Espresso reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 235 Reddit reviews across 27 subreddits and 55 posts to rank the best Espresso brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/espresso, r/IndiaCoffee, r/askvan, r/coffeestations, r/Coffee_Machines. Top-rated brands include Breville (4.4/5), Gaggia (4.4/5), Rancilio (4.4/5).
Stats
Reviews235
Subreddits27
Posts55
Brands77
Products60
235 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Breville
4.4
(30)
"We got the Breville Barista Express from latteholic in February and absolutely love it"
"This is the machine you need! Just make sure you maintain it. We’ve had this one for 3 years and it’s been so reliable."
"Breville Barista Express is fantastic starter for those that want to start with good setup."
"I've had the Breville Barista Express."
"Bambino+"
"Bambino and DF54 is great."
"It’s my first machine and still use it. Going strong for 2.5 years now."
"It’s affordable and doesn’t take up too much space!"
"Would highly recommend for a first machine. Very intuitive and it has an adjustable grinder built in."
"Breville machines heat water so fast."
#2
Gaggia
4.4
(10)
"Gaggia Classic Pro & a grinder"
"The best would be gaggia classic pro but you really need a capable grinder."
"Get Gaggia Classic Pro."
"Gaggia Classic Pro or a used Rancilio Silvia."
"Option 1 is Gaggia classic pro and DF54"
"GCP if you can mod it, else Lelit Anna PID."
"Gaggia Classic, Lelit Anita
I used Lelit Anita for 2 years without any issues"
"Gaggiunio. $350 gaggia classic pro.. $200ish for the board."
"Find a used gaggia(hopefully a modded one) and then find a df64."
"I would get yourself a Gaggia Classic Pro E24 ($499)."
#3
Rancilio
4.4
(9)
"Rancilio Silvia with Auber PID and a Niche Zero both in what looks like excellent condition."
"Silvia is like a tank. It has very few parts that can fail, and if they do it's easy to fix. I've had one for 10+ years."
"I got a Rancillio Silvia off Facebook marketplace and a Eureka Specialita for way under $800. Great machine to start."
"Gaggia Classic Pro or a used Rancilio Silvia."
"If you have a separate budget for grinder then option 2 is Rancilio Silvia for the espresso machine and whatever grinder fits in your budget I would prefer DF54 or DF64"
"If you have something nice, then I would recommend rancilio silvia or profitec go, lelit victoria or elizabeth are good options too."
"At that price you can pick up a Rancilio Silvia and add the PID later when you can afford it."
"I had this setup for a decade. Both machines will get the job done and are bulletproof."
"Silvia for 400-500 consistently. Then if you get the Specialita through espresso coffee shop for $400."
#4
DF54
4.9
(8)
"DF54 is what I have and it's awesome and grinds very very fine."
"Any of the other 3 grinders will serve you well. If it were me, I'd spend the few extra $$$ for a DF54."
"I dropped it and bent the threads so I couldn’t attach the catch cup… “upgraded” to df54 because didn’t want to grind by hand anymore and I am so happy with df54."
"DF54 is easily the best budget grinder and better value than the cheaper ones."
"I will die on the hill that this is the best setup currently for most people wanting a complete setup on an entry budget."
"I'm happy with my DF54 so I recommend it if you like single dosing."
"Df54 for best taste."
"All the grind performance of the DF64 for less at $230 usd."
#5
DeLonghi
4.0
(9)
"I recommend the like 100$ delonghi because the machine at these price points is less important your grinder is vastly more important."
"Machine matters far, far less than the grinder so spend most of your budget on the grinder. Get inexpensive Delonghi or Casabrew and be happy."
"If you are willing to pull the best espresso you can with medium to medium light and are on a thin budget, why not the Delonghi ECP?"
"Get the like 110$ delonghi and a nice grinder and work on your workflow and make tasty espresso"
"Delonghi Dedica that are super happy, they have a simple grinder with it and because of the pressurized group head get them consistency they are looking for."
"Better in invest in delonghi"
"If you are going to use pre-ground coffee then go with DeLonghi."
"+1 for delongh and Lavazza."
"I trust Delonghi and I'd buy it again and again."
#6
Pallet
5.0
(7)
"Pallet and Prototype roast their own beans."
"Pallet has unreal coffee and coffee beans!"
"Pallet, Agro, Modus and Prototype are my go-tos in Vancouver."
"Truly enjoyed Pallet when I visited-great value, friendly staff, fantastic espresso."
"Truly enjoyed Pallet when I visited-great value, friendly staff, fantastic espresso."
"Pallet is very very very good."
"Pallet is very well regarded."
#7
Espresso Martini
4.7
(7)
"Absolutely divine."
