The 11 Best Espresso Machines Between $1000 – $2000 (Guide)

Last Updated on November 16, 2021 by John Moretti

Many people that love their coffee would be a little hesitant to spend more than $1000 on a machine that makes coffee – really delicious, excellent, incredible coffee, but coffee nevertheless- but experiencing that coffee from one of those machines may very well change your mind!

The 11 Best Espresso Machines between $1000 and $2000 are 

  1. Jura E8 
  2. Gaggia Babila 
  3. La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II
  4. Breville BES 920XL
  5. Delonghi Eletta
  6. Rocket Appartamento
  7. Saeco PicoBaristo
  8. Miele CM 6150
  9. La Pavoni PC 16
  10. Quickmill Alexia 
  11. Bezzera Unica

These machines deliver coffee far and away superior to machines below this price level, from super-automatic to semi-automatic. That first sip of exquisitely made java could easily make you reach for your credit card and buy one without a hint of hesitation! Now, let’s explore these in a bit more detail.

1. Jura E8 Super – Automatic Espresso Machine – Top Pick

Jura E8 Piano Black Automatic Coffee Machine
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

For many coffee lovers and baristas alike, the Jura E8 is the ultimate machine. Whatever you may have at the moment, no matter how much you love it, there is something extraordinary about the E8.

Jura as a brand is often referred to as the ‘Rolex’ of coffee machines. This is a testament to the precision of design, manufacture, and the superior quality materials they utilize in production.

Besides the aesthetics, the main attraction for this machine is the quality of coffee and the variety of drinks it can produce at the touch of a button on a full-color TFT screen, but the brewing process is where the magic lies.

Using their unique Pulse Extraction Process to deliver superior flavor, aroma through optimum extraction, the coffee this machine produces is simply exceptional. It’s so good that many people often experience new levels of depth in their taste, a bit like having your favorite dish cooked by a Michelin Chef!

Jura has taken the time to understand what coffee lovers want and delivered all of that and a bit more in the E8. For example, the days of managing the micro-foam levels are over as this is all controlled through the user interface.

The grinder is fully adjustable, and the array of drinks that this machine can deliver at the touch of a button is phenomenal. Grinding, tamping, extraction is all done automatically at the perfect brewing temperature.

Not only that, but you can save your specific drinks settings and those of friends and family to ensure consistent super-quality drinks every time you have guests. Maintenance and cleaning are effortless as the machine cleans the brew group and all you need to do is remove the grounds and some excess water.

If owning one of the finest super-automatic coffee machines ever made is your goal, then this one is undoubtedly the first choice.

2. Gaggia Babila

Gaggia Babila Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

World-renowned Italian manufacturer Gaggia has produced a real gem with the Babila. Exquisitely designed, this automatic espresso machine features a double boiler, one-touch operation, and automatic frother, as well as temperature and extraction control, making the Babila well worth the price.

The Babila has five one-touch drink options and eight programmable options for brewing drinks like ristrettos and lattes, and the burr grinder has 15 settings so you can achieve the exact grind for your coffee.

The steam wand and froth jug offer individual control for steaming and frothing if desired, and this machine is easily cleaned as the brew unit can be completely removed and replaced once clean.

The Babila produced excellent espresso and other milk-based drinks and offers individual control for the barista. Overall the Gaggia Babila is a sound and solid investment for less than $2000.

3. La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II

La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II BLACK Espresso Machine
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This machine is one of the most robust semi-automatic espresso makers as it can be used for both home and commercial applications. It is well suited for coffee trucks and coffee shops due to its dual boiler and large water reservoir.

If entertaining guests is a part of your lifestyle and you need a machine that can reel off cup after cup, then the Mini Vivaldi II would be an ideal choice. The power steam pressure delivers perfect micro-foam, and the manometer gives you exact pressure readings for exact brewing.

This is a semi-automatic machine as an integrated grinder is not included, and there is also no automatic frother so that the steam wand would be needed for frothy drinks. Still, the cup warmer is a great addition and gives the Vivaldi II a real presence.

It is surprisingly compact for its capacity and will fit neatly on a kitchen counter, in a coffee truck or café counter, and look like it truly belongs there.

If you prefer to feel like a barista in your café, then this is the machine for you.

4. Breville BES 920XL

Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel


Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This automatic espresso machine is sublime with its stainless steel design and dual-boiler system that delivers precise temperature control for rich brewing and depth of flavor.

With the dual boilers, the barista can precisely control the extraction temperature and draw steam for frothing at the same time, and with the pressure gauge, you can monitor the water pressure on the extraction site as well.

The 920XL is compact and sleek and has pre-programmed settings for one-and-two cup draws, and the shot duration and volume can be customized and saved.

Breville is becoming a global contender with espresso machines, and it’s not difficult to see why. This 920XL is a good example of a commercially capable product in a home setting, delivering all the capability that a pro barista would need to have customers coming back for more.

5. Delonghi Eletta

This is another pearl from Delonghi who is now a premier brand in the super-automatic espresso maker market. They have produced some truly excellent machines, and with the Lattecrema system producing superior quality foam for a range of drinks, the Eletta is a very good buy for about $2000. Like the Jura, it also has a second chamber for pre-ground coffee, so simply add it and brew if your favorite blend is already ground.

