Best Espresso Machine Under 1000: Top 5 Reviews

Anyone can have a cup of coffee, but it takes enormous strides to maintain espresso quality. If you want to have a nice cup of Joe, then you need a machine that will keep the expensive hobby in check.

If you want nothing short of quality, then be prepared to break the bank. For those on a budget with quality in mind, I have the best espresso machine under 1000 to do the tricks for you just like in the coffee shop. The aim here is to get a coffee maker that will make the most out of the coffee grounds.

Comparison Table

Are you eager to see what in the reviews? Here is a comparison table for you.

Reviews

Breville is an Australian company that switched to making espresso units after the Second World War. Now, they are offering you a relatively easy-to-use machine in a bid to maintain a long history of customer satisfaction.

The Breville BES870XL unit makes it easy for both the experienced and amateurs to brew espresso and related drinks within a short time.

It allows you to grind at the top, brew the darkest coffee samples, and steam the milk via the wand as you customize the settings.

At first glance, the machine looks very sleek and professional with the stainless-steel finish. However, one of the first things I noticed was that the finish is soft, scratching easily. It is also slightly frustrating to clean the fingerprints off some days.

The dials and gauges can be intimidating at first. They, however, become incredibly useful (and entertaining) once you learn how to use them to personalize the brewing settings.

The personalized settings include grind settings (coarseness of the grind and how much to grind), brew settings such as filter size, and monitoring gauges such as the espresso pressure gauge.

Features Explained

Buying the BES870XL means getting a 23-pound espresso brewer that has an integrated burr grinder with stainless steel conical burrs. That is how it helps you extract the coffee flavors if you don’t have a grinder. The bean hopper is ½ lb. and it locks to keep the beans safe and secure.

Below the control panel is a stainless steel portafilter fitting commercial grades. The machine does the grinding before dumping the coffee in there. You can monitor the extraction pressure via the pressure gauge, but this Breville delivers 15 bars via the Italian pump.

Heating the water from the removable 67 oz. tank is made possible by the 1600W thermocouple that is accompanied by a stainless steel coil. It aids in regulating the temperature. On the other hand, when it’s too much, especially after steaming, the auto-purge function makes sure the temperature remains perfect for proper flavor extraction.

As for the filter size, you can set it to single or double-wall for the single or double espresso shots. The steam wand has a 360-degree swivel action which makes milk-steaming effortless. Lastly, the drip tray is removable and easy to clean.

Pros

• Gives you the ability to grind, make espresso, and steam
• Hands-free grinding and portafilter filling
• Has a Clean Me light to let you know when the machine needs cleaning
• Quality and durable stainless steel construction

Cons

• It takes longer to heat the steam wand since it uses the thermocouple too
• Steaming the milk requires practice to get it right

The next item on the list is the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica that also allows you to grind and brew in the same unit. One of the things that stand out is the modern design with quality construction that guarantees years of use.

One of the best features to benefit from is the beans-to-brew mechanism. Just like the Breville above, you have a choice of making the perfect shots with your preferred beans.

For an even heat distribution, it contains two stainless steel boilers. Better flavor extraction needs the right temperatures, and that’s where the reheat function comes into the rescue.

You can choose the grinding level by setting the burr grinder to a particular fineness degree. After the settings, it will perform the duty quietly. The manufacturer, however, recommends referring to the manual if the machine is noisy.

If you want to make a cappuccino, the ESAM3300 model has the patented Cappuccino System frother that rotates to 180 degrees for the steaming task.

Operating the ESAM3300

The control panel consists of rotary and push buttons that are easy to use during operation not forgetting the included programmable menu settings. The rest of the features include an 8.8-ounce bean container and a coffee grounds container that allows you to make up to 14 cups.

You can refill the water tank comfortably before working on other settings such as changing the coffee spigot height to fit different cup sizes. There is a warming cup tray for the cups if you like the cups heated before taking it with the brewed espresso.

When considering maintenance, this De’Longhi needs half the time required to clean other competitive machines. The manual also includes cleaning instructions which are vital when washing the infuser. To save on power usage, it automatically shuts off after three hours.

Pros

• Suitable for espresso and those who make Americano
• One-touch button control for double shots
• It’s quiet during operation
• Stylish and compact design

Cons

• The water reservoir needs frequent refilling if you are making other drinks
• The grounds container is light plastic which makes it vulnerable to breaking

For the coffee lovers who know this machine, it’s also known as Miss Silvia. If you still don’t know it, the Rancilio Silvia espresso brewer is a semi-automatic machine that qualifies for small scale commercial application. It has all the powerful features that match the larger Rancilio machines used in the coffee shops.

The housing consists of an iron frame with side panels made of stainless steel. It appears cornered at the edges, but the overall look is stylish for a modern espresso brewer.

