Rankings
The De'Longhi Rivelia combines a stainless steel conical burr grinder, 13 grind settings, and an automatic LatteCrema milk system for versatile espresso drinks. Its tall design and relatively small bean hoppers may be inconvenient for high-volume users. It suits families or users who value convenience and customization.
The Ninja Luxe Café Pro is a 4-in-1 espresso system with an integrated grinder, hands-free frothing and a dedicated hot-water dispenser. Its trade-off is the lack of pre-infusion and limited brew-size options, which may disappoint power users. Best suited for beginners and everyday drinkers who value convenience over granular control.
The Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) is an all-in-one espresso machine featuring an integrated 16-setting conical burr grinder and rapid 60-second heat-up. Its single-boiler design limits back-to-back steaming and grind consistency can vary with oily beans. Ideal for beginners to intermediate users seeking a compact, hands-on espresso solution.
The Philips 3300 Series combines a ceramic flat-burr grinder with the automatic LatteGo milk system and silent-brew technology for quiet, convenient coffee making. It is limited by a modest selection of six specialty drinks and lacks smart connectivity. Perfect for home users seeking a compact, easy-to-use machine with automatic milk frothing.
The Gaggia Brera is a compact super-automatic espresso machine that grinds, doses and brews with one-touch simplicity, ideal for small kitchens. Its limited temperature control and occasional pump pressure issues can affect espresso quality for enthusiasts. Best suited for beginners and space-constrained households seeking convenience.
The Philips 2200 Series EP2220/14 offers a compact, entry-level bean-to-cup experience with a ceramic grinder and manual milk frother. Its limited drink selection and manual frothing require more user effort. Best suited for beginners and small-kitchen users who prioritize simplicity.
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore is a super-automatic machine with a built-in grinder, 19-bar pressure, and cold-brew capability, complemented by a 3.5" touchscreen and over 50 one-touch recipes. Its plastic construction and occasional reliability issues offset its extensive feature set. Suited for tech-savvy home users wanting hot and cold drinks with app control.
The De'Longhi Magnifica Start combines a built-in conical burr grinder with a manual steam wand in a compact, budget-friendly package. Its limited drink selection and plastic-dominant build constrain premium-level performance. Perfect for newcomers to super-automatic espresso seeking simplicity and value.
The Philips 1200 Series EP1220/04 offers a 12-step ceramic grinder, classic steam wand, and 15 bar pump in an affordable, space-saving design. Its manual steam wand and plastic construction limit premium feel and convenience for milk-based drinks. Suited for beginners or small households wanting a budget bean-to-cup machine with basic features.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 barbest | — | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 19 barbest | 15 bar | |
| ↓ lower better | — | — | 60 secondsbest | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ↓ lower better | 11.16 kg | 12.274 kg | 10.02 kg | 7 kg | 8 kg | 8.85 kg | 1.7 kgbest | 9.69 kg | 8.165 kg |
1,800 ml | 2,009 mlbest | 2,000 ml | 1,800 ml | 1,800 ml | 1,800 ml | 1,800 ml | 1,400 ml | 1,200 ml | |
384.3 mm | 376.7 mm | 404 mm | 371 mm | 371 mm | 355 mm | 432 mmbest | 375 mm | 330.2 mm | |
300 g | 340 gbest | 230 g | 275 g | 280 g | 250 g | 275 g | 250 g | 250 g | |
260.35 mm | 317 mm | 318 mmbest | 246 mm | 246 mm | 240 mm | 244 mm | 248 mm | 254 mm | |
444.5 mm | 339.7 mm | 351 mm | 433 mm | 433 mm | 440 mm | 371 mm | 432 mm | 457.2 mmbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | |||||||||
Pump Pressure (bar) | 19 bar | — | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 19 bar | 15 bar |
Capacity(3) | |||||||||
Water Tank Capacity (ml) | 1800 ml | 2009 ml | 2000 ml | 1800 ml | 1800 ml | 1800 ml | 1800 ml | 1400 ml | 1200 ml |
Bean Hopper Capacity (g) | 300 g | 340 g | 230 g | 275 g | 280 g | 250 g | 275 g | 250 g | 250 g |
Maximum Cup Height (mm) | 170.18 mm | 203 mm | 102 mm | 145 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm | — | 140 mm | 114.3 mm |
Features(4) | |||||||||
Steam Wand | true | true | true | true | true | true | false | true | true |
Steam Wand Type | — | insulated steam wand | Manual | Classic steam wand | LatteGo | Manual | — | LatteCrema Hot System | stainless steel pannarello with auto‑frothing |
Grinder Type | Flat ceramic / conical | Stainless steel conical burr | Conical burr | Ceramic | Ceramic flat burr | Conical burr | Ceramic flat burr | Stainless steel conical burr | ceramic flat burr |
Grind Settings (steps) | 13 steps | 25 steps | 16 steps | 12 steps | 12 steps | 13 steps | 12 steps | 13 steps | 5 steps |
Design & Build(5) | |||||||||
Height (mm) | 384.30 mm | 376.7 mm | 404 mm | 371 mm | 371 mm | 355 mm | 432 mm | 375 mm | 330.2 mm |
Width (mm) | 260.35 mm | 317 mm | 318 mm | 246 mm | 246 mm | 240 mm | 244 mm | 248 mm | 254 mm |
Depth (mm) | 444.50 mm | 339.7 mm | 351 mm | 433 mm | 433 mm | 440 mm | 371 mm | 432 mm | 457.2 mm |
Weight (kg) | 11.16 kg | 12.274 kg | 10.02 kg | 7.0 kg | 8 kg | 8.85 kg | 1.7 kg | 9.69 kg | 8.165 kg |
Primary Material | Plastic | plastic/stainless steel | Brushed Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic/Metal | — | Mixed (stainless steel, plastic, aluminum, copper) | — |
Power & Electrical(3) | |||||||||
Voltage (V) | 120 V | 120 V | 120 V | — | — | 220-240 V | 120 V | 115 V | 120 V |
Power Consumption (W) | 1250 W | 1650 W | 1600 W | 1500 W | 1500 W | 1450 W | 1500 W | 1450 W | 1250 W |
Frequency (Hz) | 60 Hz | — | — | 50 Hz | 50 Hz | 50-60 Hz | 60 Hz | — | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Eletta Explore for its Cold Brew capability, Bean Adapt technology, and extensive recipe library, noting the convenience of one-touch operation and a versatile milk system. However, they criticize its high brewing temperature, average grinder, plastic build, and single-boiler design that can slow back-to-back milk drinks.
