The Best Small Espresso Machines and Coffee Makers, According to Our Tests
You don’t need a cafe in your kitchen to brew excellent coffee. In fact, some of our favorite coffee gear is of a smaller stature.
We think even the tiniest kitchen counter can be transformed into an espresso paradise with the right equipment, whether you’ve dreamt of a coffee bar in your apartment or need a travel-friendly brewer for a hotel room, Airbnb, camper, or the like. There’s just no need to sacrifice quality for size. So, we went through our coffee reviews and rounded up the best small espresso machines and coffee makers, no matter how much space you have to spare.
If you’re on the hunt for smaller coffee equipment, chances are you’re looking to maximize your available countertop space. When it comes to espresso, the Breville Barista Express Impress has a built-in grinder to save space, but it might not fit in a tight corner. That doesn’t mean you have to stick to pre-ground espresso (we seriously encourage buying whole beans), it just requires getting creative. For around the same price, you could pick up the Breville Bambino Plus and Baratza Encore ESP and tuck one behind the other when not in use. For drip coffee, the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker has the smallest footprint of any drip brewer we recommend, and pairs great with the Baratza Encore grinder. But if counter space is maxed out, you can opt for the Timemore handheld coffee grinder, which is great for drip coffee (and pour-over and French press) and can be tucked away into a drawer when not in use—just as long as you’re willing to put in some elbow grease for your morning cup.
Plan for Accessories
A pour-over brewer (like the Kalita Wave 185) is much smaller than a drip coffee maker, but once you snag a gooseneck kettle, coffee scale, and coffee grinder, it’s easy to crowd your counters with brewing accessories. A better alternative could be relying on the Espro P3 French Press instead—it’s easy to fill with whatever kind of kettle you have and doesn’t need a coffee scale to keep track of pouring. Don’t get us wrong—we love a dedicated pour-over bar—but sometimes a simpler brewer is the best way to avoid clutter.
Prep Yourself for Travel
If you’re heeding the call of the wild and want a portable rig for adventure coffee (or maybe just an alternative to hotel brews), it’s hard to beat the AeroPress Go. This plunger-style brewer is the more portable version of one of our favorite single-serve coffee brewers and comes with all of its accessories packed inside a travel cup. Fresh-ground fiends can also bring a handheld coffee grinder for better-tasting brews. If the AeroPress Go’s eight-ounce capacity won’t cut it, however, the Kalita Wave 185 Stainless Steel Dripper can brew up to 24 ounces at a time and its sturdy stainless steel construction makes it easy to toss into any luggage without worry (though you’ll also need something to brew it into).
The Best Small Espresso Machine
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
What we liked: It doesn’t get more compact than the Bambino Plus when it comes to espresso, and this machine delivers more professional-style features than models twice its size. Its ThermoJet boiler heats up in just seconds, it features an algorithm-driven PID (a module that controls precise brewing temperatures), and it even has an automatic steam wand that aerates milk with silky microfoam. And above all else, it pulls excellent espresso shots, which is why it’s our favorite espresso machine.
What we didn’t like: Our only real gripe with this machine is that the automatic espresso volume buttons aren’t as consistent as we like, so we recommend stopping your espresso shots manually.
Key Specs
Dimensions: 8 x 13 x 12 inches
Weight: 11 pounds
Accessories: 54-millimeter tamper, precision dosing tool, 16-ounce stainless steel milk jug, 1- and 2-cup single wall and dual wall filter baskets, cleaning tool, cleaning disc
Care instructions: Backflush with coffee detergent according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Warranty: 2-year limited product warranty