The Best Automatic Espresso, Latte and Cappuccino Makers (2025)
The Affetto is a bit expensive and as an automatic machine it can be tricky. Just make sure the water and beans are topped up and clean the used coffee grounds container regularly and it will work like a dream.
Most convenient and easiest cleaning
We love this machine. It’s the best Keurig we’ve ever used (8/10, WIRED recommends) and has the best nozzle of all the devices tested for this guide. Despite the fact that K-Café doesn’t technically make espresso shots (the K-Cup system doesn’t put any pressure on the coffee grounds), it still makes a delicious 2-ounce “espresso-style” shot that’s almost can taste just as strong, but without the crema that you might wish for.
The real magic is the frother. It has three settings – cold, latte and cappuccino – and froths the milk perfectly at the touch of a button. When it’s ready, simply pour in your milk using the spout on the side. The jug is made of stainless steel and the plastic spinner can be easily removed, making cleaning as easy as a quick run under the tap. It was so easy to use and clean that I sometimes frothed milk with it even when using other machines to make espresso. I liked it so much that I didn’t even mind that the spout on the nozzle was designed for right-handers. This leftist was happy to adapt.
While Keurig’s disposable coffee pods used to be a burden on recycling systems, they now are 100 percent recyclable. Unfortunately that is recycling infrastructure in the world is in there a small crisis So if you want to sip guilt-free, you’re better off sticking with Keurig’s reusable coffee filters; We recommend sticking with the branded products as we have found the cheaper duplicates to be unreliable.
Best handheld milk frother
Sometimes making an entire latte macchiato or cappuccino with a machine can be time-consuming. Not to mention sometimes everything you really want is frothy milk. This is where milk frothers come into play. These machines whip air into milk or milk substitutes to create a nice creamy foam.
Most frothers create a stiff, frothy foam that sits on top of the milk, which is not suitable for lattes or cappuccinos. Properly textured milk is creamy, light, airy and never stiff or shattered. That’s why our current favorite is the Nanofoamer from Subminimal.
The Nanofoamer, a favorite on Kickstarter, is now a real product. It looks like a very small hand blender, which is more or less what it is. It has two different strainers that fit over the blade: one for fine-textured milk and one for ultra-fine-textured milk. The difference is subtle, but the fine filter ensures milk that is great a little more fizzy than the ultra-fine filter. The filters allow the Nanofoamer to do what baristas do with a steam wand: it Textures Your milk for the perfect, creamy surface.
questions and answers
Photo: Jeffrey Van Camp
How we tested each machine
The key to this lies in automation. We wanted to test machines that would make you a cup of coffee with a single touch, or as close to it as possible. Therefore, the products on this list are mostly automatic and semi-automatic products. They fill them up and they do all the hard work – or at least most of it.
Construction and cleaning as well as durability were particularly important. The whole purpose of such a device is to save time and energy and/or to prepare a higher quality drink than would be possible without it. Therefore, we have not recommended any products that do not produce delicious espresso And Save time.
Which beans should you buy?
Even if you don’t make espresso, purchasing locally roasted beans is the first and best thing you can do to significantly improve your morning coffee. Type your city or region and “locally roasted coffee beans” into Google and you won’t regret it. The reason your locally roasted coffee tastes worlds better than anything you would buy from a large coffee roaster (like Starbucks, Illy, or Gevalia) is simple: coffee only grows in a few regions of the world and begins to lose flavor, once it is roasted.
Try to avoid brands that advertise their European origins. Coffee doesn’t grow in Italy, France or any other part of Europe, so you’ll always be buying beans that were roasted thousands of miles away and traveled an unknown amount of time in transit before reaching you. Even if you ordered a bag of premium coffee beans from (and roasted) a coffee-growing region of the world, it won’t arrive before the flavors begin to develop. Trust me, buy from a local roaster. You won’t regret it. For some of our favorite mail order brands, see our roundup the best coffee subscription services.
What else do you need?
Ground coffee: If you’ve never made espresso before and don’t have access to a coffee grinder, we still recommend purchasing locally roasted beans. Simply ask your barista for a fine (espresso) grind. We have tried many pre-ground espresso blends from well-known companies such as Lavazza, GevaliaAnd Cafe Bustelo. They were all very dark and very bitter, partly because they were all either imported or roasted in bulk and shipped around the world. Grinding coffee also causes it to start to deteriorate. Use your freshly ground, locally roasted beans within two weeks or you’ll end up drinking dark, bitter, sour, and kind of funky coffee. Our summary of The best coffee grinders can also provide some pointers here.
Dealer & Stamp: Many machines come with a plastic tamper, but few have a proper distributor and tamper. You will need to check the size of your portafilter (see your machine’s manual), but this Combined distributor and rammer is a good choice for most machines.