The self-cleaning steam wand system takes a lot of effort out of maintaining it,  and if having to repeatedly clean the steam wand to stop milk from caking on it was a pet peeve, then the Eletta could be your savior!

The grinder offers a full range of textures, and temperature controls appear on the front panel along with the volume, grind, and froth buttons, and this machine can make 11 drinks from the pre-programmed settings.

While the Eletta doesn’t have some of the more advanced features like the E8, and at this price level, there are better value options that deliver far more for your dollar.

6. Rocket Appartamento

Looking at this machine for the first time, it resembles a 1960s time machine with its sleep stainless steel design and analog controls, but this compact semi-automatic machine packs a serious punch!

This machine is completely analog, so if you prefer a more hands-on approach to brewing coffee, then the Appartamento could well find its way into your kitchen. 

One of the truly unique systems on this machine is the dual pre-infusion system that allows water to gently flow through the coffee, making for extremely rich, creamy extractions.

The machine uses a heat exchange boiler which means it can brew and steam simultaneously, and the water spout produces great quality froth drinks easily and quickly.

Aside from the brewing capability, it is an attention grabber and will not only impress your taste buds with the coffee it produces but will be a conversation piece for your dinner guests.

7. Saeco PicoBaristo

As one of the mid-priced units in this discussion, this fully automatic espresso maker punches above its weight with some high-tech features usually found on machines closer to the $2000 mark.

The single boiler has a 15-bar pump to provide powerful extraction pressure, and you have ten grinder settings as well as a touch screen control panel with up to 15 different drinks available at your fingertips.

Another high-end feature is that it can save up to six profiles, so saving your drinks settings is easy to provide that perfect drink consistency for you and five others. One more aspect of this machine is that it is super easy to clean!

Saeco has produced this machine with their Aqua clean water filter, and this will produce 5000 cups before requiring descaling! Now that is something worth buying! Its compact, sleek design will slot in anywhere and take up little space on a counter.

Removing the components for cleaning requires little effort, and the internal steaming system is self-cleaning, Essentially this machine is hands-free for operation, and all you need to do is select your drink and wait for it!

8. Miele CM 6150

Miele CM6150 Countertop Coffee Machine, Medium, Obsidian Black
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Looking at this machine for the first time and seeing the design and layout of the front panel, it honestly looks like an Apple iPod but for making coffee! While many other machines have similar knobs, buttons, or screens, this one utilizes the very familiar soft-touch pad style.

While not bursting with features like others listed here, this is a beautifully made machine that delivers outstanding coffee with little fuss and bother.

It has eight pre-programmed drink varieties and can prepare two drinks at once with dual extraction functionality. It also boasts four programmable user profiles as well as an internal grinder.

Another machine with the pre-brewing process, the CM 6150 also provides temperature and volume control and the adjustable steam spout for easy frothing and steaming.

9. La Pavoni PC 16 

La Pavoni PC-16 Professional Espresso Machine, Chrome
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The La Pavoni PC 16 is a manual machine and would require some knowledge of brewing and processes to produce the coffee you want. This is a lever-action coffee machine that allows the water to infuse before extraction.

This part will take some practice to achieve the right pressure. Hence this machine is not for the newcomers or if you want instant one-touch effortless coffee – but there is an element of personal touch involved, which may appeal to the more traditional baristas.

The only button is the power switch. The PC 16 is constructed from chrome-plated brass, making it an attractive conversation piece, not to mention the technical aspect of the extraction process and brewing! 

10. Quickmill Alexia

Quick Mill Alexia Evo Espresso Machine
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

It is made by the same company that makes the Rocket Appartamento. It is another manual machine with PID temperature control features, an expansion valve with easy access, a three-position power switch, and the traditional cup warmer.

This is a very well-made, solid old-school type espresso machine and if you enjoy pouring some of your own passion into your coffee, you will love the Alexia!

For the barista that desires more control over the espresso-making process. This is not for people who want an easy single-touch coffee delivered, but more for those who aspire to greater heights of hand-produced superb quality espresso.

11. Bezzera Unica

Bezzera Unica PID Kitchen Espresso Machine Tank Vibe Pump E61 Machine
Check Price on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This is one of the most stylish semi-automatic machines available. It is made from stainless steel with top-quality Italian components that give it an innate sense of style and sophistication. 

The PID temperature controls the brewing and steaming temperature, and the pressure gauge situated on the lower right side gives accurate pressure readings for precise control.

Using levers instead of knobs or buttons sets the Unica apart, and you can upgrade the standard black plastic handles to wooden ones for that extra bit of style! This is a single boiler machine, and so brewing and steaming are done independently.

It has a large water tank, so that refilling won’t be an issue, but you may need to descale more often than usual or use filtered water without a water filter.

This is a great machine for about $1500 and a good start for kicking off your barista career, and with some practice and experimentation, you can find yourself producing some superb quality coffees and drinks.

Conclusion 

From super-automatics to manual old-school, there is an espresso machine for the aspiring barista or people that simply want the exceptional convenience and consistency that the more high-end machines deliver.

Regardless of which one you opt for, any of these machines will provide you with what every coffee lover wants, and that is the very best shot of your favorite brew or milky drink to kickstart your day and keep your guests and family coming back for more.