Who says you can’t get a decent espresso machine under $100? Remember, coffee makers and espresso machines come in a wide variety: manual and automatic.
Automatic machines are pricier because of its fancy features and function.
While manual espresso machines may come cheaper — but not all.
Great manufacturers like Mr. Coffee, DeLonghi and Breville made affordable espresso machines for beginners and for their customers on budget.
On the other hand, cheap coffee makers from a trusted brand still give you the same assurance in terms of quality.
Most manufacturers incorporate their trademark technology and useful features even to low-end products.
So, for beginners and budget-buyers alike, the first way to do is finding a perfect machine.
To do that, you may check out our comprehensive list of the best espresso machines under $100.
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The best espresso machines under $100
- Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine
- Mueller Espresso Machine for Nespresso
- Mr. Coffee ECM20 Steam Espresso Maker
- BELLA (13683) Personal Espresso Maker
- Nespresso
Essenza Mini Original - WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
- Bialetti Kitty Coffee Maker
- Hamilton Beach Espresso Machine
- De’Longhi BAR32 Retro Espresso Maker
- Mr. Coffee BVMC-SC100-2 Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine
An automatic coffee machine that gives the option of a single-serve or espresso cup coffee, Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine by De’Longhi is a great buy for less than $100. It’s quick to heat up to ideal brewing temperature in just 25 seconds. With the 24oz water tank, you’ll be able to make 9 single-serve cups of coffee in an instant.
It’s versatile to accommodate espresso (1.35oz) and lungo (5oz), with dedicated buttons to activate. It has an auto-off function after being inactive for 9 minutes. Made of plastic, so extra care is needed to make it last longer.
Pros
- Can start brewing in as fast as 25 seconds
- Folding drip tray to accommodate taller travel mugs
- Very easy to use and takes up a small space on the counter
Cons
- Inconsistent coffee quality, especially in the lungo mode
- The 23oz water reservoir is a bit smaller
- Compatible with Nespresso capsules only
Mueller Espresso Machine for Nespresso
Mueller Espresso Machine for Nespresso comes with a 20-bar pressure pump that allows you to extract the delicate flavor and aroma of each Nespreso capsule. With its ultrafast heat up of around 25 seconds, you can have a cup of coffee in less than a minute. Since it’s designed to be energy-efficient, it’ll shut down after 10 minutes of inactivity.
It’s very easy to operate — a one-touch button that gives you two cup options: espresso and lungo. It can be programmed to dispense a certain volume, so you can use and fill your favorite cup. Can hold around 27oz (or 800ml) of water, enough for a few more servings before you refill.
The large water tank is removable, so it’s easy to clean and refill. It’s also dishwasher safe, so you can clean it each time you find the need to.
Pros
- Makes a cup of delicious coffee quickly
- Has adjustable flip up tray that accommodates the smaller and lungo cup sizes
Cons
- Designed to accept Nespresso capsules only
- No instructions on how to reprogram the volume of the coffee to dispense
Mr. Coffee ECM20 Steam Espresso Maker
Mr. Coffee ECM20 Steam Espresso Maker is a decent machine that works well in making espresso every day. It’s tough and compact design makes it durable and doesn’t take so much space in your kitchen counters.
It makes great coffee in three minutes. Has an easily-adjustable three-way knob that allows you to make settings for brewing and frothing. Its removable drip tray made it very easy to clean spills and drips.
Pros
- Perfect espresso machine for beginners
- Operates in straightforward and easy way
- Compact design, ideal for small kitchen and lower kitchen cabinets
Cons
- Milk steam wand needs cleaning regularly
- Steamer won’t warm the milk too well
BELLA (13683) Personal Espresso Maker
BELLA (13683) Personal Espresso Maker is a package of great features in its small footprint and cheap price tag. It has everything you need to make espresso at home. Plus, it has a built-in frother and a frothing steam wand to make good cappuccinos and lattes.
With a simple knob, you can brew like a pro and can make your own espresso. You can choose to brew from 1-4 cups to a glass decanter. The container is transparent with measuring lines, drip-free spout and a good-grip handle for ease in serving.
Though it has only 5 bars of constant pressure, you can still get a good crema-filled espresso from this fella. Whether you’re in the mood of a strong espresso or a macchiato, this machine will give you what you need.
Pros
- Comes with a handy milk frother
- Can easily make hot coffee drinks
- Easy to use and get the job done quickly
Cons
- You may get some grounds in your coffee
- Material is fragile; especially that it’s made of plastic
- On/Off switch is harder to turn
Nespresso Essenza Mini Original
Like most Nespresso coffee makers, Nespresso
With the convenience of one-touch operation, you’ll be able to make espresso quickly. Since it’ll reach ideal brewing temperature in less than 25 seconds, preparing coffee has never been this easy.
When not in use for three minutes, it goes to eco-mode for low energy consumption. And, if not in use for 9 minutes it’ll automatically shut off.
Pros
- Efficient energy-saving with eco-mode after 3 minutes
- Fast heat up, around 25 seconds
Cons
- Noisy when brewing, although not as loud as other Nespresso machines
- Some say espresso is not that good, which is subjective
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
Not a French press coffee maker, but it’s among the few espresso makers that don’t need electricity or battery. The WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker is a pumping system with 18 bars of stable pressure to give you a great cup of espresso. And, it utilizes any type of ground coffee, even your home ground coffee.
