Best Espresso Machine Under $500

After testing several budget-friendly options, my team and I discovered that it’s possible to find excellent espresso machines for under $500 that offer great performance without sacrificing flavor.

In this roundup, we share our reviews of the 2 best espresso machines in this price range (instead of the usual 10-15 which makes things even more complicated for you!) that strike a balance between affordability, ease of use, and great results.

So if you’re looking to find the best of the best for under $500, read on to get all the information necessary (PS: our top pick will blow your mind)!

How We Conduct Our Reviews

Finding the best espresso machine under $500 involves careful evaluation of performance, build quality, user-friendliness, and customer satisfaction.

Here at the Espressoverse, we use specific criteria to select the top models within this price range. Here is what we look for:

Build Quality – We prioritize machines made from durable materials like stainless steel or aluminum, which provide both longevity and heat stability.

Heating System – We look for machines that heat up fast, can maintain the temperature while brewing and don’t take too much time to switch between brewing and steaming.

User-Friendliness – We assess the ease of use, and controls, favoring machines that are easy to operate for an average user.

Brewing Quality – We look for machines that can generate at least 9 bars of pressure and maintain a stable brewing temperature, for rich, flavorful shots.

Milk Frothing – For milk-based drinks, we evaluate steam wands for their ability to create creamy microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos.

Maintainance – We prioritize machines that are easy to clean and maintain without any special tools or knowledge.

So with all these in mind, here are two machines that won us in the under $500 category:

Breville Bambino – Best Overall

Typically, lower-priced machines are poorly constructed and, most importantly, they don’t produce good-quality coffee, which ultimately, you will agree with us, leads to a waste of money.

Luckily, the Breville Bambino is a rare exception!

If you’re looking to get the best performance for your dollar, the Bambino is hands down our top pick in this category, and here’s why.

Here is our bit more in-depth experience with Breville Bambino.

Build Quality – 4/5

Finding a sturdy espresso machine under $500 is hard, almost impossible. You’ll agree that it is a reasonable expectation that most of the machines in this range use low-quality materials.

Well, Bambino from Breville’s workshop truly excels in this area. This little guy is made mostly out of stainless steel components with very few plastic parts. It looks and feels like a high-quality machine.

Meaning, it’ll last for years if you take good care of it!

Most importantly, due to the high-quality materials used in the construction of the machine, it can maintain the optimal temperature while brewing, ultimately leading to high-quality and consistent espresso shots.

But a high-quality build is just the beginning when it comes to great things about Bambino. Here is what else I liked about it.

Heating System – 4/5

One of its biggest selling points of Bambino is the Thermojet heating system.

Most machines under $500 use outdated Thermoblock heating systems, which take a while to warm up and can be somewhat unstable in terms of temperature control.

With the Bambino, that is not the case. Thanks to this brand-new, and unique Thermojet heating element, you’re ready to brew in just 3 seconds!

Imagine waking up, and before you’ve even finished your first big morning yawn, the Bambino is already heated up and ready to brew a delicious espresso to help you start your day!

Moreover, the Thermojet heating system, combined with high-quality materials, and PID (digital) temperature controller, allows for more precise temperature while brewing, ensuring that the quality of your brew is superb every time.

This is something I guarantee you CAN’T find in other machines in this price range.

The only downside is that Bambino uses a single boiler, which means you can’t brew coffee and steam milk simultaneously. However, it switches between the two operations quickly, so it’s not a major issue.

User-Friendliness – 5/5

I am amazed at how easy it is to make high-quality espresso with Breville Bambino. In other words, you don’t need to be a trained barista to consistently pull great espresso shots with this machine.

The machine has two pre-programmed buttons: one for a single shot and one for a double shot. The benefit of this feature is that it eliminates the trial and error involved in brewing a perfect shot of espresso, which is often the case with most machines in the under $500 category (and even some more expensive ones!).

That said, the Bambino is simple and intuitive it is to operate. Just load the portafilter, lock it in place, press the button for either a single or double shot and wait about 24 seconds for your coffee to complete.

For added flexibility, both buttons are programmable, allowing you to customize settings like shot volume if you feel more adventurous or want a more customized approach to making your espresso to suit your preferences.

Brewing Quality – 4/5

When it comes to espresso quality, the most important area we review, the Breville Bambino is one of the few machines in this price range that consistently delivers great results.

In the end, that is why it ended up number one on our list here.

I have already mentioned how its build quality, heating system, PID controller and programmable brewing feature contribute to brewing perfect espresso shots every time, right? There is one more feature that placed Bambino at the top of the tops.

You see, most machines in this price range when brewing espresso simply splash the beans with boiling water at 15 bars, without any control, often leading to a burnt taste and consistently bad coffee.

Not the Breville Bambino!

Thanks to its low-pressure pre-infusion system, which gently soaks the coffee grounds before applying idea 9 bars of pressure, the espresso comes out silky smooth and rich in flavor – exactly what you are looking for in an espresso machine under $500, right?

This feature, combined with everything I mentioned earlier, ensures that you get a superb-quality espresso every time, even if you are a complete newbie.

So, if you’re looking for an espresso machine that can rival your favorite local coffee shop, look no further – Breville Bambino is it!

Of course, there is always room for improvement in this area. However, for around $500, you are getting superb espresso quality that, in our opinion, no other machine in this price range can rival without the addition of special aids like PID control.

Milk Frothing – 4/5

In the mood for a latte or cappuccino?

Typically, milk frothing systems in machines under $500 aren’t great. However, although I’m not a big latte or a cappuccino drinker, I am impressed by the Bambino’s ability to produce velvety, perfectly textured milk.

