

Home espresso machines vary a lot in features, build quality, and price tag, but this Breville BES870XL machine consistently gets high marks from casual users and pro baristas. It’s possibly the best mixture of function, design, and value you can find, which is why it’s our top pick.

It’s a semi-automatic machine, which means you have full control over the espresso shot timer and grind size. There’s nothing stopping you back from ‘dialing in’ to your perfect espresso.

The internal mechanics back you up in this.

 The thermocoil heating system keeps everything a steady temperature and pressure, taking the guesswork out of pulling great shots consistently.

The 360° steam wand is what really seals the deal. The professional tip makes steaming milk smooth and fast—a much more controlled and consistent experience compared to smaller, cheaper devices.

Lattes at home don’t have to require tinkering with an espresso machine for weeks to master the milk steaming process.

There’s certainly a learning curve there, but the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista simplifies this by automating the milk frothing process.

The one-touch control panel allows you to choose the drink you’d like to make—espresso, cappuccino, or latte—and once you’ve added your coffee grounds and milk, the machine does the rest. No guesswork or learning curve required!

Capable of spending a pretty penny and want an espresso machine with features and a built to match the price?

The semi-automatic Breville Dual Boiler is a stunning option, featuring an LCD display, full control over the espresso shot, a 360° steam wand, and electronic PID that keeps the water at a precise temperature in two boilers.

Having dual boilers ensures you’re never low on hot pressurized water for espresso or milk steaming, which means you can pull shots and steam milk at the same time—a feature no other latte machine on this list has.

The Rancilio Silvia has a bit of a cult following among coffee professionals. They love it for its reliable temperature stability, durable mechanics, and simple design. The running joke is that this machine could survive the apocalypse!

As a semi-automatic machine, it gives you full control over both the espresso and steamed milk, which tends to come out super smooth and creamy. And thanks to the powerful internals, the quality of the espresso tends to be much higher than cheaper alternatives.

Another notable feature is the larger than normal water capacity—12oz in the boiler and 64oz in the reservoir—plenty for several shots back-to-back!

Love the simplicity and flavor of Nespresso capsules? This fully automated latte maker is an excellent, high-powered alternative to other pod-based espresso makers.

All you do is add your capsule, tap the drink you’d like the machine to make, and watch the magic happen. The machine will begin by pulling a rich, balanced shot. It’ll continue by dosing the perfect amount of milk, frothing it according to your drink selection, and dispensing it over the espresso.

The large water reservoir and powerful water heater mean there’s zero wait time between drinks—a pretty impressive accomplishment with such a small device.

The biggest draw to the Nespresso Lattissima Plus is its simplicity and convenience. It’s great for coffee lovers who don’t want to fuss with pulling shots every morning but still want a reliably tasty drink when they’re low on time.

Once you’re in the $100-200 price range, espresso machines get pretty weak and flimsy—but this DeLonghi EC702 really stands out as the best-in-class budget option.

Despite being very affordable, it features a 15-bar pump that pulls great espresso, can use both coffee grounds and E.S.E. pods, and makes barista-level frothed milk in seconds.

The point of this machine is that’s extremely easy to use, offering fast and delicious espresso drinks with just a couple button presses.

And thanks to the 44oz water tank and fast-heating pump, it’s capable of pulling several shots back-to-back, which is pretty uncommon at this price range.

All super-automatic espresso machines are fast and convenient, but the DeLonghi Magnifica is a particularly top performer when it comes to espresso flavor and steamed milk quality.

One unique feature is that this machine, while being super-automatic, actually features a manual steam wand. This allows you to learn the techniques of milk steaming, giving you a pretty significant amount of control. If you’re not feeling the manual frothing, however, the device also features an automatic mode that’ll give you smooth steamed milk for you.

When you consider the built-in grinder, super fast water heater, and beautiful design, it’s hard to find a super-automatic machine that matches this one in terms of value per dollar.

Frequently called the best entry-level semi-automatic espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic is a great buy for newcomers to the world of making lattes at home. With full control over the espresso shots and milk steaming, you’ll have all the power you need to become a skilled home barista.

This prestige is largely due to the 3-way solenoid valve, which is a key element required to pull high-quality shots in the same way that commercial-level machines do. With this machine, you can actually make espresso drinks the same way pro baristas do—just with a smaller machine, of course.

The steam wand is very effective for the price point, rivaling the higher-priced latte machines of this list.

It also comes with a ‘turbo-frother’ attachment that helps simplify the steaming process for when you’re low on time or energy.

Overall, the Gaggia Classic is a rather simple device. Power, but simple. There aren’t many extra features, but the key is that you can rely on the internals (the things that really matter) to work very well for years to come.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Here are some answers to the top ones we get. Hopefully these iron out any final concerns you have.

1. Which machine is easiest to clean?

Super-automatics often have a self-cleaning function that works well and is convenient. It’s hard to beat self-cleaning! Cleaning a semi-automatic machine is more of a hands-on process, but the benefit is that you have full control and can clean extra deep if needed.

2. Is it hard to learn to pull great espresso shots?

Espresso is just like any other skill: it takes some time and practice to really get the hang of it. It’s not hard, per se, but with a semi-automatic latte machine, it’d be wise to remember to enjoy the journey of learning how espresso works (and, of course, check out our brewing guides​).

3. Are there any essential accessories I need to budget for?

Absolutely! A grinder is the big one, but you’ll also need a tamper, knock box for used grounds, a shot glass (or small mug), and a milk pitcher for steaming milk. Most latte machines include some of these things, but not all—so make sure you’re aware of what’s included with each device and what’s not.

We’re thrilled for you to get into great lattes at home, but which machine will you go with? Which has captured your imagination? We’d love to know—tell us in the comments below!