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Words cannot espresso how much we love these picks.

Looking for a way to cut back on coffee without totally ditching your beloved morning latte? Trying espresso may not be the only answer, but it’s worth a shot…or two! Buying an espresso machine is a worthy investment for more reasons than just saving money by skipping the coffee shop (though that certainly doesn’t hurt). There are health benefits to making the switch, too: Studies show that dark roasted coffees like espresso can reduce the production of stomach acid, and Dr. Michael Yassa, Professor and Chancellor's Fellow of Neurobiology and Behavior Psychiatry and Human Behavior Neurology at the University of California, Irvine, found that regular espresso consumption can also improve your long-term memory.

Making espresso at home might seem difficult without proper barista skills, but it's a cinch when you have the right equipment. Whether you’re an espresso enthusiast or amateur, we’ve rounded up all the information you need to find the best espresso maker for you.

Want to get the most out of your coffee experience? Check out our recommendations for the best coffee grinders.

We asked our expert friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute for their hot take on the best espresso machines. Their team of on-staff experts—which includes all types: engineers! data analysts! registered dietitians!—rigorously put everyday products to the test (and then more and more tests) in their New York City-based labs to determine which ones you can trust. They first identified the most popular semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic, and capsule machines based on availability, reviews, and brand reputation. From there, they put each model to the test, assessing their performance, ease of use and assembly, cleanability, consistency of temperature and volume, noise while in operation, and even the intuitiveness of their design and controls. Using their findings, we’ve rounded up the best machines espresso-ly for you.

Who says you have to go all the way to Italy for a delicious, smooth cup of espresso? With the Nespresso Gran Lattissima Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi, the farthest you’ll have to travel is your kitchen. The sleek, intuitive design of this machine features a 19-bar pressure system, built-in milk frother, and detachable pitcher, which is as easy to clean as it is to store in your fridge.

Though testers found the Gran Lattissima was a little loud and inconsistent between drinks, it certainly offers plenty of options—espresso! cappuccino! flat white!—that you can make with just the push of the start button, which the Good Housekeeping Institute calls a “small, but very helpful, underrated detail.”

Move over, Chopin: There’s a new virtuoso in town, and it’s called the VertuoPlus Deluxe, which secured its status with its consistent temperature and volume, 19-bar pressure system, and a sleek, modern design (which boasts a 54% recycled plastic construction and comes complete with a removable 60-ounce tank).

Though it may be a tad loud, you can whip up a frothy crema and up to 14-ounces of strong, silky-smooth beverages, like single or double espresso, lungo, and even regular coffee, with just the touch of a button thanks to its intuitive and functional interface. In fact, one of Good Housekeeping Institute's testers "didn’t even need to add milk, although that’s how she normally drinks her coffee."

Speaking of which, this model is only compatible with Nespresso’s VertuoLine premium pods, but with nearly 30 flavor options to choose from, you’re sure to find something you like. And when you’re done, you can mail any used pods back to Nespresso for recycling.

The key to Delish Senior Food Editor Lena Abraham’s Brooklyn Cocktail recipe? Why, the De'Longhi La Specialista, of course! Boasting 19 bars of pressure, six grind sizes and five brew options (including single and double espresso, Americano, and even hot water for tea), Lena says “making espresso the right way is ridiculously easy” with this machine, and it’s not difficult to see why.

In addition to being quiet and a breeze to operate and adjust, the Good Housekeeping Institute lauds this espresso maker for making “good, smooth, delicious” coffee. The La Specialista also comes fully loaded with thoughtful details, like a pressure gauge to monitor the quality of your drinks, a built-in tamper to perfectly pack coffee grounds, and an advanced latte system and adjustable steam wand to make frothy and flat drinks and “nice, not broken crema.”