Miss Silvia is accompanied by a powerful grouphead that regulates the temperature to maintain the right brewing level as extraction progresses.

The portafilter is 58mm which is suited for getting the best out of the grounds. On the other hand, you need a tamper and a grinder since this Rancilio does not do that for you.

Recent upgrades on this machine include an insulated boiler and a removable heating element covered with stainless steel. The boiler holds 0.3 liters which is enough to give remarkable steaming power.

Dealing with the Flaws

At times, it is difficult to regulate the temperature after using the steam wand. If you need to pull some shots immediately after steaming, the extraction is not the best.

What you should do is turn on the espresso button, let some water run for the next 10 seconds. After the steam comes out, now it’s time to extract and brew. If you haven’t used the steam wand, then that is not necessary.

As for the steamer, it articulates to accommodate the motion needed as you steam the milk. You can adjust the steam via the knob on the panel. When you buy Miss Silvia, it comes with a plastic tamper (which may not be the best), a coffee scoop, and filter baskets for the single and double shots.

Pros

• Small machine with commercial-grade features
• Sturdy grouphead fit for stable extraction
• Articulating steam wand
• Comes with accessories

Cons

• You need a grinder for it
• Regulating the temperature can be difficult

For those who love coffee but are lazy to make it, Jura 13626 Ena Micro 1 comes automated from every angle. It’s black in color with a close to smooth finishing. Overall, it gives your kitchen a beautiful look. Jura is famous in Europe since they have a large customer base there known to like their robust machines.

Jura Ena Micro 1 comes with a multi-level grinder and a small brewing unit that gives you the highest espresso quality out of the beans used. Due to its small size, those who don’t like bulky items will find it convenient.

The delivered power is 1450W. There is a touch panel for the controls which help you define the cup sizes and the aroma level.

The water tank holds 36.8 oz. of water which is quite small. It will notify you of when to empty the grounds bin, but some users have complained of informing you even when it’s not full.

The energy saving mode in Jura includes an auto switch off and a patented zero-energy switch to optimize on the energy.

It also has a removable drip tray that needs to be in place as you brew. For cleaning and maintenance, you need to do it the Jura way for long-term use. What you don’t get from the 13626 model is a steam wand.

Otherwise, the coffee enthusiasts agree that using the Ena Micro 1 model is as easy as using the Nespresso capsule system.

Pros

• Fully automatic coffee maker
• Simplified control panel
• Small and compact with a stylish design
• Included energy-saving mode

Cons

• Does not have a steam wand
• The grounds bin notification can sometimes be annoying

For the past 30 years, Saeco has been providing machines that reveal the true nature of the coffee grounds after brewing. That is why we feature the Saeco Incanto Carafe. The technology used in it is on another level, protected by the stainless steel housing.

You can brew the next 5000 cups without descaling the unit since it has an AquaClean filter. Automation involves grinding and brewing processes.

It comes with a ceramic grinder which apart from grinding the coffee, also prevents having a burnt taste from the grounds. You can set the grind coarse via the front panel.

If you want the milk-based espresso beverages, it does the steaming with the help of a button. Cleaning the parts is easy since it has an autocycle and you can wash the components which are dishwasher safe.

Easy To Clean Machine

What makes this Saeco durable is the ability to remove the brewing group for cleaning. That makes most of its components detachable, and that’s a good thing when it’s time to wash.

It is advisable to wait for the machine to heat up, but this one will brew in almost no time. It’s super-fast for those who are always in a hurry in the morning.

With the Incanto, you have an option to make decaffeinated coffee using the powder option. Other features include an 8.8 oz. container for the beans and a waste bin that holds 60.9 oz.

When it’s time to clean, you can remove the brewing unit and other removable components for washing. It also has an auto descaling procedure that you can activate by first deactivating the AquaClean.

The only disadvantage here is the froth made where some users wish for a manual one. Overall, with everything auto, the only thing you need is time to learn how to brew espresso and related drinks.

Pros

• Fully automatic
• The AquaClean feature prevents descaling often
• You can make decaffeinated coffee using it
• Removable brewing component and dishwasher safe materials

Cons

• The froth is not the same as when using a manual steam wand
• You need time to figure out the settings

The Best Espresso Machine Under 1000 (For Me)

Now that you know the espresso machines to consider when you need something below $1000, it’s time to look at your coffee drinking notes and see what makes a tick in every consideration.

If you are still deciding and want to know what I can recommend, my winner is the Breville BES870XL. I think BES870XL is the best espresso machine under 1000. It’s a machine that you can use at home or in a small coffee shop.

The parts are powerful to fit commercial use. It’s also easier to use when compared to some of the fully automatic counterparts that will take time to figure out the settings.

If you want something more automated, recheck the reviews to see what will be easy to use with button presses only, or you can look at our roundup of the best home espresso machines.