7 Best Espresso Machines Under £500 / $500

In this video I'm going through the top 7 sub £500/$500 espresso machines, which in most cases is also sub $500. There's also story time with Coffee Kev, and a couple of secret tips on buying used equipment. But shhh, it's a secret.

eBay links :

Used Espresso Machines:

Used Commercial Grinders:

Current Gear:

I'm listing the current setup first that the pros are using, and then my original more budget setup.

Sennheiser MKH 60
Sanken Cos 11 Lavalier

My budget setup (prior to working with Brickoven):

Please note, affiliate links included above.

Timecodes:

00:00 Intro
0:39 DeLonghi Dedica
2:05 Gaggia Espresso
4:20 Gaggia Carezza
5:58 Sage/Breville Bambino
7:48 Sage/Breville Bambino Plus
9:00 Sage/Breville Duo Temp Pro
11:09 Gaggia Classic Pro
13:15 Bonus - Used Machines
16:10 Grinders? Story time with Coffee Kev
18:34 Secret tip - buying commercial coffee grinders
20:04 Kev's Useless Fact
20:27 Tatty Bye

#homebarista #CoffeeKev #espressomachine #siebträgermaschine #coffeebeans #coffeemachines #coffeemachine

[NoZenith]

I didn't want to hassle with upgrading later and I didn't want to hassle with retention and cleaning issues related to all that and I also didn't want to deal with significant clumping so I jumped in and spent the money on the Niche Zero to pair up with the Bambino Plus, (which is my dream set up that you helped confirm) so I wouldn't have a learning curve and I could just start from scratch learning the skills, not making up for lacking equipment. Absolutely love my setup and I'm so glad I didn't go for a budget grinder.

[jons]

Great video with very sound advice and tips! I did what you’re suggesting (put most of my budget towards a grinder) and purchased a Gaggia Classic Pro, which I nodded myself (actually not that difficult) with a 6 bar spring and a PID and I love it. Paired with a $1, 500 USD Olympia Express Moca SD grinder I’m making consistent incredible espresso at home every day. 👍🏻 And who says grinders can’t be sexy too 🤣

[tufgamerdad]

Loved story time with kev and top notch info as always, looking at getting a bambino and still think it suits me best appreciate the info.

[piplup]

17:38 HAH! Joke's on you, I actually did spend my budget on a grinder and I am using my Aeropress until I get money saved for a machine! 😁 I went for the DF64 Gen 2 grinder and upgraded the burrs. I figured I got an aeropress and I sort of know how to use it lol but if I get a really good coffee grinder and learn to dial in the best grind size for the coffee I like with fresh beans I will be able to make due until I can find a machine for me ☺

[xenoclarke]

Love the videos Kev, hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I appreciate you tend to give more of a beginners point of view to your recommendations (not your knowledge btw clearly you know what you’re talking about). It’s very easy with coffee to go down the rabbit hole and chase tiny improvements for tonnes of money.

Anyway thanks to your videos (and your discount code ;)) I managed to snag a bambino and Fellow opus for around £380 total just this week and have begun my espresso journey

[someguy]

Got a Dedica on black friday as a warehouse deal for 80€

2 years, still going strong. Keep it clean, de-scale as needed, bottomless portafilter and a good grinder. On road trips we even take it with us because it takes up so little space

[kevy]

As a fellow Kev, and one who has only recently seen the light about coffee I wanted to thank you for your videos.

[TsvetanVR]

I was actually able to find and purchase locally a Dedica for just 70 Euros including 2 aftermarket non-pressurized baskets, a stainless steel tamper, a stainless steel milk jug, a knock box and a separate Philips milk frother that I never use. All for 70. It had seen quite a fair bit of use but still in perfect working condition. It's also really simple to disassemble and on the cheap side to repair if anything goes wrong. I matched that with a Sage Smart Grinder Pro for 210 Euros new and a 15 Euro kit from amazon consisting of a bottomless portafilter, puck screen, dual shot basket and the magnetic extender thing you put on top while puck prepping so nothing falls out (forgot its name). Got some fresh specialty coffee, overdosed a couple of times until I dialed everything in and I must say the results are pretty good for a complete setup that costs less than a mid-range grinder. Just under 300 Euros in total. Bargain.

[rossyhead]

This is the video I need! Just bought a sage pro grinder using your code and now need a machine as my bean to cup delonghi has gone back to get fixed!

[johnsadler]

Love my Oscar ll. Even used it for 2 days in my wife's cafe. 8 years and going strong. Added an OPV a while back. Easy machine to use. Paired with Baratza 270

[MANEEE]

Hi Kev ! Love your videos !
I’m about to buy a coffee machine and I’m between the Gaggia classic pro and the quick mill pippa. I have found a quick mill pippa used in great condition for the same price the Gaggia pro is new. What would you buy ?
Thank you in advance!

[igorvideoigor]

"All right, mush?" :) love your videos Kev. I can't make up my mind on which espresso machine to buy. I'm desperate to see a under 1000 machine video from you. I'm quite sure I'd be happy with a Gaggia Classic or a Rancilio Silvia but I'm wondering if it would be worth spending a little more and going for a Rancilio Silvia pro, a Profitec Go / ECM casa or a Lelit to get PID and OPV.... What would you suggest? You're absolute legend !
Greatings from Napoli, Italy

[simonshandrinov]

thx, nice advice on the used market that we do not frequently get here on YT

upgraded from $100 manual kingrinder to $100 mazzer major this year and could not be happier even after investing into new burr set)

as for the machine, my modded stilosa is still quite good for me - would even put it into the list as an entry point for espresso at it's price...maybe even instead of dedica

[nollys]

Dear Coffee Kev, please can you do a review on space saving, good quality espresso machines ans grinders?

I'm sure there are a lot of people like me with limited space that can't acccommodate nice, comfy sized machines. Thank you😊

[LookatmeIamthecaptainnow]

Great video as usual, thanks Kev. I'd be interested in the sub £1000 review too, currently looking to get a Profitec GO ... very tempted...

[jackgtravis]

I want to upgrade my bambino plus but honestly the warm up time is so good you’re making a milkie from off faster than even a dual boiler so I might just wait until it conks out 😂

[goatbee]

Can you do another video, or point me towards one, that breaks down all the jargon you used? Like "solenoid valve", "pucks bing wetter", "filter sneeze" to select a few... im a bit of a noob but in the market for an espresso machine

[alisshusley]

What do you think about the last model of kitchenaid burr coffee grinder? I’m really on a low budget here and I don’ t want to buy a second hand machine. Thank you🙏

[Antli]

Waiting on an e24, “upgrading” from a flair pro. My wife started drinking coffee and pulling multiple shots on the flair was getting tedious. Plus she wants milk. Not easy with the flair. I don’t need a pid to start, and was more concerned with parts availability and quality

[javierperea]

I would love to know which one is better, gaggia carezza or gaggia espresso? It looks like the espresso has everything of carezza has and the portefilter is better and it has the PID system too. But you talk about it later in the video so I'm not sure. It's only better if you get it with the grinder and portefilter?