Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith
When it comes to brewing high-quality coffee at home, tons of kitchen appliances can do so. All the functions you need to prepare wonderful espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and other beverages are included in modern espresso makers, which are also simple to operate.
At EspressoCoffeeTime, we only recommend the models that we found to be the best espresso machines under $1500, even though hundreds of variants enter the consumer market each year.
Now is the best moment to find a nice price on your next espresso machine because 2023 has just begun. To keep things simple, we take the time each year to decide which espresso machines will benefit our readers the most.
A Quick Look At Our Top Picks
- 18 Coffee Recipes
- One Touch Bean-To-Cup
- Built-in Burr Grinder
- Intuitive LCD Display
- 6 User Profiles
- Unique AquaClean System
- Durable Ceramic Grinders
- Touchscreen Display
- One Touch System
- Pulse Extraction Process
- AromaG3 Burr Grinder
- 37 fl oz. Water Tank
Best Espresso Machines Under $1500: Top 5 Picks!
Finally, it is time to disclose the best espresso machine under 1500 dollars! Your kitchen counter awaits the new addition. So, select the top option that suits your needs and desires by using our suggestions.
1. De’Longhi Dinamica Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
The fans of automatic espresso machines are in luck! With its 3.5” TFT touch display, astounding one-touch features, and easily cleanable parts, this espresso machine is built to dazzle. Could you have imagined all these and many more features for under $1500? Probably not.
De’Longhi Dinamica is a super-smart espresso machine that is very easy to use. Its companion app allows you to save three coffee preferences, so your coffee is always tailored to your preferences. You’ll also save time by not having to feed in instructions repeatedly. It also has 18 preprogrammed coffee recipes that can be accessed with a single touch.
It’s got a built-in burr grinder with 13 adjustable levels to create the perfect ground coffee. Plus, the Dual heating system creates a consistently optimal temperature for your espresso beverages. Revolutionary technology in this machine is the TrueBrew Over Ice option. It extracts your drink over ice while maintaining its texture and flavors.
Pros:
Easy to use one-touch mechanism.
16 preprogrammed coffee recipes
Easy to clean
Personalized coffee option
Dual heating system
Cons:
The water storage capacity is a little small
De’Longhi Dinamica Espresso Machine
2. Saeco PicoBaristo Super Automatic Espresso Machine
The Saeco PicoBaristo is equipped with a functional touch display as well as button options to make the user experience as smooth as possible. The coffee equalizer means you can customize and save your personalized coffee recipe. 6 people can do that at a time using the 6 use profiles!
It’s got superior technology in the form of its AquaClean function. This water filtration system saves you the chore of descaling for 5,000 cups! How amazing is that? Additionally, the built-in ceramic grinder produces such finely ground coffee beans your taste buds will be in heaven for 20,000 flavorful cups of coffee!
Finally, the professional hygiene system makes the most bothersome task of cleaning the machine extremely easy. The hygiene steam cleans the entire milk unit (spout and milk tubes and everything) with pressurized steam! Plus, other parts are also conveniently removable and cleanable.
Pros:
Built-in grinder and frother
15 preprogrammed coffee recipes.
Easy to use
Easy to clean
Cons:
The water tank is a bit fragile.
Saeco PicoBaristo Espresso Machine
3. Jura A1 Automatic Coffee Machine Piano Black
This piano Black espresso maker is the image of elegance and will make a fine addition to your kitchen counter. Couple its looks with the extraordinary coffee it produces and you’ve got yourself a banger of an espresso machine.
With a mere press of a button, you can brew yourself a barista standard espresso, coffee, or ristretto anytime. Its exceptional Pulse Extraction Process produces nothing but professional quality coffee that will please your mind, body, and soul. The eco-friendly technology eliminates waste and ensures fresh coffee in every cup.
The water tank (37 ounces) and the bean container (4.4 ounces) ascertain enough storage to last you for a good time. Moreover, the conical burr grinder grinds beans professionally with speed, consistency, and preciseness. No bean is left untapped. You are guaranteed a rich and flavorful cup of coffee every time.
Pros:
Elegant design
Easy to clean
Doesn’t take much space
One-touch and extremely convenient
Cons:
The bean hopper lid can be difficult to maneuver.
Jura A1 Automatic Coffee Machine
4. De’Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Maestro Espresso Machine
De’Longhi Maestro looks professional and functions professionally. To begin with, its superior sensor grinding technology ensures precise grinding with up to 8 grind levels. Moreover, it even adjusts your bean dose using a digital dosing guide to maintain the right proportions (isn’t that what coffee’s all about!).
The Smart Tamping Station expertly applies pressure saving you any mess or mistake. Moreover, the Dynamic Pre-Infusion system carefully adjusts the density of the coffee and uniformly wets the ground coffee for a barista-like extraction. A bonus? It’s got a double-spout portafilter!
That wasn’t even the end of its remarkable features! By responding to varied beans, the Active Temperature Control with 5 preset levels ensures ideal flavor extraction and infusion. Additionally, this technology offers simultaneous heating systems for coffee and milk. This provides a consistently hot cup of coffee, whether it’s espresso, latte, or cappuccino!
Pros:
Produces consistently good coffee
Easy to use
Cleaning is very convenient
Dual spouted portafilter
Cons:
Tall and spacy
A bit tricky to use for beginners
De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro
5. Gaggia Cadorna Prestige Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
This super-automatic espresso machine has fourteen preprogrammed beverages ready to brew for you! It is equipped with everything you will need already. It has even got a built-in milk carafe to foam your milk into the perfect texture for any espresso beverage! Best part? It automatically self-cleans the carafe too!