This machine is very simple to operate. You only need to add fine ground coffee (around 8g), water to the tank (max capacity is 80ml), and then manually pump it. Just that simple and you can get a fresh cup of coffee anytime, anywhere. The whole process might take around 5 minutes — not quite bad, especially if you are in the wilderness and you want a fresh cup of coffee.
It’s ergonomic and not long enough, perfect to be your travel companion since its lightweight too. There’s a comprehensive instruction on how to pump the machine for best results. You might want to check that out before bringing this on your next hunting trip.
Pros
- Creates really good coffee, but has less crema
- Portable and can be used anywhere, given you’ll have hot water ready
Cons
- Need to wait for at least 5 minutes to get a good espresso
- This might not be very easy to clean
Bialetti Kitty Coffee Maker
A nice add-on to your kitchen counter, the Bialetti Kitty Coffee Maker has a mind-blowing finish and design. Made with cutting edge technology, its stainless steel construction is solid and durable.
Bialetti Kitty is a stovetop coffee maker, meaning you need to put them on the stove or hob. It’s way different from the common electric coffee machines. For best result, you can pour hot water to your coffee ground, then, put on the stove. In just a few minutes, you’ll gonna have a good espresso — perfect for two.
Pros
- Has an insulated handle, allows a comfortable grip even on top of the stove
- Functions very well, gives you a good-tasting coffee
- Easy to clean and reassemble
Cons
- Only makes 2 cups of coffee, not ideal for more servings
- Need to keep an eye on your stove or you end up with burnt coffee
Hamilton Beach Espresso Machine
If you want to achieve a café-quality espresso, have a Hamilton Beach Espresso Machine at home. It has a powerful 15-bar Italian pump, instead of steam that extracts a cup of rich and thick espresso. It has a simple push button and an adjustable knob.
It has a reservoir with 40oz capacity that’s very easy to refill without the need to turn the machine off. And, if you want mochas or lattes, the no-fuss frother milk will give you the perfect froth in just a few seconds.
For more convenience, it has two head spouts that allow you to brew two cups at a time. Most of the parts are removable — drip tray, frothing nozzle, water reservoir, brew head — for easy cleaning using soapy water. With the portafilter, you can use either pods or freshly ground coffee for your next espresso brewing.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Flexible because you can use either pods or coffee grounds
- Can brew 2 cups at a time, simultaneously
Cons
- Takes a while to heat up the steam
- Recovery time is quite long
De’Longhi BAR32 Retro Espresso Maker
De’Longhi is a trusted brand when it comes to coffee makers. And, De’Longhi BAR32 Retro Espresso Maker is a worth buy. At an affordable price, you’ll get a lot of great features from this compact and durable coffee maker.
Espresso preparation is fast and easy. With the use of either pods or ground coffee, you can enjoy your espresso using your favorite coffee beans. There are two separate thermostats for water and steam pressure to maintain the ideal brewing temperature every time.
With its self-priming functionality, you can wake it up anytime, without the need for it to heat up. The swivel jet frother helps you prepare cappuccino and lattes quickly, but deliciously. With its 15mm bar pump pressure and stainless steel boiler, this is the wisest investment you have.
Pros
- Pump driven, so it won’t burn your coffee
- Can maintain proper pressure level
- Self-priming function saves you the waiting time to start up the machine
Cons
- Brewing strong shots of espresso may take some time to master
- Double shot brews slowly with less crema
Mr. Coffee BVMC-SC100-2 Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee BVMC-SC100-2 Single-Serve Coffee Maker offers the convenience of creating single-serve espresso anytime you want. It’s fast and easy to brew up to 10oz of coffee in your favorite cup or travel mug.
The “pour-in, brew-out” function ensures you get fresh water in each cup of coffee. It has “My Grounds Filter” which you can use loose coffee grounds of your own choice. For easy loading, of pod/filter, there’s a pull out drawer for it. Finally, it has an adjustable cup tray to accommodate different cup sizes and removable drip tray to easily get rid of spills.
Pros
- Can use K-cup pods or loose coffee grounds
- Gives the brew quality you want
- Budget-friendly machine for a single-serve serving
Cons
- Machine needs to be constantly cleaned
- Build quality is not that durable
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ESPRESSO MACHINE UNDER $100?
Let’s forget the fancy features of a commercial espresso machine for now. Let’s check what are the basic things you need in an espresso machine.
Usability
Though very cheap, there are espresso makers that are fully functional and lives up to their promise of quality.
Brew quality
Brew quality is everything when it comes to coffee-making. Don’t expect your coffee to be of top-notched quality; because you know the material used for these machines aren’t that durable or resilient. However, it’s not bad to, at least, hope for a good cup of espresso you can enjoy every day. Check out NCA’s guideline on how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.
Important Note
No matter how cheap or expensive you go for your espresso maker, coffee grinder always plays a critical role in achieving the best espresso shot(source). Even if your coffee maker is expensive if you use poorly ground coffee, you can’t achieve the result you’re expecting. All coffee makers, whether cheap or expensive, depends on the kind of coffee grounds you use for making your espresso.
Other Guides
- How To Use An Espresso Machine
- Best Espresso Machines Under $1000
- Best Espresso Machines Under $500
- 10 Best Espresso Machines Under $300
- 10 Best Espresso Machines Under $200
Editor’s Choice
Being able to find a good and reliable coffee maker under $100 is quite a rare feat. Thankfully, we’ve found one. The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine by De’Longhi is a good espresso maker for a few servings. It’s portable, pump-driven and can be used anywhere without electricity.
With this espresso maker, you can make espresso with delicious crema anytime, anywhere. With the value, price and capability combined, this is our choice. What’s yours?
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