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- Best Espresso Machine with Milk Steamer | Ultimate 2021 Guide
Best Espresso Machine with Milk Steamer | Ultimate 2021 Guide
When you think of espresso, what drink comes to mind as your all-time favorite? Latte? Cappuccino? Maybe a macchiato?
There is something all of these sippable beverages have in common: steamed and frothed milk.
When selecting a home espresso machine, if you want a latte, you’re going to need a milk steamer.
An espresso machine with a milk steamer will give you the ability to experience your favorite espresso drinks, without taking a trip to the local coffee shop or having to become an expert home barista.
The technique that can be easily learned and mastered and the machines listed in this article are user friendly enough to make the process pretty smooth.
The Final Shot: For rookie home brewers just starting out the Capresso EC100 is the top pick with the easiest to use frothing wand. If you’re a bit beyond entry-level and looking for a mid-range option, upgrade to the De’Longhi Dedica. It has a faster brew time and allows you to customize settings for longer pull times. Have a bigger budget to upgrade? The Gaggia Brera is a pricier super-automatic that acts as your espresso butler.
If you’re new to espresso machine shopping, it may not be obvious that many of the less expensive espresso makers simply don’t come equipped with a steaming and frothing wand, which is a necessary component to make most espresso beverages.
The good news is that you can buy a slightly upgraded espresso machine with a milk steamer to be able to enjoy your favorite coffee beverages without breaking the bank.
I compare the 3 best espresso machines for home baristas with varying levels of experience. All of them make steaming and frothing milk quick and easy. If you are completely new to the world of specialty coffee, the entry-level option may be the best fit. If you are looking to upgrade your current set-up, check out the mid-range to pro level options.
The espresso machines I’ve curated in this article range in price between $99 and $409 and are all consistently solid choices. Even the entry-level Capresso model delivers superior taste and unbeatable value.
Contents
Top Espresso Machine with Milk Steamer
Delonghi EC680M DEDICA 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine
Product Name- 3.9Rating
- $$Price
- Semi-automaticMachine Type
Capresso EC100 Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
Product Name- 3.7Rating
- $Price
- Semi-automaticMachine Type
Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Product Name- 4.1Rating
- $$Price
- Super AutomaticMachine Type
Entry-Level Choice – Capresso EC100 Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
The Capresso EC100 provides a user-friendly experience that delivers perfectly blended gourmet coffee beverages. The stainless-steel lined Thermoblock heating system heats up very quickly to make your favorite drink without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Unlike the ultra-cheap espresso machines, the Capresso EC100 offers a dual milk frother system with separate frothing positions; steamed milk for lattes and frothed milk for cappuccinos. You have the flexibility of using either ground coffee beans or a coffee pod to really customize your experience.
This model is ideal for first-time users as the swivel frother allows you to froth milk directly into the cappuccino cup. Simply immerse the frothed sleeve into the milk, it quickly injects hot steam and in a matter of seconds you have frothed milk to add to a shot of espresso. Making a latte is just as easy; remove the sleeve and use the steam wand to steam the milk before adding the espresso.
For the small 8 x 10” size; this machine dispenses a large amount of crema and the drinks come out extremely flavorful. The value is unbeatable as the Capresso EC100 gives you the ability to create professional quality drinks at a fraction of the price that you would pay for a higher-end espresso machine.
My favorite part about the Capresso EC100 is that you can make as many coffee beverages as you want without waiting for the machine to reheat or cool down. The removable 46 ounce water container lasts for many cups before having to refill.
Users note that it is inconvenient that the larger size coffee mugs don’t fit under the spout, although if desired the bottom grill can be removed to fit taller mugs.
The Capresso EC100 is a solid choice for just under $100 and boasts over 100 positive reviews on Amazon.
Capresso EC100 Hot Features:
- 15 bar pump pressure
- Thermo-block heating system
- Dual sleeves for single or double expresso
- Swivel frother with steaming and frothing positions
- Removable 46 ounce water container
- Locking sleeve
- Easy to clean drip tray
- Quick output
- Unlimited output of steam
- One year limited warranty
Mid-Level Choice – De’Longhi EC680M Dedica
With 15 bars of pressure, the De’Longhi EC680M makes rich, frothy crema with flavor that surpasses the competition. You will have no need to return to your local coffee shop, as this machine creates Barista quality foam for mouthwatering espresso, latte and cappuccino drinks. If you are looking for an amazing espresso maker at an affordable price; this machine is a great pick.
