The most wonderful time of the year is here: the time for gift-giving. Whether your list of people to shop for is a mile long or short and sweet, there are tons of brilliant products to choose from, including splurge-worthy items and gifts for the green thumb in your life. But if you’re shopping for someone who prizes a perfect cup of third-wave coffee, the easiest and best gift to show your appreciation is a high-quality espresso machine.
And while you may think the best espresso machines cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, there are quite a few reputable ones on the market that are less than $200. And you don’t need to be a seasoned barista to use them. Below, we listed some of the best reviewer-approved espresso machines at every price point and experience level that any coffee fanatic would love.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
1
Amazon
De'Longhi Stilosa manual espresso machine
Using 15-bar pump pressure, this powerful appliance brews lattes, cappuccinos and espressos all from the comfort of home. It features a compact design to fit small kitchens and comes with a manual frother to get perfectly textured milk.
Promising review: "Never owned one before, so this purchase was the first Espresso machine I've owned. Incredibly easy to use, and to clean - which is good, because im lazy. You honestly dont need much more than this if you're a simple latte lover. I would recommend to anyone looking for a beginner Machine." — Thalles Souza
Promising review: "Never owned one before, so this purchase was the first Espresso machine I've owned. Incredibly easy to use, and to clean - which is good, because im lazy. You honestly dont need much more than this if you're a simple latte lover. I would recommend to anyone looking for a beginner Machine." — Thalles Souza
2
Amazon
Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee and espresso machine
Nespresso's VertuoPlus Deluxe brews both single-serve coffee and rich espresso, making it versatile and easy to use. Nespresso offers a wide variety of pod flavors, which is always a treat — and it comes with 30 capsules to get you started.
Promising review: "This isn’t one of those confusing machines with knobs and gauges. You toss a pod in and press the button. It’s quiet and makes good espresso and coffee. I’ve wanted one for years. Zero regret!" — S. Foley
Promising review: "This isn’t one of those confusing machines with knobs and gauges. You toss a pod in and press the button. It’s quiet and makes good espresso and coffee. I’ve wanted one for years. Zero regret!" — S. Foley
3
Amazon
Breville Barista Express espresso machine
Get coffee shop-quality espresso in the comfort of your home with this wildly popular machine. Lattes, Americanos, cappuccinos and espresso shots are pulled to precision alongside a conical burr grinder that grinds beans on demand and a frother for making perfectly delicious steamed milk. It’s the stuff coffee dreams are made of.
Promising review: "We received this espresso machine as a wedding present and it was hands down the best gift! We have used it every single day for at least 4 shots/day and it works flawlessly, making frothy, hot, rich espresso. It’s absolutely worth the money; we’ve saved countless dollars at coffee shops since owning this machine; it undoubtedly paid itself off." — peter
Promising review: "We received this espresso machine as a wedding present and it was hands down the best gift! We have used it every single day for at least 4 shots/day and it works flawlessly, making frothy, hot, rich espresso. It’s absolutely worth the money; we’ve saved countless dollars at coffee shops since owning this machine; it undoubtedly paid itself off." — peter
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4
Amazon
De'Longhi espresso machine
This sleek espresso machine comes in black, gray and black/stainless steel. It can brew barista-quality single or double espresso shots, cappuccinos and lattes. It even comes with a manual frother to get the ideal texture.
Promising review: "I bought this product as a first-time espresso machine owner. This was extremely easy to use, it is also very easy to clean and I found all kinds of YouTube videos on how to use it! Quality of the espresso is delicious and I love how you can use either ground espresso or the espresso pods! Highly recommend!" — Jen
Promising review: "I bought this product as a first-time espresso machine owner. This was extremely easy to use, it is also very easy to clean and I found all kinds of YouTube videos on how to use it! Quality of the espresso is delicious and I love how you can use either ground espresso or the espresso pods! Highly recommend!" — Jen
5
Amazon
Gevi espresso machine
Designed with cool features like double temperature control, 15 bar high-pressure pump and a steam wand for silky foam, this easy-to-use espresso machine is a must-have for any kitchen.
Promising review: "This product is great for any beginner who is looking to start making more advanced coffee drinks. I bought it as a gift for my friend and every time I see her she makes me a delicious cup of espresso. Great value for the price and highly recommend this for every coffee enthusiast." — Caleb W
Promising review: "This product is great for any beginner who is looking to start making more advanced coffee drinks. I bought it as a gift for my friend and every time I see her she makes me a delicious cup of espresso. Great value for the price and highly recommend this for every coffee enthusiast." — Caleb W
6
Amazon
Calphalon Temp iQ espresso machine
This top-rated espresso maker features a 15-bar Italian pump to deliver the right amount of pressure for maximum flavor extraction, and it produces a beautiful layer of cream. It has a dial interface for selecting steam, hot water and preprogrammed single and double shots.
Promising review: "This machine works fantastic. I literally love the espresso it makes so much I never crave Starbucks or lattes anywhere else now. Best investment I have made in a long time will pay itself off in a month versus what I spend on getting coffee sometimes twice a day. I love to wake up now and have a latte on the couch instead of rushing to get out of the house to go get my Starbucks lol" — Alli
Promising review: "This machine works fantastic. I literally love the espresso it makes so much I never crave Starbucks or lattes anywhere else now. Best investment I have made in a long time will pay itself off in a month versus what I spend on getting coffee sometimes twice a day. I love to wake up now and have a latte on the couch instead of rushing to get out of the house to go get my Starbucks lol" — Alli
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7
Amazon
Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine
This beginner-friendly espresso machine comes in a variety of colors, including white, red, black, blue and gray. It has easy-to-use switches and a commercial steam wand to get frothy milk in every cup. The machine also includes a commercial single and double shot filter basket for pulling espresso and a pressurized basket to use with pre-ground coffee or E.S.E pods.
Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband who drinks lots of coffee from Starbucks. It’s well built, and easy to use. He uses this everyday, and it saves on those expensive espresso trips to Starbucks. I use the steam wand to froth my milk for my green tea lattes. A win win for everyone." — gustavo
Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband who drinks lots of coffee from Starbucks. It’s well built, and easy to use. He uses this everyday, and it saves on those expensive espresso trips to Starbucks. I use the steam wand to froth my milk for my green tea lattes. A win win for everyone." — gustavo
8
Williams-Sonoma
Breville Oracle espresso machine
For a luxury espresso option that truly does it all, the Breville Oracle machine is the ultimate gift for someone extra special in your life who takes their morning brew seriously. It packs tons of neat features and functions, including a built-in grinder, dual stainless steel boilers, pressure gauge and a separate air pump for customizable frothing.
Promising review: "Been using for three months now and love it. We only drink coffee made by our Breville Oracle cause nothing else compares. Easy to learn how to operate and maintain." — DFROST
Promising review: "Been using for three months now and love it. We only drink coffee made by our Breville Oracle cause nothing else compares. Easy to learn how to operate and maintain." — DFROST