If you want an espresso dynamo that will rival even your favorite barista’s skills, the Breville Barista Pro is the way to go with its 15-bar pressure system and ability to make one or two shots of flavorful espresso. Though this automatic machine’s stream is uneven and a little splattery, we think it’s worth the sacrifice given all the additional bells and whistles it comes with, including a basic steam wand, integrated tamper, trimming tool, stainless steel milk jug, and a hopper that has the capacity to hold up to a half pound of coffee beans.

The Barista Pro also includes four 1- and 2-cup filter baskets: Two for pre-ground coffee and two for whole beans. The 30 grind settings and five temperature options may seem overwhelming at first, but have no fear—the Good Housekeeping Institute advises “playing around , starting with the default settings, to create your perfect espresso.”

Looking for an authentic espresso maker that will make you sing “’O Sole Mio”? The Breville Bambino Plus is sure to please. Boasting two dual-wall filter baskets, 15-bar pressure pump, tamper, trimming tool, and attached steam wand with an accompanying milk jug, this machine proved to be moderately quiet and consistent in temperature and volume during testing.

Per Good Housekeeping Institute’s panel, the Bambino Plus yielded strong espresso and coffee that was “a little acidic”, while the crema “wasn’t overbearing.” Furthermore, the user-friendly control panel offers both single and double espresso options, plus your choice of steamed, frothy, or very frothy milk.

If an espresso machine seems too complicated to bother with, consider a superautomatic model like the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus. Sure, it can take a little effort to set up, but it’s all smooth sailing from there: From grinding beans to tamping and brewing, this espresso maker does it all, and Good Housekeeping Institute found it produced a "smoother", "rounder", and "nicely hot" cup compared to similar models (though they noted the crema was a little thin).

The intuitive touchscreen control panel even offers 16 drink options, as well as three frothing settings with enough time to choose your preference before it begins. And it doesn’t get easier to clean than this: The Dinamica Plus rinses when you turn it off, the detachable milk hopper is a breeze to clean and fill, and this maker even reminds you when it’s time to clean the thermal milk jug (which you can do using a pre-programmed setting).

The Nespresso Essenza Mini may be compact, but it packs a powerful punch with a whopping 19-bar pressure system, a 20-ounce water tank, and a removable drip base if you want to use a larger cup. This espresso machine can be a little loud and drips for a little longer than is ideal, but it makes up for these minor hiccups by producing what the Good Housekeeping Institute called a frothy crema and “smooth, more full” brew that was “not bitter or acidic.”

The Essenza Mini does require Nespresso Original capsules, but there are plenty of elements to enjoy your espresso while keeping your environmental impact low, including Nespresso’s pod recycling service, an eco-mode that reduces its energy consumption after 3 minutes, and an automatic energy-saving function that turns off the machine after nine minutes of inactivity.

Want to give espresso a whirl, but not sure how to start? The Keurig K-Café’s ease of use, “strong” brewing function, and ability to make espresso and four different sizes of hot and iced drinks makes it a great option for beginners.

During testing, this machine was a breeze to operate and was consistent in brew time, preheat time, temperature, and volume, and it even has a built-in milk frother (but no crema). However, the Good Housekeeping Institute noted that in one test, the espresso was “bland”, weak, and even "burnt" (though it “seemed to get hotter as more cycles were brewed”).

That being said, testers called the cappuccino a “nice treat” and said the lattes it brewed were “very milky.” Furthermore, it splatters a bit on the counter and doesn’t automatically deposit used K-cups into a collection container like some of our other recommendations—so you’ll have to dispose of them yourself—but we think these clean-up issues are minor considering the K-Café’s overall ease of use.

Boasting four size options and the ability to brew multiple kinds of coffee, it doesn’t get more versatile than the Mr. Coffee All-in-One. This machine uses its 15-bar pressure system to produce a single or double shot of espresso (which the Good Housekeeping Institute’s panel described as “smoothish” and “a little acidic”), plus a 10-cup thermal carafe for drip coffee and even a built-in milk frother to make a latte or cappuccino.