For beginners, this machine has pre-configured brew timings and as you learn the art of espresso-making, you can hold down the buttons to customize your pull times. Reviewers praise the De’Longhi for the impressively fast brewing times as the machine heats up to the ideal brewing temperature in 40 seconds max.
De’Longhi even has a call center to walk you step by step through setting up and using the machine. The customer service is outstanding and well worth the money to buy the De’Longhi brand. For those of us who forget to turn things off (like me!), this machine automatically shifts to standby mode to help save on product life and electricity costs.
Always keep your glasses toasty before dispensing the espresso shots with a built-in cup warmer. The automatic flow stop and 3-in-1 filter features allow you to dispense single or double shots of espresso to suite your taste.
Being able to make Americanos or brew tea with this machine is an added bonus that gives you versatility when you are not in the mood for a pure espresso drink. This model has a built in steam regulator that heats up within a matter of seconds and maintains the temperature at a steady level.
For those like me, who are limited on space, this machine makes delicious espresso drinks and measures a mere 6 inches of counter space. The sleek design makes this model fit in perfectly with any kitchen.
The Pannarello steam wand can be trickier to use at first but the instruction manual and YouTube videos can help you learn how to create high quality coffee beverages.
The Delonghi EC680 ranks #3 in Amazon’s Steam Expresso Machines and has 251 positive reviews.
De’Longhi Dedica Hot Features:
- 15-bar pump pressure
- Automatic flow stop
- Flow stop delivers single or double expresso shots
- Self-priming
- 3-in-1 filter
- Built-in cup warmer
- Compact design
- Illuminated control panel
Super-Automatic Choice – Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
The Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic espresso machine is packed with fancy features that are simple to use, for both novices and those who already know their way around a frothing and steaming wand.
Don’t let the advanced technology on this machine fool you, you need no experience to make delicious coffee beverages. The Gaggia Brera is well worth the investment and will impress your taste buds with high quality espresso.
The Gaggia features a sleek, elegant design with a brushed stainless steel face and stainless steel Panarello steam wand. You can make all of the popular espresso drinks without being an expert Barista. There is no need to buy a separate grinder for coffee beans as this model comes with a built-in ceramic grinder that delivers consistent quality. I enjoy this feature on my own machine and I’ve never regretted the upgrade.
Not only is this model far more compact than comparable models in its class; but it delivers amazing coffee that surpasses even the more expensive competition. You can even customize the height of the telescopic coffee dispenser to match your coffee cup.
Similar to the De’Longhi model, the Gaggia Brera features a 15-bar pump and stainless steel boiler to quickly heat to the proper temperature. The machine is much less time consuming than standard espresso machines and even offers a helpful customer service phone line to assist with setup and use. The LED display and button controls make it easy to select what beverage you wish to brew.
My favorite feature on the Gaggia Brera is that the warning lights are programmed to notify you when you need to add more water, coffee beans or perform other maintenance on the machine. It also leaves a very small energy footprint by activating standby mode after only one hour of inactivity.
Users note the small water tank size but the fact that it is front loading compensates for the smaller size because it is easier to access. Many suggest to not use oily beans to avoid buildup in the machine, a common issue with super-auto machines.
The Gaggia Brera is ranked #4 on Amazon under the Super-Automatic Expresso Machines category and is reviewed at 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Gaggia Brera Hot Features:
- 15-bar pump and stainless steeler boiler
- Flavor pre-infusion feature
- Customizable settings with memory storage
- Brushed stainless steel face
- Compact design
- Mavea water filter with four stages of filtration
- Warning lights to notify when care is required
- Low energy consumption
- Self-rinse cycle
We hope that our guide to the top 3 espresso machines with milk steamers will help you find the best option for your coffee beverage needs.
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about coffee is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better.
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Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
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4-Week Free Espresso E-mail Course!
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
You have Successfully Subscribed!
About the Author Michael York
I am a die-hard espresso fan. I love every form of the drink from straight espresso shots to lattes and cappuccinos. I currently use a Breville BES870XL Barista, it is an awesome machine. BUT, my dream machine is definitely an Italian Quickmill Andreja. Those bad boys make badass espresso. I love answering your questions, leave a comment or question below!