Everyday users appreciate the machine's ease of use, rapid Cold Brew and iced options, reliable foam quality, and the included travel mug, while repeatedly mentioning the need for frequent cleaning, plastic durability concerns, a noisy grinder, and occasional leaks or error codes.
“Ease of use for daily lattes/espressos, quick Cold Brew/iced options, consistent foam, and app customization”
“Portafilter, Single, double, and Luxe filter baskets, Assisted tamper, XL milk jug, Cleaning brush/disc, Descaling powder, Descaling tablets, Hard water test kit, User manual”
“great coffee and espresso”
Choose the Ninja Luxe Café Pro for guided, all-in-one brewing and cold-brew capability; choose the Breville Barista Express if you prefer manual control and advanced espresso tweaking.
Choose De'Longhi if you need automatic milk frothing; choose Philips for simpler operation and quieter grinding.
Opt for the 2200 if you want automatic milk handling; the 1200 is ideal if budget and simplicity are priorities.
Professional reviewers praise the Ninja Luxe Café Pro for its all-in-one versatility, integrated grinder with scale, and hands-free frothing, calling it a strong competitor to the Breville Barista Express. They commend the Barista Assist guidance and hot-water functionality, but criticize the lack of pre-infusion, limited brew size, and fewer advanced temperature controls for seasoned baristas.
Home users consistently highlight the machine's ease of use, hands-free frothing, and ability to produce multiple coffee styles from a single unit, noting that the guided interface makes espresso approachable for beginners while offering enough flexibility for more experienced drinkers.
Professional reviewers consider the Barista Express a solid entry-level hybrid, praising its integrated grinder, rapid thermoblock heating, and 15-bar pump with pre-infusion. They acknowledge its value for beginners but note drawbacks such as the single-boiler architecture and limited grind settings, which keep it from matching higher-end models.
Everyday users appreciate the convenience of an all-in-one machine, the fresh espresso flavor, and the stylish stainless-steel look. Common complaints revolve around inconsistent grinding with certain beans, the steam wait due to a single boiler, and the extra effort required for manual tamping and cleaning.
Professional reviewers describe the Philips 1200 as a solid, beginner-friendly machine with a quiet ceramic grinder, adjustable cup height and reliable 15 bar extraction, but criticize its basic manual milk wand, average plastic build and limited drink repertoire.
Everyday users appreciate the one-touch simplicity, consistent coffee quality from the 12-step grinder and easy cleaning, while repeatedly mentioning the finicky manual frother, noisy grinding and the small waste bin as common pain points.
Professional reviewers position the Philips 3300 as a solid entry-level fully automatic espresso machine that delivers quiet operation, a user-friendly touch interface, and an easy-to-clean LatteGo system. While praised for its compact size and reliable ceramic grinder, critics highlight its limited drink repertoire, lack of connectivity, and absence of customizable profiles.
Home users consistently commend the Philips 3300 for its plug-and-play simplicity, compact footprint, and hassle-free milk frothing. Common praise centers on ease of use, sturdy build, and quiet brewing. Recurring complaints focus on the limited number of beverage options, no smart connectivity, and the inability to save or fine-tune drink parameters.
Professional reviewers commend the Magnifica Start for its quick grind time, solid espresso quality and excellent value in a compact package, while noting the lack of advanced features such as pre-infusion, automatic milk handling and a more premium build.
Everyday users love the consistent coffee quality, compact size and straightforward cleaning, but they frequently mention noise during operation, the need to manually froth milk, and a feeling that the plastic housing feels less upscale.
Professional reviewers commend the Philips 2200 for its precise ceramic grinder, compact size and low-maintenance AquaClean system, describing it as a solid entry-level machine that delivers good espresso for beginners. However, they note the limited drink selection, manual milk frothing and short warranty as drawbacks for more demanding users.
Everyday users appreciate the intuitive touch interface, consistent coffee quality from fresh beans and the ease of cleaning thanks to dishwasher-safe parts and the AquaClean filter. Recurring frustrations focus on the manual frother's learning curve, limited beverage options and a perception of a less premium plastic build.
Professional reviewers commend the Rivelia for delivering café-quality espresso with minimal effort, thanks to its robust grinder and automatic milk frothing, but caution its considerable height and feature complexity.
Everyday users love the convenience of one-touch brewing, the quality of freshly ground espresso, and the flexibility of multiple drink options and user profiles. Common frustrations revolve around the machine's tall stature, the need to refill relatively small bean hoppers often, and the perceived complexity of its many automatic functions.
Professional reviewers commend the Brera for its tiny footprint, affordable price under $600, and reliable ceramic burr grinder, while noting the integrated grinder and limited temperature control limit its appeal to serious espresso enthusiasts.
Everyday users appreciate the straightforward interface, space-saving design and convenient front-loading water tank, but many report pressure fluctuations, inconsistent dosing and wish for more temperature adjustability.
