The ONLY Espresso machines under $1K that are worth it!

I know I said that you shouldn't ever buy an espresso machine under $1k however, there are a few exceptions to the rule (although you shouldn't buy an appliance brand as they are just not built to last and will just become a very expensive paperweight.

In this video I'll take you through the exceptions and some other out-of-the-box brewers that will make exceptional coffee and probably outlive all of us.

Recommendations:

Instagram: @Coffeebeansdelivered @rydjeavons

I am super passionate about coffee and educating people on all aspects of this amazing drink. I love bringing the stories back from the other side of the world about how they grow and process the coffee differently in each farm, in each region, in each country. I also love helping baristas around the world make better coffee for themselves, whether they're at home, professional, competitors and or even just venturing out into the wide world of coffee.

About Ryd!
In a world where coffee has become elitist and over-the-top hipster, Ryd is on a mission to make specialty coffee inviting and undiscriminating; creating a community of coffee lovers who want to share their thoughts, ask questions and appreciate that we are all on a journey uncovering the delights of home-brewed coffee.

[geraldbraun]

Thanks for a great video. I have had my Gaggia Classic for over three years and it is a fantastic machine. I have replaced the brew gasket and the steam wand 0 ring and now I just ordered an upgrade to the shower screen. I love the fact that it is upgradable and it seems really sturdy. I would recommend it to anyone that likes to fuss and tinker a little bit.

[Gkm]

If milk drinks are not a priority to you, virtually any espresso ‘appliance’ can serve you well…. as long as it has an unpressurized option, and you are a bit handy. All espresso is, is water forced thru coffee at particular temperature. It’s not rocket surgery. So if you can add a cheap digital thermometer and dimmer to the machine, and get a decent stepless grinder, you can enjoy really good espresso. Scan your local thrift shops, do a little research.

[MANEEE]

Hey mate ! Love your clips!
What are your thoughts on the quick mill pippa as a single boiler ? I don’t really see many reviews on that machine but the ones I have seen, they swear by it. Wondering what your input is. I know they retail over $1000 aud but found 1 for just under $1000 in mint condition!
Or should I buy a Gaggia classic pro and pid it ?
Thanks in advance !

[robertebob]

As I watched this video I was drinking my espresso drink made with my Breville Barista Pro.

[liamburge]

I do love my flair, looks great on the bench. It does require a bit of a routine every morning, however it produces GREAT espresso. Maybe an espresso machine might make it slightly quicker to get caffeinated, but definitely would take up 4x the space. Best part of the flair is how compact it is.

[LorenzoNW]

I'm surprised the Profitec Go didn't make your list.

[templetours]

Ryd's recos r da best, thx heaps!

[SunriseLAW]

Couple months ago, I found a very gently used 2 y.o. Gaggia Classic Pro on local Facebook for $350, complete with spring-loaded tamper, some baskets, a WDT tool, etc. If I wanted to upgrade I could easily put it back on Facebook for $350 (or close anyway). IMO, "electronic sensors and controls" are the reason a lot of machines fail after short use. The Gaggia CP does not have any of the complex "electronics" and the parts can be purchased cheaply if repair is needed.

[elleelle]

Now that I’ve worked out how to use the Little Guy I have a soft spot for it. Practice practice practice, so worth it! It takes too long for every day use, but it’s good for lazy Sunday mornings. I have found I get the best results using gas, low and slow.

[Anne-MarieLeduc-gv]

I hesitate between Avanti Capri 540$ CAD, Avanti Trieste Deluxe 699$, and Lelit Anna Lem 965$. I had a Breville Roma, bought 120$, for the last 15 years! I have an ordinary Krups grinder. I usually drink black coffee but I like cappucini a lot. What do you think? Really appreciate your vidéo and review!