This machine also boasts K-cup compatibility, but the testers noted this option “takes a little under two minutes to brew because it doesn’t produce a steady stream of coffee.” Nevertheless, the Mr. Coffee is easy to clean and its removable 55-ounce water reservoir is simple to refill. It also includes thoughtful features like an indicator sound to let you know when it’s finished brewing a fresh cup and a storage tray to hold all the attachments.

Some might say the types of espresso makers are expensive, more expensive, and most expensive, but that’s not (entirely) the case. For most shoppers, you should have no problem finding a model that meets your needs without breaking the bank. Here are your choices:

Manual: They may take a little extra effort to master, but manual machines easily offer the most customization of any other espresso makers. To operate, you’ll need to deposit your grounds into a portafilter, or group handle, then attach it to the brew head and pull a lever to pour water onto the grounds. (Ever hear that phrase “pulling a shot”? This is where it comes from!) These models need to be calibrated, so if you don’t have the bandwidth for regular maintenance, this probably isn’t the option for you.

Automatic: Unlike manual machines, automatic makers brew espresso using a button instead of a lever. These programmable models are much more consistent and require less guesswork, making them a great option for beginners who want to graduate to a “true” espresso machine, but aren’t ready to go full throttle. Note that some automatic machines don’t do all the hard work for you; you might still need to grind and tamp your coffee beans.

Semi-Automatic: As RuPaul says, “You better work”, and if you want to reap the rewards of making your own espresso, a semi-automatic machine may be just what you’re looking for. These models offer more consistency than a manual machine, but still require a bit more of a learning curve than an automatic option. You’ll still need to keep an eye on your brew and grind and tamp your own grounds, but this is a great choice if you want a little more precision with its controllable settings and lever-free design.

Super-Automatic: We get it, sometimes we don’t want to lift a finger when making our coffee either. Luckily, super-automatic espresso makers exist. These machines have all the convenience: programmable settings and the ability to measure, grind, and tamper your beans. But they come at a cost. (Literally, they’re the priciest option out there.)

Capsule: Great for beginners or those looking for a more low-maintenance (and low-cost) at-home espresso maker, capsule systems use pre-measured containers like K-cups or Nespresso pods to dispense that sweet, sweet bean juice. In addition to offering more versatility, they’re a breeze to operate and are relatively consistent between drinks. However, the capsules themselves can be pricey, and because they’re filled with pre-ground coffee, you don’t get all the benefits of freshly ground beans.

You might be picturing a tricked-out machine with an overwhelming amount of bells and whistles, but that’s not necessarily the case. There are a few important features to look out for, depending on how you plan to use your machine.

Milk Frothers and Steam Wands: To froth or not to froth? A built-in milk frother or steam wand can be a useful tool if you plan to make espresso-based drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos. However, if efficiency is what you’re after, you’re better off picking up a separate frothing tool or shelling out some extra dough for a model with two heating systems; a single heating system isn’t capable of making coffee and steamed milk at the same time.

Grinder: Essential because you can guarantee your ground coffee beans are the proper coarseness to make a perfect cup of espresso. Some machines are designed with a built-in coffee grinder to save you the trouble of buying a unitasker for your kitchen, but these models tend to be pricier, bulkier, and most still require you to deposit your grounds into the basket.

Pressure Pump System: If you’ve decided that a semi-automatic or automatic model is best for you, then you’ll need to acquaint yourself with the concept of the pressure pump system. Here’s a crash course: A pressure system uses an internal or external electric pump instead of the lever of manual machines. You want at least nine bars of pressure, because the higher the pressure, the faster your coffee will be extracted from the grounds.

That being said, some machines offer twice as many bars of pressure, so your espresso is ready faster… But as is the case of most things, good things come to those who wait. Using a higher level of pressure results in a faster brew time, and therefore somewhat lower quality of espresso. Furthermore, less expensive machines experience a loss of pressure between the pump and the group head, so when you think you’re brewing at 15 or 20 bars, it’s actually closer to nine by the time the pressurized water and coffee come together.

TL;DR: Less is more, but nine bars of pressure is the sweet spot.