"Sogno in Woburn has a great espresso martini."
"I just had one of the best I’ve had in a while at Saw Dust cafe in Sturbridge."
"Salt City bar farrrrr - they’re also a coffee shop so they’ve got it down!"
"By far Eden Hospitality has the best espresso martinis."
"For Espresso Martinis, my favorite one was from Dante but it's a pain in the neck to get into."
"I second this! Parla has a great one too just down the street."
#8
Baratza
4.3
(7)
"I started six months ago with a Baratza Encore ESP and a Bambino Plus—with a few accessories... I’ve been really impressed with the results and how I can dial things in."
"Baratza Encore ESP is fantastic value-for-money as far as I know."
"Look for used Baratza Encore or even a hand grinder like the Hario Skerton."
"I’ve been into this hobby for about a month now and debated between the Fellow Opus and the Encore ESP for a while and went with the Encore ESP because I’ve heard the retention was a lot better."
"I would say to overspend in the grinder and then think of the espresso machine."
"I wanted to also add I was looking at the Baraztza Encore as the grinder."
"I had a DF54 and thought I liked it until I got a much better grinder, the ESP might be a better option but I hear about quality issues there as well."
#9
Revolver
4.8
(6)
"Revolver in the am. Very good."
"Heck out Revolver for a fun multi roaster. Sooo many good roasters there though."
"Revolver always slaps."
"Revolver first and foremost."
"I was ready to label it the best in North America."
"Revolver was great for espresso but their oat milk wasn’t super good."
#10
1Zpresso
4.5
(6)
"It is an absolutely fantastic grinder that will give you results comparable to $800+ electric grinders."
"I have J-ultra and it's been great, nice cleaning kit and little case for storing,traveling and it's super fast"
"If you're ok with hand grinding, the J-Ultra is easily my pick out of that list."
"The ESP is fine I just think the J-Ultra is better."
"The grinder's quality is so apparent."
"Based on responses I think I’ll start with the 1Z J-ultra. It’s within budget and arrives tomorrow versus having to wait longer."
#11
Sprout
5.0
(5)
"Sprout has the best coffees in Eindhoven."
"The best in town by a long mile."
"ZwartWit coffee or Sprouts, sprouts are coffee roasters that open only Saturday and Sunday."
"By miles: Sprout Coffee Roasters."
"The only roaster in town with exciting beans and (some) worldwide renown."
#12
Coffee Movement
5.0
(5)
"Spro and Coffee Movement may be your best bet."
"Coffee Movement is my top choice. Their espressos and milk drinks just taste a notch cleaner/more refined."
"COFFEE MOVEMENT. There is no other answer."
"+1 to Linea and Coffee Movement."
"I'd recommend checking r/espresso. and i second coffee movement."
#13
Flair
4.8
(5)
"Flair 58 & DF64, I’ve seen countless post about how this is a killer combo."
"Best machine under $800 is the flair 58, in my opinion."
"I'd personally grab a Flair 58 and a DF54 or a decent hand grinder like a 1ZPresso K-Ultra or a Kingrinder K6."
"A manual machine like a Flair or Robot is the best option for light roasts."
"Flair 58 is the standard"
#14
Milano
4.8
(5)
"Milano’s Futura is my fave, but I like their others too esp Butter and Classico."
"I’ve recently discovered Milano and loving it!"
"Milano’s La Futura or Calabreze"
"Milano is my favorite."
"Milano with their Butter roast if they have it."
#15
Cafelat
4.6
(5)
"I just switched from my first machine (Breville Bambino) to a Cafelat Robot. I’m never going back to a semiautomatic machine."
"A cafelat robot. No preheat, no descaling, no noise, very small footprint."
"I highly recommend a Cafelat Robot. Pretty forgiving once you get the hang of it, super robust, no descaling necessary."
"Cafelat robot. or just get a bambino... you need to spend 1000$+ to get something really better."
"Cafelat Robot"
#16
Kingrinder
4.2
(5)
"The kingrinder k6 for between $90-100 is fantastic. Punches way above its weight."
"K6 or K2 if you drink dark roasts"
"I have the K6 because I also drink pour over and I have a pretty small kitchen, so a hand grinder with higher clarity makes sense for me."
"Get Kingrinder K6"
"Kingrinder K6"
#17
Houndstooth
5.0
(4)
"Love Houndstooth’s Vixen espresso blend."
"Violet Crown, Fleet, Houndstooth and Spokesman are some of my favorites for straight shots"
"Houndstooth has consistently high quality."
"Houndstooth and the cafe at First Light Books have the best espresso in town."
#18
Breville Bambino Plus
4.5
(4)
"Close your eyes and buy the bambino plus. Reliable, fast heat up (3 seconds to get up to temp)..."
