Top 3 Espresso Machines Under $1200

Espresso machines are often on the top of the wishlist for coffee lovers. We often get the question “which espresso machine do you recommend?” and the answer we always give is that it depends on your budget. Espresso machines can start from a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. So in this article, we are going to give our top 3 recommendations (in no particular order) on the best home espresso machines under $1,200. Let's get started!

1. Gaggia Classic Prestige

Qualities to Highlight:

•  Wooden Accessories — Adds a slightly more premium feel
• 3-way Solenoid Valve — This impressive feature dries out the after extraction to avoid a soupy mess when knocking out the puck. The puck comes out in one piece and makes cleaning up your space after brewing coffee a breeze
• Made in Italy — Gaggia goes way back and is one of the oldest espresso machine makers out there, so you can trust their craftsmanship and reliability

2. Rancilio Silvia M 

Qualities to Highlight:

• The Boiler & Adjustable Brew Pressure — The boiler on the Rancilio Silvia M is made of marine-grade brass and has a considerable volume of 12 oz. Not only that, but you can adjust the brew pressure on the machine via the OPV valve inside the Silvia M
• Powerful Steam Wand — No need to crank up the steam when frothing the milk; the machine handles all the work for you with ease. Another plus is that users can get hot water for americanos and tea straight from the steam wand giving you more beverage options on this machine

3. Bezzera New Hobby

Qualities to Highlight:

• Powerful Steam Wand — Especially useful when you are making lattes and cappuccinos. Many customers have mentioned how easy it is to froth milk with this machine
• Water Reservoir Size — This holds 3L of water which is quite good for a machine of this size. If your espressos are 40mls, then you can make 75 espresso drinks before you need to refill the tank

So there you have it! These are our personal recommendations for getting an espresso machine at home within a reasonable budget. We hope this will be helpful for you on your journey of coffee.

All images are sourced from wholelattelove.