Best Espresso Machines Under $500

Best Espresso Machine For Home

Finding the Best Espresso Machine Under $500 can be a daunting task. With hundreds of models and brands out there even if you were a espresso machine expert just going through all the options available with their specs, features and prices is a never ending task. This is why Espresso Gurus has taken up the challenge and narrowed it down to the 4 best espresso machines under $500 dollars.

We’ve done the hard work and put many hours of research and comparison into our list of the best home espresso machines. Now all you have to do is choose the one that fits your needs and rest assured that your getting the best espresso machine for your home. If your budget is less then $500 dollars, Espresso Gurus still has you covered with our best espresso machines for home use list (Best Espresso Machines Under 100, Best Espresso Machines Under 200, Best Espresso Machines Under 300). But If you don’t want to compromise features and functionality for price, then without further ado Espresso Gurus presents to you the best espresso machines under $500 for home or office use.

*The list below is in no particular order.

Gaggia Brera





Gaggia Brera Review

Our first pick for the best espresso machine under 500 dollars is Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine. Lets go straight into its review and find out why this Super-Automatic espresso machine is the best espresso machine you can get for your home or office.

Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine

Don’t let the compact size of this espresso machine by Gaggia fool you. You will discover that it’s worth every penny you pay for it with all of its wonderful features that helps to make it the Best Espresso Machine list. You will love the freedom that it gives you to make a lot of different espresso beverages that will make you look a professional whether you’ve ever made espresso before or not.

Easy Access Features – Easy To Use

This espresso machine is extremely easy to use especially with it’s easy access features. All the items on it such as the dregs drawer, water tank and the drip tray can all be accessed from the front and this makes it so much easier to use as well as for easy and quick cleaning as well as any maintenance that you might need to perform on it.

How To Make Espresso With Gaggia Brera?

There is a reason they call this beast a Super-Automatic. Think of Gaggia Brera as your own personal barista. This barista works for you 24 hr / 7 days a week. No matter when you want a barista style and quality drink Gaggia Brera is there for you. The reason we like to call this espresso machine a personal barista is because it does every thing for you.

All you have to do is put the coffee beans in the bean hopper on the top and with a press of a button Gaggia Brera will do everything for you to make you some of the best drinks you have ever tasted. It will grind the coffee bean right on the spot for the most freshest taste possible with its built-in coffee grinder and will deliver an awesome espresso every time. Let’s see how easy it is to make your favorite espresso drink with Gaggia Brera Super-Automatic Espresso Machine.

Espresso Brewing Instructions

Step # 1

Put your favorite coffee beans straight into the bean hopper on top of Gaggia Brera. Adjust the grind with the nob according to your taste.

Gaggia Brera has paid a lot on attention to the design and features of this espresso machine. Gaggia Brera also allows you to use pre-ground coffee of your choice. So in this case if you want to drink different types of coffee Gaggia Brera has you covered. You wont have to constantly change the beans out of the machine every time you want to change your coffee type instead you can use different types of pre-ground coffee.

Step # 2

With a touch of a button you can choose how strong or mild you want your espresso to be.

Step # 3

Choose the volume of your drink. With the touch panel you can choose how much espresso you require. (Single Shot / Double Shot)

Step # 4

Sit back, relax and now drink some of the best espresso. That’s all. This is one of the most user friendly espresso machines in its price range.

Gaggia Brera Review

Gaggia Brera – User Friendly Control Panel

You’ll also be pleased with it’s nice looking and very user friendly control display that it has on the front. It has easy to use push button controls on it and the nice LED display screen has well illuminated icons that make it very easy to use and have a very intuitive experience each time you go to brew your favorite espresso beverage.

Use Whole Coffee Beans Or Pre-Ground Coffee

One of the great things about this espresso machine is that you have the choice to use either your favorite ground coffee or you can choose your favorite whole bean coffee to use when you make your espressos, lattes and cappuccinos. This way you can choose to have the freshest brewed coffee in your neighborhood and you don’t even have to go anywhere to get it. You’ll have everyone impressed when you serve them up some of the best tasting coffee beverages around. This is yet another reason why this is the Best Espresso Machine Under 500 dollars in the market today.

Pannarello Wand – Steam & Froth

It also comes with an easy to use Pannarello wand that works wonders on frothing your milk for delicious tasting lattes and cappuccinos. The great thing about this wand is that it also doubles as a dispenser for hot water so you can also make americanos and your favorite teas.

Rapid Steam Technology – No Wait – Extremely Quick

You also won’t have to wait very long for any of your espresso beverages. Unlike all that time you waste waiting in line at your favorite coffeehouse, the wait time with this wonderful machine is extremely quick because of the rapid steam technology that it has. It will quickly heat up for a robust brew and quickly heats up for any steaming operations that you need done. Another great feature that helps make this the Best Espresso Machine to consider.