"Breville Bambino Plus is the best and most recommend espresso maker."
"Bambino Plus and DF 54 grinder."
"If you prefer Breville, go with a Bambino or Bambino Plus with a separate grinder..."
#19
Lelit
4.5
(4)
"The Lelit Anna with PID is a great starter Machine!"
"Lelit Anna or Gaggia E24."
"Lelit Anna with Encore esp, it’s serving me well."
"I used to have a Lelit Anna (PID) that was great, but all the waiting time for heating up after the shot to steam the milk was a bit frustrating"
#20
Shardor
4.3
(4)
"I have the Shandor $60 model and must say I’m a big fan. I do darker roasts and I’m 2 clicks away from the finest grind."
"Another vote for the shardor 64. Caught it on sale for $139. .1 gram retention, isn’t too loud, and doesn’t make a giant mess."
"Shardor 64mm flat burr grinder or the Encore ESP."
"Produce consistent grinds and makes great espresso."
#21
Nemesis
5.0
(3)
"Espresso was dialed in and delicious."
"Nemesis, oide, revolver, house of funk are all great."
"They roast their own beans and their pastries are soooo good!"
#22
Four Barrel
4.7
(3)
"The best by far is the original Four Barrel"
"Four Barrel!!"
"I believe four barrel is pretty well known"
#23
Timemore
4.7
(3)
"I love my timemore 64s + gaggia classic pro setup. I threw a PID in the gcp too"
"I have the 064S (early kickstarter) and have been extremely happy with it for espresso & cold brew."
"Timemore 064s is another option at this price point."
#24
Profitec
4.7
(3)
"Slightly expensive compared to your budget, but get the ProfitecGo. It’s made like a tank and if well taken care of will definitely last you forever."
"If you stretch it a bit more, you can get the profitec go."
"Cant go wrong with profitec 400?"
#25
Breville Barista Express
4.3
(3)
"The Breville Barista Express is a standout option for those who want a semi-automatic espresso machine."
"The Breville Barista Express is an all in one that comes in at $699 new."
"The breville barista express is around $600 and includes a built in grinder."
#26
Wacaco
4.3
(3)
"I use the Wacaco Nanopresso with the Nespresso capsule adaptor."
"See also the WACACO Nanopresso, you can bundle it with adapter for Nespresso capsules."
"If you want something closer to real espresso, the Wacaco Minipresso GR2 might be a good option... manual but enables higher pressure"
#27
Dedica
3.7
(3)
"Dedica is better, I have been using it for 3 years."
"Well if these r ur only choices go for dedica."
"I can recommend Dedica and hand grinder, but it is tough in your budget."
#28
Agro
5.0
(2)
"Another vote for Agro."
"Agro is the best"
#29
Ritual
5.0
(2)
"Ritual on Haight and Spro."
"Ritual in Hayes Valley."
#30
Starbucks
5.0
(2)
"I get a shaken with no classic, 3 vanilla, 3 carmel, blonde espresso and oatmilk, and a shit ton of carm drizzle."
"A classic shaken espresso keep the classic add Cinnamon dolce with vanilla sweet cream as the milk."
#31
Needmore Coffee
5.0
(2)
"It’s absolute heaven when they are roasting."
"My favorite beans for espresso is the Mexico blend from Needmore coffee."
#32
Bambino
5.0
(2)
"Bambino is frequently recommended in this sub for good reason."
"Perhaps a Bambino paired with the Baratza Encore ESP grinder would be a great entry level setup."
#33
Dogwood
5.0
(2)
"Sisters Sludge, Dogwood"
"Wesley Andrews, Dogwood, and FRGMNT are kind of my holy trinity for espresso."
#34
McQuarrie’s
5.0
(2)
"Anything from mcquarries on Broadway is excellent."
"McQuarrie’s, hands down."
#35
Parallel 49
5.0
(2)
"Parallel 49’s espresso epic roast is my fav."
"I love Parallel 49 Epic Espresso."
#36
Friedhats
5.0
(2)
"Friedhats has been one of my favorite roasters ever."
"I got some really amazing fruity shots out of it."
#37
Gaggia Classic
4.5
(2)
"If your $700 is going entirely towards the espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic is the best value."
"I’ve seen some decent deals on older Gaggia machines (like the Gaggia Classic) on eBay."
#38
HI NRG
4.5
(2)
"HI NRG, coffee movement, st Franks, Andytown."
"HI NRG, coffee movement, st Franks, Andytown"
#39
Profitec Go
4.5
(2)
"Grab a Profitec Go. If you've got some extra get it in stainless steel, looks lovely."
"Grab a Profitec Go."
