Casey Crowdsources - Espresso Machines

Welcome to Casey Crowdsources, where I ask you for your favorite products...and you absolutely come through every single time.

Last month, I asked Instagram for your favorite espresso machines, and my DMs exploded. Apparently you all have very strong opinions about coffee.

My own coffee journey has been all over the place. I started drinking coffee in my early twenties and was a regular drip coffee girl for years. Then we had a Nespresso machine for a while. When I was dealing with insomnia, I switched to decaf. And over the last year? I’ve become completely hooked on a daily vanilla latte from my neighborhood coffee shop.

Turns out, those $7 lattes add up.

With Prime Day, I figured it was finally time to invest in a real espresso machine and I wanted to snag one at a discount. I wanted something that could make my everyday latte, but also pull great espresso for weekend espresso martinis (priorities, right?).

So I asked all of you: What do you own? What do you actually love? What’s worth the money? Here are your top recs…

One thing that came through loud and clear was that the machine is only part of the equation. So many of you said fresh beans make the biggest difference, and plenty of you recommended investing in a specialty grinder and a luxe frother, if your machine doesn't include them. Filtered water was another recurring tip, along with staying on top of regular cleaning so your machine lasts for years.

1. By far, Breville was the most recommended brand. I snagged their Barista Express during Prime Week for $200 off. Many other Breville suggestions came in, like the Barista Impress, that has no need to grind & measure each time, the Barista Touch Impress that has an espresso martini setting, the simple Bambino without a grinder, and the Bambino Plus.

1. Jura: If you want a super automatic machine, Jura came up over and over again. Many of you mentioned you've owned yours for years and still love it.

2. Ninja: I already love my Ninja Creami, but I honestly had no idea Ninja made espresso machines. Several of you recommended them, so now I'm curious.

3. Moka Pot: I bought one of these about a year ago to make espresso on the stovetop for martinis. It’s very inexpensive and easy to use.

4. De’Longhi: Another classic recommendation. Several of you said your De'Longhi has been incredibly reliable.

5. Lavazza: If you like the convenience of pods, many of you pointed me toward Lavazza as an easy-to-use option.

6. TerraKaffe: This may have been the prettiest machine in the bunch. Quite a few of you own one and absolutely love it.

7. Nespresso Machine with Frother: If you're sticking with Nespresso, many of you recommended getting the version with the built-in milk frother so you can make lattes and cappuccinos at home.

8. Gevi: For anyone with limited counter space, Gevi came up as a solid, compact option.

9. Aeropress: Several of you suggested the AeroPress for travel, small kitchens, or anyone who wants excellent coffee without a big machine.

10. KitchenAid K8: This one earned quite a few votes from longtime owners.

11. Gaggia: Several coffee enthusiasts recommended Gaggia if you're looking for a more traditional Italian espresso experience.

12. Phillips 5500: This was another popular fully automatic machine that many of you said is incredibly easy to use.

13. French Press: Not technically espresso, but enough of you mentioned your trusty French press that it deserved a spot on the list.

14. Miele: If budget isn't much of a concern, Miele was the luxury recommendation. Many of you loved being able to save custom drink settings for everyone in the family.

I’m officially a few weeks into my espresso-making journey, and I have to say...there’s definitely a learning curve. I’ve pulled some incredible shots...and I’ve also made some that were so sour I questioned why I ever spent hundreds of dollars on this machine. But I’m getting there.

I’ve also purchased a few accessories (like a scale) that have made things a tad easier. I shared my best tips for espresso newbies in this blog post earlier this week, if you’re also learning!

If you have a favorite machine that didn’t make the list (or your best tip for making café-worthy drinks at home), leave it in the comments. You all have never steered me wrong before.