When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe best budget espresso machines impressed us with consistently rich espresso shots and intuitive interfaces.Molly Allen/Business InsiderAdding an espresso machine to your home setup can feel like a smart way to cut back on pricey coffee shop drinks, but if you're not careful, you could end up spending just as much chasing café-quality results at home. Many home espresso machines cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars and take up serious counter space. The good news? You don't have to spend that much to get a satisfying espresso on demand.As a former coffee shop manager who loves testing budget coffee gear, I set out to find the best budget espresso machines under $250. My top picks are easy to use, compact enough for most kitchens, and produce rich shots with solid crema. They don't offer the customizations or automation you'll find in higher-end machines, but they get the fundamentals right — making them ideal for anyone who wants a reliable, no-frills home espresso setup without overspending. My top choice is the Casabrews Espresso Machine because of its sleek, easy-to-use design and consistent shot quality. For a few extra features, the De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine offers two steam-wand settings and drink presets for those seeking more customization when making quality espresso drinks at home. The best budget espresso machines under $250Best overall: Casabrews Espresso Machine — See at AmazonBest upgrade: De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine — See at AmazonBest manual: De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine — See at AmazonBest overallFor a machine that costs only $140, it has an impressively sleek steel design. The Casabrews Espresso Machine offers durability without taking up too much space on your countertop, and the shot quality and timing are incredibly consistent. There were no issues with bitter or watery shots, and every pull delivered nice body, robust flavor, and a beautiful crema.On the front panel, there are four buttons: power, single shot, double shot, and steam. After powering on, it takes less than 1 minute to warm up. Once the machine is ready, the lights turn solid, and the machine beeps to indicate that you can pull a shot.The Casabrews comes with a stainless steel portafilter, filters for single and double shots, and a plastic two-in-one scoop and tamper. We recommend upgrading to one of our picks for the best tamper, but it's not crucial. The 34-ounce water tank is removable and sits at the back. You get about 17 double shots out of one tank before needing to refill it.The portafilter is heavy-duty and easy to fill, hold, and lock into the group head. It can brew two shots at once.Molly Allen/Business InsiderWhile the machine is in use, check the pressure gauge on the front to see if you're in the optimal range of about 9 bars. We love this beginner-friendly feature because it can help you diagnose why a shot comes out watery or bitter. If the pressure isn't quite right, it's likely due to a tweak in your grind size or uneven tamping.The Casabrews has a steam wand on the right side that delivers great power and excellent foam. The tip of the steam wand can be unscrewed after use, making it easier to clean and eliminate bacteria build-up. After steaming milk, we had to wait for a few minutes before brewing another shot, which is only an issue if you're making drinks for a group.Read our full Casabrews Espresso Machine review.Best upgradeWhile De'Longhi offers far more sophisticated models, the Classic Signature gets the job done. It has a few extra features over the Casabrews that make it the best affordable espresso machine for those who want to go a little deeper and start digging into the world of custom drinks.The Classic Signature was incredibly consistent in our testing, remaining at eight to nine bars of pressure for each pull. The shots I pulled had excellent flavor without any bitterness — I never got a watery brew and always saw a beautiful crema.The De'Longhi has two steam wand settings, which makes it much easier to customize espresso drinks.Molly Allen/Business InsiderWhat sets it apart from other budget options is its steam wand, which has two different settings: hot for a smoother texture and cappuccino for frothed milk with a richer texture. The wand is also fully removable, making it much easier to clean. I found it a lot easier to prepare milk for lattes and cappuccinos in this machine. Still, if that's not a priority for you and you prefer to sip straight espresso, you may be better off saving $70 and going with our best overall choice, the Casabrews.The stainless steel machine features a 57-ounce water tank and large indicator buttons for power, single and double shots, and steam. The built-in pressure gauge came in handy during testing, confirming whether our shots were pulling at the optimal pressure.The box
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