[bigwave_dave]

It's fantastic trend that manufacturers are now selling sub-$1000 machines with a true 58mm portafilter. Some of these affordable units are starting to have PIDs and a 3-way solenoid which is great . Brand doesn't matter unless you want to mod/hack the thing in which case Gaggia Classic Pro or Rancillio Silvia are the ideal choices due to massive community support. They all use similar parts and will likely have the same'ish user experience save some nuanced behavior diff's like shot-timers or brew temp setting. In order of priority, I'd look for any machine with the following:

1) Metal construction - for maintainability, esp. in the brew head.
2) 58mm PF - Mandatory, including bottomless PF.
3) >= 1000W boiler - Mandatory
4) 3-way solenoid - Mandatory (avoids wet-puck "chuffing" and mess)
5) Brew Pressure Gauge - very nice to have
6) PID great to have.

These features kind of keep the manufacturer "honest" as the 58mm PF machine will likely be tuned to 9 bar, not 13 or 14 bar of a pressurized PF machine -- you have to know what you're doing to pull a decent shot. If you pull multiple double-shots at a time and steam milk, look for a larger boiler to reduce recovery time and keep temps consistent (though that is a double-edged sword wrt milk steaming with a single boiler since you have to wait for the temp to drop before you can pull a shot after steaming). Also, don't forget the importance of a good grinder!--with a $1000 machine and no grinder you can't make espresso. With an $800 machine and a $200 grinder you might make great espresso. With a $300 grinder and a $700 machine you can definitely make great espresso..once you learn how to dial in your grind. I would find a machine with the above but I would sacrifice 5) and 6) in lieu of a better/great grinder. Happy shopping. [PS: if you are really on a budget, look for a used metal machine with the above characteristics]

[gigibunny]

Hi, can you make a review on the 9barista expresso maker? I heard lots of good things about it. Can it compare to those $3000 - $6000 expresso machines ?

[georgcantor]

Great choices. I've a Rancilio Silvia v6 AND a Gaggia Classic Pro. Bought the Gaggia Classic Pro 2nd hand as a gift for middle child for Christmas to replace her Aldi Stirling (by coincidence!)

[ende]

I've bought a Silvia V2 in 2007, PID modded immediately. By now it has made at least 10.000 espressi and it's still going strong. I replaced the steam wand, some o-rings and one plastic part. Every single part of the machine is still available as spare part.

[Babinmdr]

As someone who drinks coffee with milk and sugar, I was looking forward to seeing you recommend the bambino for its ease of use for beginners. I don't know about the espresso quality since I'm an espresso noob and used the pressurized basket, but the auto-frothing steam wand setup in the bambino is such a pleasure to use. Are there other setups that offer the convenience of such auto-frothing? If I do upgrade the bambino in the future, I would still like to have that option instead of holding the pitcher while steaming milk. Thank you!

[MrRickytuk]

What tends to go wrong with a Breville dual boiler? I live in the UK where I can buy a Lelit Elizabeth or MaraX for around the same price as a Sage Dual Boiler. I was leaning toward the Sage/Breville. Why can't the Breville last 10 - 15 years if well looked after?

[BloodySkyWars]

What do you think about De'Longhi Dinamica Espresso Machine that is for $484.99 now? Just for long coffee. Had KRUPS EVIDENCE ECO-DESIGN EA897B10 before that, liked it so much.

[codewest]

What are your thoughts on the Breville Infuser?

[fredericl]

Hello, this side of the world a Breville double boiler sells for about 2000 Canadian dollars! For less than that amount of money you can buy a nice Italian heat exchanger machine made of brass and stainless steel, from companies like Lelit, Nuova Simonelli, Quickmill, or Profitec. Just add a decent grinder and you are good to go for a decade with quality filtered water. More and more have PIDs for accurate temperature and you can froth milk at the same time.

[nikivan]

You can't get BDB for $1K here (Canada). I went with the Gaggia Classic Pro, but it takes quite a bit of effort to operate. The temp is not very consistent between the shots and I usually run out of steam when prepping the milk. I am going to try the Gagguino mod next and see if it gets better (it should).