Contents
  1. Picks by use case
  2. Pressurized or non-pressurized baskets?
  3. Heat-up is not warm-up
  4. Every machine we've reviewed

The machine is only half an espresso setup: without a capable grinder, even a good machine will disappoint. This page groups the machines and manual makers we've reviewed by the decision most buyers face. That means pressurized or non-pressurized baskets, manual or automatic milk, and how much counter they take.

Picks by use case

Milk drinks in a narrow space

Breville Bambino Plus

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Amazon listing: BES500BSS, brushed stainless

Why we recommend it: Automatic milk texturing, a 1.9 L tank and 54 mm non-pressurized baskets, in a body listed at 7.7 in wide. The drip tray is tiny.

Best for
Milk drinks with less technique, in a narrow footprint.
Main limitation
Small drip tray (about 135–150 ml per CoffeeGeek) and fixed brew temperature.
  • Heating ThermoJet; ready in about 3 s (manufacturer); 3–5 s (CoffeeGeek)
  • Portafilter 54 mm stainless
  • Steam Automatic texturing with 3 temperatures and 3 textures, plus manual mode
Countertop Coffee editorial score8/10
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Small first machine with manual steam

Breville Bambino

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Amazon listing: BES450BSS, brushed stainless

Why we recommend it: 54 mm, quick steam readiness per CoffeeGeek; flush blank shots to preheat.

Best for
A first espresso machine with manual milk steaming in a small space.
Main limitation
Needs blank shots to preheat for the first shot, and has no 3-way solenoid, per CoffeeGeek.
  • Heating ThermoJet; Breville claims extraction temperature in 3 s
  • Portafilter 54 mm
  • Baskets Single-wall and dual-wall (pressurized), 1 and 2 cup
Countertop Coffee editorial score7.5/10
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Standard 58 mm upgrade path

Gaggia Classic Evo Pro

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Amazon listing: RI9380/49, Thunder Black

Why we recommend it: 9-bar OPV on US units and a commercial-style wand; no PID, so you learn temperature timing.

Best for
Buyers who want standard 58 mm baskets and accessories and will learn temperature surfing.
Main limitation
No PID; CoffeeGeek measured the grouphead dropping from about 94°C to 89°C over a shot.
  • Heating Single boiler, lead-free brass, 3.5 oz; no PID
  • Portafilter 58 mm; baskets 7 g single, 14 g double, 14 g pressurized
  • Pressure 15 bar Ulka pump rating; OPV set to 9 bar (US units)
Countertop Coffee editorial score7.5/10
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Grinder and machine in one

Breville Barista Express

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Amazon listing: BES870XL, brushed stainless

Why we recommend it: One footprint with a 16-setting grinder and a pressure gauge; large and tall.

Best for
Buyers who want grinder and machine in one footprint and accept its limits.
Main limitation
Built-in grinder has 16 settings; upgrading the grinder later means a second footprint anyway.
  • Heating Thermocoil with PID; 200°F (manufacturer)
  • Grinder Integrated conical burr, 16 settings
  • Portafilter 54 mm stainless
Countertop Coffee editorial score6/10
Read the full review

Narrowest milk-drink machine

De'Longhi Dedica Arte

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Amazon listing: EC885M, 120 V

Why we recommend it: About 6 in wide with a My LatteArt wand; pressurized baskets only.

Best for
The narrowest counter slot, with milk drinks and pressurized-basket convenience.
Main limitation
Ships with pressurized baskets only, and cup height is limited to about 5 in.
  • Heating Thermoblock
  • Baskets Pressurized single and double (basket holds up to 18 g per De'Longhi Canada)
  • Steam My LatteArt manual steam wand
Countertop Coffee editorial score6/10
Read the full review

Manual lever espresso

Flair 49 PRO

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Amazon listing: Flair 49 PRO, black

Why we recommend it: 49 mm, 90 ml cylinder, gauge and a 5-year warranty; needs a kettle.

Best for
Lever espresso with room for larger doses and doubles.
Main limitation
Still needs a kettle and preheating; no heating element.
  • Basket 49 mm; pressurized and bottomless baskets
  • Dose 12–20 g
  • Water capacity 90 ml; yield up to 55 ml
Countertop Coffee editorial score7/10
Read the full review

Pressurized or non-pressurized baskets?

