5 Best Affordable Home Espresso Machines for Coffee Shop Drinks at Home

If your favorite little treat is stopping for an iced latte, caramel macchiato, or cappuccino, you already know how quickly those coffee shop visits add up.

A $6 drink here and a $7 drink there doesn’t feel like much in the moment. But five $6 coffee runs a week adds up to about $130 a month — or more than $1,500 a year.

That’s one reason a home espresso machine can be such a great investment.

And no, you do not need to spend $700 or $1,000 on a fancy espresso machine to make delicious coffee drinks at home.

There are plenty of affordable home espresso machines that can make espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffee drinks, and more. Some require you to learn a few basic barista skills, while others are as simple as popping in a capsule and pressing a button.

I’ve narrowed it down to five of the best affordable home espresso machines for everyday coffee drinkers, with options starting around $100.

The 5 Best Affordable Home Espresso Machines

Best Overall: Nespresso Vertuo Pop+
Best Budget Espresso Machine: CASABREWS CM5418
Best for Beginners: De’Longhi Stilosa
Best Coffee & Espresso Combo: Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System
Best Affordable Upgrade: Breville Bambino

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

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1. Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ — Best Overall

If you want coffee shop-style drinks at home without actually learning how to become a barista, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is probably the best place to start.

It’s compact, easy to use, and typically costs around $130, although Nespresso machines frequently go on sale.

Instead of grinding beans, measuring coffee, tamping grounds, and timing espresso shots, you simply insert a compatible Nespresso Vertuo capsule and press a button.

The machine reads the capsule and automatically adjusts its brewing parameters for the drink you’re making.

It can brew several coffee sizes, including both regular coffee and espresso, which makes it much more versatile than a traditional single-purpose espresso machine.

Why We Love It

Convenience.

There is practically no learning curve.

If you can put a coffee capsule into a machine and press a button, you can make espresso with a Nespresso.

That makes it especially appealing for busy mornings when you want a latte but don’t necessarily want to measure, grind, tamp, brew, steam, and clean everything afterward.

The Vertuo Pop+ is also small enough that it won’t take over your entire kitchen counter.

Pair it with a separate milk frother and suddenly you have everything you need to make lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and plenty of copycat coffee shop drinks.

Best Features

• Simple one-button brewing
• Makes coffee and espresso
• Compact design
• Multiple drink sizes
• Very little cleanup
• No separate coffee grinder needed
• Great for hot and iced drinks
• Beginner friendly

One Thing to Know

Nespresso Vertuo machines use Vertuo capsules rather than regular ground coffee.

That makes the machine incredibly convenient, but capsules generally cost more per serving than buying whole coffee beans.

If you drink several espresso drinks every day, the ongoing capsule cost is worth considering.

Who Should Buy It?

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is ideal for anyone who wants easy coffee shop-style drinks without the work of a traditional espresso machine.

It’s especially good for busy parents, college students, small kitchens, beginner coffee drinkers, and anyone switching from an expensive coffee shop habit.

Typical price: Around $130

Best for: Convenience, beginners, iced lattes, everyday coffee drinkers

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2. CASABREWS CM5418 — Best Budget Espresso Machine

Want an actual espresso machine for around $100?

The CASABREWS CM5418 is one of the most affordable ways to start making traditional espresso drinks at home.

Unlike the Nespresso, this machine uses ground coffee and a portafilter. That means you’ll need to measure your coffee, tamp it, brew your espresso, and froth your own milk.

But that’s also part of its appeal.

For around the cost of 15–20 coffee shop drinks, you can have a machine capable of making espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and more.

Why We Love It

It’s affordable enough for someone who is curious about making espresso at home but isn’t ready to invest hundreds of dollars into a machine.

It also includes a steam wand, so you can froth milk for hot coffee drinks.

There’s definitely more of a learning curve than you’ll find with a Nespresso machine, but once you get the hang of it, you have much more control over your drinks.

Best Features

• Very affordable
• Uses ground coffee
• Steam wand
• Compact footprint
• Makes single or double espresso
• Great entry point for homemade lattes
• Gives you a traditional espresso-making experience

One Thing to Know

This is a budget espresso machine.

Don’t expect it to perform exactly like a $1,000 setup.

But if your goal is making tasty homemade lattes without spending a fortune, it provides a surprisingly affordable way to get started.

You can also begin with pre-ground espresso coffee and purchase a grinder later if you decide espresso making is becoming a serious hobby.

Who Should Buy It?

Choose the CASABREWS if you want the traditional espresso experience for the lowest possible investment.