Apart from the preprogrammed drinks, you can even customize your go-to drink using the 4 user profiles. So, they will only be a press of a button away on the TFT full-color display. Moreover, it has got various options for you to experiment with your coffee. You could say, this machine offers you the barista-style experience of coffee making.
Finally, it is extremely easy to use and maintain. Taking out the water tray and refilling the water tank could not have been hassle-free. Not to mention, the coffee you brew in this espresso machine will always be just the perfect extent of hot! You won’t even need to preheat your mug.
Pros:
Very easy to set up
Produces consistent and quality coffee
Low maintenance
Easy to use
14 preprogrammed beverages and 4 user profiles.
Cons:
The interface is not touch-based
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
The Winner: Espresso Machine Under $1500 (Editor’s Choice)
Without a doubt, the best of the best espresso machines is the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Espresso Machine. Not only will it add a professional class to your kitchen but it is designed to please the coffee consumers greatly!
This bad boy has got it all. From an advanced touchscreen display and preprogrammed plus customizable drink options to a built-in grinder and frother. This machine manifests all the features you need to brew the perfect cup of coffee anytime and every time. Plus you can read its manual to get the most out of your machine.
Its smart technology such as the Dual Heating System and easy-to-clean parts make it an ideal option. That too is in a fairly affordable range!
Features To Look For In An Espresso Machine Under $1500
When budget constraints you, it is all the more important to examine and ascertain the quality of the product. Be the espresso machine for home or commercial use, you want nothing but the best. Here are some features you want to assess in the espresso machine you wish to purchase.
1. Pressure:
The pressure of an espresso machine is key to a decent cup of coffee. This is the one thing you can never compromise on. Ideally, the pressure of an espresso machine should be 9 to 17 bars.
If you want the most flavorful cup of coffee, make sure you get an espresso machine that creates optimal pressure for your coffee!
2. Frother:
If you are spending a good chunk of your budget on the espresso machine, you may as well get a built-in frother. Especially, if you wish to make one of those milky creamy beverages like a latte.
Look out for espresso machines with a frother or a steam wand. It will also save you the added trouble of warming and frothing your milk separately.
3. Grinder:
Most automatic machines come equipped with a built-in grinder. It is convenient as it grinds a precise proportion of coffee beans accurately to release all the bold coffee flavors. Some espresso grinders come with grinding levels which is even better and allows you control over the grinding.
4. Water Reservoir
You definitely want to save yourself the hassle of refilling the water tank over and over again. So, look for an espresso machine that has a large capacity water reservoir to last you a good amount of coffee cups. Plus, ensure that it is easily detachable, washable, and refillable.
5. Cleaning
This is the hardest task associated with any espresso machine. However, some machines have automatic cleaning or hygiene systems that make cleaning extremely easy. Aim for espresso machines that make cleaning easier for you, have dishwasher-friendly parts, and are low maintenance.
Semi or Super-Automatic: Which is Best for You?
Semi-automatic or super-automatic? Well, the choice comes down to your preference and convenience. A semi-automatic espresso machine allows you more dominance over the brewing process. It has certain automatic features to make your life easier, but you control the brewing process. They are relatively cheaper and can be a bit tricky to use.
A super-automatic espresso machine is extremely easy to use. The machine dominates the brewing process and controls every step. All you have to do is tell it what you want and it will give you that. It often has a self-cleaning system and makes cleaning very easy too! However, it is relatively more expensive.
So, if you wish to experiment and control the brewing process while enjoying some relief you would prefer a semi-automatic espresso machine. It’s ideal to enjoy the best of both worlds. However, if time constraints and you want instant gratification you’ll prefer a super-automatic machine that is a genie who you command.
Are These Expensive Machines Even Worth The Money?
If you are not willing to compromise on your coffee flavor, richness, texture, consistency, and overall experience, then yes. Expensive espresso machines are worth it. Here are a few things that these expensive machines guarantee to you in return for your money:
- Top-quality coffee at a consistent rate
- Advanced features like touch display and superior technology.
- Built-in grinders and frothers.
- Exceptional pressure and heating systems (for both coffee and milk).
- Preprogrammed and customizable coffee options
- Easy to clean mechanism.
- Extra features such as a steam wand, cup warmers, etc.
When you get so much in a single espresso machine, the investment is worth it!
FAQs
1. Are $1500 espresso machines good enough to brew delicious coffee?
Some wise words to always remember are ‘investment is quality and durability.’ So, yes a $1500 investment is good enough for an espresso machine to brew a grand cup of coffee.
2. Which is the best espresso machine under $1500 for home use?
We suggest the De’onghi Dinamica Plus Fully automatic espresso machine as the best for home use. It fits right in on your kitchen counter and is equipped with features that will make coffee brewing a convenient and amazing experience!
3. Is it difficult to operate an automatic espresso machine?
Using automatic espresso machines can be somewhat complex to use. However, once you figure out the mechanism they are extremely easy to operate and make excellent coffee. We suggest thoroughly reading the user manual before trying your hand at it.
4. How can I clean my espresso machine?
Begin by removing all the detachable parts of the machine. If they are dishwasher friendly then chuck them in a dishwasher otherwise rinse them thoroughly using warm water and dry them. You can use a brush to scrub and clean the other parts of the machine.
Final Thoughts | Best Espresso Machine Under $1500
As you know, this list was not easy to build. The top machines discussed above are all worthy of the title of “best”. We think that they represent the best combination of value, reliability, and performance.
That is why we picked them as the best espresso machines under $1500. Thank you for taking the time to check out our guide
Of course, there are plenty of options that didn’t make our lists. If you have a favorite that’s not listed here, let us know in the comments section below! We’re always looking for new and exciting machines to test out.