Pressurized (dual-wall) baskets create resistance at the basket exit, so they tolerate pre-ground coffee and uneven grinding. Non-pressurized (single-wall) baskets depend on your grind and prep, and that's where a real espresso grinder pays off. The Breville Bambino machines and the Gaggia ship with both types. The Dedica Arte, Stilosa and CASABREWS ship with pressurized baskets only, according to the sources we used.

Heat-up is not warm-up

"Ready in 3 seconds" describes the heater, not a warm group, portafilter and cup. CoffeeGeek found both Bambino models brewed their best first shot after blank flushes. The Gaggia needs its boiler cycle timed. Our compact espresso setups guide lays out what each machine needs around it.

Deciding between a lever and a pump machine? See manual espresso makers vs entry-level pump machines.

Stated footprints of compact espresso machines1. Breville Bambino Plus: 196 mm wide by 300 mm deep; 2. Gaggia Classic Evo Pro: 203 mm wide by 241 mm deep; 3. De'Longhi Dedica Arte: 150 mm wide by 330 mm deep; 4. CASABREWS CM5418: 139 mm wide by 312 mm deep; 5. Breville Barista Express: 318 mm wide by 335 mm deepWall610 mm (24 in) counter depth12345
  1. 1 Breville Bambino Plus: 196 × 300 mm (7.7 × 11.8 in), retailer listing
  2. 2 Gaggia Classic Evo Pro: 203 × 241 mm (8.0 × 9.5 in), manufacturer
  3. 3 De'Longhi Dedica Arte: 150 × 330 mm (5.9 × 13.0 in), retailer listing
  4. 4 CASABREWS CM5418: 139 × 312 mm (5.5 × 12.3 in), manufacturer
  5. 5 Breville Barista Express: 318 × 335 mm (12.5 × 13.2 in), retailer listing
Stated footprints of compact espresso machines. Top view, drawn to one scale from each product’s stated width and depth; the shaded band is a 610 mm (24 in) counter depth, the NKBA planning standard. Leave extra room for cables, lids, portafilter handles and hands. This is a planning aid, not a measurement.

Every machine we've reviewed

Pump espresso machines sorted by editorial score
ModelEditorial scoreBest for
Breville Bambino Plus8/10Milk drinks with less technique, in a narrow footprint.
Breville Bambino7.5/10A first espresso machine with manual milk steaming in a small space.
Gaggia Classic Evo Pro7.5/10Buyers who want standard 58 mm baskets and accessories and will learn temperature surfing.
Breville Barista Express6/10Buyers who want grinder and machine in one footprint and accept its limits.
Breville Barista Express Impress6/10All-in-one buyers who want the machine to help with dose and tamp.
Breville Barista Pro6/10All-in-one buyers who want faster heat-up and finer grinder steps than the Express.
De'Longhi Dedica Arte6/10The narrowest counter slot, with milk drinks and pressurized-basket convenience.
CASABREWS CM54185.5/10A narrow, simple milk-drink machine using dual-wall baskets.
De'Longhi Stilosa5/10Trying espresso-style drinks at the lowest cost, including pre-ground coffee.
Manual espresso makers sorted by editorial score
ModelEditorial scoreBest for
Flair 58 Plus 28/10Lever users who want standard 58 mm accessories and less preheating hassle.
Flair 49 PRO7/10Lever espresso with room for larger doses and doubles.
WACACO Picopresso6/10Travel espresso or the smallest possible footprint at home.
Flair Classic5.5/10Learning lever espresso on a small budget, paired with a capable grinder and kettle.

Sources

  1. Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus — Whole Latte Love. Retailer listing. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  2. Gaggia Classic Pro E24 — Gaggia North America. Manufacturer. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  3. DeLonghi EC885M Dedica Arte Espresso Machine — Whole Latte Love. Retailer listing. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  4. CM5418 espresso machine — CASABREWS. Manufacturer. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  5. Breville BES870XL Barista Express — Whole Latte Love. Retailer listing. Accessed September 26, 2026.