Typical price: Around $100–$140

Best for: Budget shoppers, first-time espresso owners, latte drinkers

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3. De’Longhi Stilosa — Best Beginner Traditional Espresso Machine

If you want to learn how to make traditional espresso but still want to keep your initial investment reasonable, the De’Longhi Stilosa is another great option.

Typically priced around $150, it’s significantly less expensive than many of the espresso machines you’ll see recommended online.

You won’t find a touchscreen, automatic milk system, or built-in grinder.

Instead, you get a straightforward espresso machine with a portafilter and manual milk frother.

And sometimes simple is exactly what you need.

Why We Love It

The Stilosa lets you learn the basics of espresso without making a huge financial commitment.

You can experiment with different coffee, practice tamping, learn how to froth milk, and figure out exactly how you like your drinks.

If you discover that making espresso is your new favorite hobby, you can always upgrade later.

But you might also discover that this machine does everything you need.

Best Features

• Affordable price
• 15-bar pump
• Manual milk frother
• Stainless-steel boiler
• Compact design
• Single and double espresso options
• Traditional portafilter brewing

One Thing to Know

This isn’t a push-a-button-and-walk-away machine.

You’ll need to put a little effort into learning how to prepare your espresso and steam your milk.

For some people, that’s a downside.

For others, it’s half the fun.

Who Should Buy It?

The De’Longhi Stilosa is a great choice for someone who wants to learn how to make espresso drinks without spending several hundred dollars on their first machine.

Typical price: Around $150

Best for: Beginners, traditional espresso, cappuccino and latte drinkers

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4. Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System — Best Coffee and Espresso Combo

Here’s the problem with buying an espresso machine:

Sometimes you just want coffee.

Or maybe you love lattes, but your spouse wants a traditional cup of coffee every morning.

That’s where the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System really stands out.

Instead of taking up counter space with separate coffee and espresso machines, this system can handle both.

It can brew regular ground coffee into anything from a single cup to a full carafe while also brewing espresso using compatible Nespresso Original capsules.

That makes it one of the most versatile machines on this list.

Why We Love It

This is a fantastic family coffee machine.

You can make a pot of regular coffee in the morning and then make an espresso drink later in the day without needing two separate appliances.

It also has a built-in folding frother for milk.

That means you can use the espresso side to make lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, iced espresso drinks, and plenty of your favorite coffee shop copycat recipes.

Best Features

• Brews regular ground coffee
• Brews espresso capsules
• Compatible with Nespresso Original-style capsules
• Built-in milk frother
• Multiple coffee sizes
• Can brew a full carafe
• Great for hot and iced drinks
• Replaces multiple coffee appliances

One Thing to Know

The espresso side uses capsules rather than loose espresso grounds.

If you’re looking for the traditional barista experience of grinding, tamping, and pulling your own espresso shots, choose the De’Longhi, CASABREWS, or Breville instead.

Who Should Buy It?

The Ninja is perfect for households where different people like different types of coffee.

It’s also worth considering if you’re trying to replace both your traditional coffee maker and your coffee shop habit with one appliance.

Typical price: Around $230–$280

Best for: Families, regular coffee drinkers, espresso drinkers, entertaining

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5. Breville Bambino — Best Affordable Upgrade

At around $300, the Breville Bambino is the most expensive machine on this list.

But it’s our splurge pick for a reason.

If you’ve started making espresso at home and want something a little more sophisticated — without jumping into the $600, $800, or even $1,000 price range — the Bambino is an excellent middle ground.

One of its biggest selling points is speed.

Breville’s ThermoJet heating system can bring the machine up to brewing temperature in about three seconds.

So even though you’re making traditional espresso, you don’t have to wait around forever for the machine to heat up.

Why We Love It

The Bambino packs many of the features people actually care about into a relatively compact machine.

It uses a 54mm portafilter, low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction, and a manual steam wand for milk.

It’s small, fast, and gives you much more control over your espresso than a capsule machine.

Best Features

• Approximately three-second heat-up
• Compact design
• 54mm portafilter
• Manual steam wand
• Single and double espresso
• Traditional espresso preparation
• Great stepping stone into serious home espresso

One Thing to Know

The Bambino does not have a built-in grinder.

You can start with quality pre-ground espresso, but if you really get into espresso making, you’ll probably eventually want a good burr grinder.

That increases the overall cost of your setup.

Who Should Buy It?

The Breville Bambino is for someone who wants better control and room to grow without spending a small fortune on an espresso machine.

Typical price: Around $300

Best for: Espresso enthusiasts, frequent latte drinkers, people ready to upgrade

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Which Affordable Espresso Machine Is Best for You?

If you’re still not sure, here’s the easiest way to decide.

Buy the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ if…

You want the easiest option possible.

Insert a capsule, push a button, add milk, and you’re done.