Finally, you’ll love it’s compact size, it measures 15.5” x 10” x 11.5” so it won’t take up all that much room in your kitchen. I also is a very nice looking machine with it’s really elegant look of brushed stainless steel that not only looks nice but is extremely easy to wipe off and keep clean. This machine will look good in any kitchen. No doubt you will find this to be the best home espresso machine. Don’t take our word for it, take a look at what Fried Coffee has to say about the Gaggia Brera in their review.

Gaggia Brera Home Espresso Machine

Breville Infuser

Breville BES840XL Review

The Infuser Espresso Machine

Our second pick for the best espresso machine under $500 is the Breville BES840XL The Infuser Espresso Machine. Lets see why this espresso machine made it to our list for the best home espresso machines.

Breville The Infuser – Even Extraction System

In order for your espresso to have a nice well balanced flavor you need a machine that knows how to draw out that special flavor from your coffee grinds through an even extraction system. This is what you’ll find with this espresso machine from Breville. It doesn’t start off with high bursts of pressure but instead starts off with a steady and low pressure that helps to gently expand the coffee grinds. This is what helps to fill in any gaps, cracks and irregularities you might find in a coffee puck. All this is done before the full pressure is applied for full extraction. This is probably the key feature that makes this the second best home espresso machine.

Automatic Features: Special Temperature Settings + Volumetric Control + Pre-Infusion Technology + Thermocoil Heating System + PID Temp Control Tech

This espresso machine also has some great automatic features such as special temperature settings and a variety of other features you can program like the volumetric control. Other wonderful features you’ll find with this machine are the pre-infusion technology, thermocoil heating system is what circulates the water through its heated coil and can heat your water on demand, and the PID temperature control technology.

61 Ounce – Huge Water Tank

It also features a nice big water tank that can hold up to 61 ounces of water and the water tank is easy to remove so that you can quickly fill it or clean it. It also has its own water filter that is replaceable and it helps to cut down on the impurities from your tap water and keeps the need for descaling down to a minimum.

Dry Puck Feature

This machine also has a dry puck feature. What this does is removes all the excess water from your ground coffee in the filter basket which makes it quick and easy to dispose of and to keep the coffee puck nice and clean.

Breville BES840XL – Pressure Gauge

It also has a great espresso pressure gauge that enables you to make sure that you can easily monitor the extraction pressure and always know if the espresso is being over or under extracted. This is a great feature for the more experienced coffee brewer. One that many experienced users really love about this machine and helps make it the Best Espresso Machine Under 500 dollars.

Program Customized Shot Volumes

This machine also lets you set your own shot volumes or you can use the ones already programmed in, it’s all up to your own personal preferences. Once you learn what you like the best you can easily program your customized preferences into the machine and not have to worry about it after that. This enables you to have however much control over the brewing that you want. This is another nice thing about this machine that makes it the best espresso machine out there.

Breville BES840XL The Infuser Espresso Machine

It also comes with both a steam wand and it’s own dedicated outlet that’s for producing instant hot water whenever you want it. This hot water line lets you make your own hot chocolate, favorite teas or americanos. It’s also great for warming up your cups as well. The steam wand makes it nearly effortless for you to froth milk for delicious tasting and beautiful looking cappuccinos and lattes that will impress even the most picky of espresso beverage drinkers. Just a couple of more reasons why this is the top espresso machine to get.

Take a look at how customers have rated Breville The Infuser Espresso Machine. Breville”s customer ratings show that the customers also agree that this is one of the highest ranking espresso machines you can buy under $500.

Breville Infuser Espresso Machine

Gaggia Classic

Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine

The third pick for The Best Espresso Machine Under $500 is Gaggia’s Classic espresso machine. Lets see why this espresso machine made it to our list of the best espresso machines for home or office.

Gaggia Classic – Review

Here’s a great espresso machine that not only has a classic espresso design but is extremely easy to use. Gaggia Classic is probably the ideal machine for both beginners and experts in the art of making delicious tasting espresso beverages. The best part is that you can serve up wonderful espressos, lattes and cappuccinos right in your own kitchen.

Gaggia Classic’s – Pannarello Wand

This espresso machine lets you easily brew single and double shots at at the same time which makes it convenient for the user. It also has a nice Pannarello wand that helps you froth your milk easily and quickly so you can make coffeehouse quality lattes and cappuccinos without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. This wand also can be used for just hot water so you can make your favorite tea or brew an americano if you wish. This helps make it the most wished for Espresso Machine by beginners and pros.