#40
Andytown
4.5
(2)
"Fan of Andytown - definitely partial to their outer sunset and richmond locations."
"They’re quite good"
#41
Elysian
4.5
(2)
"I’d also suggest Elysian (any location) and Timbertrain."
"Elysian and 49th parallel are my goto."
#42
Bambino Plus
4.0
(2)
"I’m looking for the new espresso setup. I’m thinking between bambino plus + grinder or barista express."
"My Bambino Plus is still going strong after a couple of years. I'm no expert but enjoy the coffee I can make with it!"
#43
JJ Bean
4.0
(2)
"I feel like nobody tries JJBean's single origin or eastside beans."
"Boomer; JJ bean, 49th Parallel"
#44
Rancilio Silvia
4.0
(2)
"Rancilio Silvia, Profitec Go or something similar will be enough for your needs."
"I would go with a Rancilio Silvia or perhaps a Gaggia classic pro"
#45
Lagom
4.0
(2)
"The Lagom Casa is outstanding for espresso and filter for medium-light beans"
"Casa shots are auto-volume and I found the extraction perfect. BUT if you like milk drinks, forget it. Casa didn't froth at all for me."
#46
Breville Bambino
4.0
(2)
"If you want a semi-auto (pump) machine and an electric grinder, then you should increase your budget and get a Breville (Sage) Bambino."
"For that money you can get a Bambino machine and a DF54 separate grinder."
#47
Timbertrain
5.0
(1)
"Timbertrain Caliber is our go to."
#48
Philos
5.0
(1)
"My espresso is usually medium roast. The espresso is consistently excellent."
#49
49th Parallel
5.0
(1)
"I prefer the blue sky espresso from 49th parallel."
#50
Sage
5.0
(1)
"I have a sage bambino which is really good and well priced!"
#51
Casabrews
5.0
(1)
"That Casabrews espresso maker is amazing!"
#52
MiiCoffee
5.0
(1)
"Amazing machine, just under $500 and far better than the Bambino."
#53
Linea
5.0
(1)
"My top pick was Linea."
#54
Tuni
5.0
(1)
"Do yourself a favor and buy a Tuni E2. $250, and punches WAY above its weight."
#55
Radio Coffee
5.0
(1)
"Radio has been my favorite."
#56
Alon ng Kape
5.0
(1)
"Alon ng Kape has an espresso blend that is mind boggling, easy to calibrate and goes for like 450 pesos per 250grams."
#57
GCP
5.0
(1)
"I use GCP with DF54 and that totaled around 750, haven’t needed anything else."
#58
Eureka
5.0
(1)
"Eureka would probably be your best bet imo."
#59
Oide
5.0
(1)
"The cafes that impressed me the most were Oide, prototype, and revolver."
#60
Sweet Barrel
5.0
(1)
"Oh, gotta give a shout to my fav, Sweet Barrel."
#61
Espressotec
5.0
(1)
"It’s not a cafe, per se, but I’d also recommend visiting Espressotec."
#62
Oide Cafe
5.0
(1)
"Oide cafe has the best dialed in shot in all of Vancouver IMO."
#63
Cafe Del Rey
5.0
(1)
"Cafe Del Rey! They have Precision Coffee."
#64
Sherwood
5.0
(1)
"Sherwood does great ones!"
#65
Little Blackwood
5.0
(1)
"Go to little blackwood, best espresso martinis in town."
#66
Road Coffee
5.0
(1)
"Road coffee is not only the best coffee you can get here."
#67
Terrible Love
5.0
(1)
"Terrible love has a damn good espresso!"
#68
Ninja
4.0
(1)
"Best machine for the beginner under 600 bucks is the Ninja luxe cafe."
#69
V5
4.0
(1)
"I went with a used V5, plus Rocky grinder, $700."
#70
Millab
4.0
(1)
"I got the sculptor 064s from millab $532 out the door a couple months back."
#71
Origins MNL
4.0
(1)
"Origins MNL has an espresso davao roast that is dark fruity and has some chocolates that pairs well but it's a hit or miss."
#72
RoastBerry
4.0
(1)
"For milk-based drinks RoastBerry usually has a chocolatey Brazilian on offer."
#73
Buraca Roasters
4.0
(1)
"Buraca roasters should have something in the specialty area."
#74
De’Longhi
4.0
(1)
"2. De’Longhi La Specialista Arte."
#75
Tag Burger Bar
4.0
(1)
"Tag Burger Bar for the Nitro Espresso Martini."
#76
The Keg
4.0
(1)
"The keg surprisingly had an excellent espresso martini last time I was there."
#77
Phil and Sebastian
4.0
(1)
"Phil and Sebastian (online or Sparrow sells it)"
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