Of course, it takes some practice to perfect that microform, but it can do it!

PRO TIP: if you want the automatic milk frothing feature, you can upgrade to Bambino Plus. It’s got all the same features as Bambino – plus an automatic milk frother.

Maintainance – 5/5

Maintenance is straightforward with the Breville Bambino, thanks to its removable water tank, drip tray, and built-in storage for accessories.

Additionally, the machine features a cleaning alert and an auto-purge system, which reminds you when it’s time to clean your espresso maker. I find this super convenient in helping you keep your machine super clean.

Final Verdict – 4.5/5

All in all, if you’re looking to squeeze every ounce of quality from your $500, Breville Bambino is hands down our top recommendation.

It’s fast, user-friendly, doesn’t take up too much space on the countertop, and most importantly, delivers café-quality espresso every time without breaking the bank.

In other words, it’s money well spent!

Gaggia Classic Pro – Runner Up

The Gaggia Classic Pro is a quality, Italian-made espresso machine priced under $500. So, if our top choice isn’t to your liking, the Gaggia might be the right option for you.

As you’ll see in our short review, the Classic Pro is a bit simpler and has fewer advanced features, but it performs exceptionally well in one area that matters most to us—making good espresso without breaking the bank!

Here is our bit more in-depth experience with Breville Bambino Plus.

Build Quality – 5/5

One of my favorite features of the Classic Pro is its exceptional build quality and durability. Few machines in this price range can truly compare.

In other words, this machine is built to last, with a stainless steel housing that ensures resistance to wear and tear. It’s no surprise it has been around since 1991! Even the plastic components feel sturdy and well-crafted.

Just like with our previous pick, the fact that Gaggia invested in high-quality materials for this machine means it can maintain temperature and produce excellent espresso.

Heating System – 3/5

The Classic Pro features a single boiler with a Termoblock heating element.

This is one of the areas where I find Classic Pro lacking. The primary challenge when brewing espresso is the inconsistency in temperature control. And it doesn’t have a built-in PID like Bambino Plus to help you with this.

What this means for you is that, to achieve consistent results, mastering a precise temperature surfing routine is essential; otherwise, you may end up with the occasional poor shot.

This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. However, if you’re particular about your espresso, and want to keep things simple, I highly recommend sticking with Breville’s ThermoJet technology and automated settings.

On the plus side, the machine heats up incredibly quickly, which is a great advantage on busy mornings.

User-Friendliness – 4/5

In our review, one of the aspects I love most about this machine is its design, which caters to the average home espresso user.

It features three straightforward switches that let you brew coffee, steam milk, and dispense hot water if you’re in the mood for tea.

So, even if you’ve never made espresso before, you won’t have any trouble brewing your first cup with the Gaggia Classic Pro. Simply add your grounds, flip the switch on, and after about 24 seconds, switch it off and enjoy!

Since Classic Pro is semi-automatic, it lacks the automatic one and two-shot options found in our top pick, the Bambino. This means you’ll need to time your espresso shots manually.

Once again, this isn’t a deal-breaker. However, I prefer the simplicity of Bambino.

Brewing Quality – 3/5

No doubt, Gaggia Classic Pro is capable of making high-quality espresso shots.

This is thanks to its commercial-grade 58mm portafilter and 15-bar pump, which ensure that the coffee grounds are extracted evenly and completely, resulting in a smooth and rich espresso shot.

The only downside, as mentioned before, is that the Classic Pro lacks the pre-infusion, PID control and automatic brew features found in Breville’s Bambino.

As a result, it may require more manual fine-tuning to achieve the perfect shot, which increases the risk of producing lower-quality shots. So if you don’t want the hassle, I recommend going with Bambino.

However, once you get the grind, the temperature, and the pressure dialled in, you’ll find that Gaggia Classic Pro is capable of making high-quality espresso shots too.

Milk Frothing – 4/5

The Gaggia comes equipped with a high-quality steam wand featuring a solenoid valve. But what does this mean for your milk-frothing experience?

I found that the steam wand performs exceptionally well, producing frothy milk of outstanding quality. While it may take some practice to achieve this level of froth, the machine is certainly capable of helping you get there.

Maintainance – 5/5

Cleaning the Gaggia Classic Pro is a straightforward process.

The machine has a removable drip tray for easy emptying and washing. The portafilter detaches for quick rinsing, and the updated steam wand allows for convenient cleaning—just purge it and wipe it down with a damp cloth after frothing.

Final Verdict – 4/5

Overall, if you’re looking for the best espresso machine under $500, Gaggia Classic Pro is one of our top recommendations.

It is well-made and delivers great results once you get it dialled in.

That said, I slightly prefer the Bambino due to its automated features and hassle-free brewing process, but even if you choose the Gaggia—which requires a bit more practice to perfect your shot—you’ll still be getting an excellent machine!

Final Recommendation

As a team of espresso machine enthusiasts who have reviewed nearly every machine under the sun, we highly recommend the Breville Bambino as the best espresso machine for under $500.

It heats up quickly, so you won’t have to wait long for your morning espresso. Its brewing capabilities are excellent, and it can produce milk foam that’s perfect for latte art. Plus, it’s built to last!

Therefore, if you want to ensure your $500 is well spent, go with the Breville Bambino—you won’t regret it!

Alternatively, the Gaggia Classic Pro is a great choice if you value simplicity and would like a more manual approach to brewing your espresso. It’s been on the market since 1991 and remains a strong contender.

Happy brewing!