Huge Water Tank 72 Ounce Capacity

The water reservoir is extremely large and can hold up to 72 ounces of water. It’s very easy to get to and to remove so you can fill it up. It’s easy removal also makes it very quick and easy to clean up as well. This water reservoir is large enough that you can brew a variety of coffee beverages for yourself and friends without much wait time. You’ll impress them with the delicious brews you’ll be serving as soon as you plug it in.

User Friendly – Easy To Use

The controls are both easy to read, understand and use. If you have never used an espresso machine before, it doesn’t matter with this espresso machine. It’s so easy to use that you’ll be producing perfect espresso and other espresso beverages the very first time you use it. You’ll love this machine so much you may never want to go stand in those long lines at your local coffeehouse, ever again. Being so easy to use is yet another reason why it is ranked the top espresso machine.

Stainless Steel Body – Classic Look

This great looking classic espresso machine is easy to take care of with its stainless steel body which is simple and easy to keep clean and it has a nice simple and classic look that will fit in well with just about any kitchen décor. Making it easier to keep clean it also has a three way solenoid valve that has a commercial feature that allows for no drip operation and the puck is always left dry so it’s easy to knock out and clean. It also has a nice drain tray that helps to keep your kitchen counters free of any messes.

Gaggia Classic – Best Espresso Machine Under 500

You’ll also like that it comes with a commercial style portafilter and it’s made from reliable and sturdy brass that is chrome plated. It comes with three different styles of portafilter baskets that give you the ability to look like you are a professional barista even if you’re just a beginner. Gaggia Classic’s 690+ customers agree that this is the best espresso machine.

Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine

De’Longhi Nespresso

De’Longhi America Review

If you’re looking for an espresso machine that uses the Nespresso system and works like a pro in your own home you won’t have to look any further than this one by De’Longhi. They have put together a wonderful machine that will impress even the most experienced of baristas and will have you producing delicious tasting coffee beverages before you know it. Majority of the owners of this machine rank this machine on the top for its price.

De’Longhi Automatic Latte Crema System

You won’t be disappointed with this machine and how well it brews with its patented De’Longhi automatic latte crema system that will help you make some of the most luscious tasting cappuccinos and lattes you’ve ever had. Once you start using this machine you’ll think that you have your own personal coffeehouse right in your very own kitchen.

Sensor Touch Display

De’Longhi America espresso machine is so easy to use, even a child could figure out how to use it with its easy to use sensor touch display. This easy to use control display allows you to pick from six different pre-programmed drinks. You can choose from ristrettos, lungos, cappuccinos, espressos, lattes, hot milk and hot water for your favorite tea. This great system takes all the guesswork out of brewing your favorite hot coffee beverages. Yet another great reason why this is the Best Espresso Machine Under 500 dollars.

Nespresso Grand Cru Coffee Capsule System

Making it even easier to use is the fact that it uses the Nespresso Grand Cru coffee capsule system. This not only takes all the hard work out of making perfect espresso drinks it has a nice variety of different coffees that you can choose from all of them pre-portioned to use for perfect brews each time. The reason it brews the perfect espresso each time is because it uses 19 bars of water pressure to extract the best tasting espresso you can get at home.

Convenient Cup Support

It also has a convenient cup support that is chrome plated and will fold out so you can prepare smaller cups of ristretto and espresso. When you want to brew bigger beverages the cup support easily folds down so you will have enough room for those larger glasses. This is a nice convenient feature that most who own it love and feel that it’s just another reason why this is the best choice.

Auto-Cleaning Feature

There is a really nice auto-cleaning feature for the milk carafe that comes with this machine. With this feature you don’t have to take your machine apart after every drink that you prepare. This is because it has a milk regulator knob that can be turned to the “clean” option. When you do this it will release a stream of super hot water for 15 seconds. The water will shoot through the milk wand and will clean and sanitize it making it quickly ready for the next beverage you want to brew. This is a wonderful feature that helps make this one of the best nespresso machines for home.

De’Longhi – Home Espresso Machine

This machine is designed to simply make things easier for you. One way it does that is with its easy to remove capsule container. This container is under the drip tray and it will hold 16 used capsules. This means you have to make less trips to the trash saving you time and effort. The milk container can be easily removed as well and you can take it off and put in in the refrigerator with any milk you didn’t use. This way you can save the milk for the next time you need it instead of wasting it.

De’Longhi Nespresso Machine

That brings us to the end of our list of the best espresso machines under $500 for your home. No matter which espresso machine you choose you can rest assured that you bought the best home espresso machine.

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Espresso Gurus does its best to provide its readers with honest reviews on products we believe to be of high quality. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any equipment you purchase you should immediately contact the seller of the equipment. We are not responsible for any loss or damages caused by any equipment that is shown or reviewed on our site. To get further details of the equipment contact the respective companies or the seller: De’Longhi, Gaggia, Breville.