Buy the CASABREWS CM5418 if…

Your budget is around $100 and you want a traditional espresso machine.

Buy the De’Longhi Stilosa if…

You want an affordable machine that lets you learn how to make traditional espresso and froth your own milk.

Buy the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System if…

Your household drinks both regular coffee and espresso drinks and you’d rather have one machine than several appliances.

Buy the Breville Bambino if…

You’re willing to spend closer to $300 for a machine that gives you more control and room to grow.

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Nespresso vs. Traditional Espresso Machine: Which Is Better?

This is probably the biggest decision you’ll need to make.

And there isn’t one right answer.

Nespresso wins on convenience.

There are no coffee grounds all over your counter. You don’t need to buy a grinder. You don’t have to learn how hard to tamp your coffee or why yesterday’s espresso shot tasted amazing but today’s tastes terrible.

You put in the capsule and push the button.

A traditional espresso machine wins on control and long-term coffee cost.

Whole beans or ground espresso are generally less expensive per serving than capsules. You can also experiment with different coffee beans, grind sizes, extraction times, and techniques.

So ask yourself one question:

Do I want making coffee to be convenient, or do I want making espresso to become part of the experience?

That answer will probably tell you which type of machine you’ll enjoy most.

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Do You Need a Milk Frother?

If you’re making straight espresso or Americanos, probably not.

If your goal is recreating coffee shop drinks, absolutely.

A milk frother opens up an entirely different world of homemade coffee drinks.

You can make:

• Lattes
• Cappuccinos
• Caramel macchiatos
• Mocha lattes
• Vanilla lattes
• Pumpkin spice lattes
• Peppermint mochas
• Iced shaken espresso drinks
• Cold foam drinks

Traditional machines such as the CASABREWS, De’Longhi, and Breville have steam wands.

With Nespresso, you’ll want to add a separate milk frother unless you purchase a bundle that includes one.

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How Much Money Can You Save Making Lattes at Home?

This is where buying an espresso machine starts making a lot more sense.

Let’s say your typical coffee shop order costs $6.

If you buy one five days per week, you’re spending:

$30 per week

That’s about:

$130 per month

Or:

$1,560 per year

And that’s before adding an extra coffee run, breakfast sandwich, cake pop, tip, or the inevitable “Since I’m already here…” purchase.

Of course, homemade coffee isn’t free.

You’ll still need coffee beans or capsules, milk, syrups, sauces, and other ingredients.

But you can make many coffee shop-inspired drinks at home for considerably less than buying them individually.

A $130 Nespresso machine could cost roughly the same as about 22 $6 coffee shop drinks.

A $150 espresso machine equals about 25 $6 drinks.

Even a $300 machine costs the equivalent of about 50 $6 coffee shop drinks.

For someone who visits a coffee shop several times a week, that’s not nearly as outrageous an investment as it initially sounds.

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Don’t Forget About Iced Coffee Drinks

Your espresso machine isn’t just for hot coffee.

In fact, if you’re an iced-latte person, you may end up using it even more during warmer months.

Pull your espresso over your favorite syrup, add milk and ice, and suddenly you have a homemade iced latte in a couple of minutes.

Stock your kitchen with a few coffee syrups, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and cold foam ingredients, and you can recreate an impressive number of coffee shop drinks.

And unlike the coffee shop, nobody is going to charge you an extra dollar because you wanted another splash of cold foam.

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What Should You Spend on Your First Espresso Machine?

For most people, I think $100–$300 is a perfectly reasonable range for a first home espresso machine.

You don’t need the fanciest machine on the market.

You need something you’ll actually use.

If you’ve never made espresso before and aren’t sure you’ll enjoy the process, spending $800 on your first machine probably doesn’t make much sense.

Start with something affordable.

Learn what you like.

And if making espresso turns into your new favorite hobby, you can always upgrade later.

You don’t need a thousand-dollar espresso setup to stop spending a fortune at the coffee shop.

For most everyday coffee drinkers, my top pick is the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+.

It’s affordable, compact, incredibly easy to use, and gives you the flexibility to make both coffee and espresso. Add a milk frother and a few of your favorite syrups, and you have the beginnings of a pretty impressive home coffee bar.

If you want traditional espresso on a tight budget, look at the CASABREWS CM5418 or De’Longhi Stilosa.

For a household that needs regular coffee and espresso, the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System offers the best of both worlds.

And if you’re ready to spend a little more and learn the art of making espresso, the Breville Bambino is a great machine to grow into.

The best espresso machine isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.

It’s the one that makes it easy enough — and enjoyable enough — that you actually start making your coffee at home instead of automatically reaching for the coffee shop app every morning.