9 Best Espresso Machines Under $100 And Under In 2026
Are you craving espresso at home but worried it’s too expensive?
I remember being a broke student years ago, counting coins, living off instant noodles, and still needing my daily caffeine fix to survive late-night study sessions. Cafés felt like a luxury, and instant coffee… yeah, it just wasn’t doing the job.
Then one day I found a small, budget-friendly espresso machine in a store. It wasn’t fancy, and it definitely wasn’t “barista-level,” but that first strong, rich shot felt like a miracle. From that moment on, I realized you don’t need a huge budget to enjoy real espresso at home — you just need the right machine.
That’s why I put this guide together.
Here, you’ll find the 9 best espresso machines under $100. Real-world options that are affordable, beginner-friendly, and pretty capable for the price. Whether you’re starting your espresso journey or replacing an old budget machine, these picks give you the most value without stretching your wallet.
You’ll also learn what to look for when choosing a budget espresso machine. So you know exactly which one fits your needs and coffee style.
Why Choose an Espresso Machine Under $100?
Who says you need to spend a lot of money to enjoy café-quality espresso at home?
Affordability Meets Functionality: These machines strike the perfect balance between price and performance, making them great for anyone starting their espresso journey without spending a fortune.
Great for Beginners: Designed with simplicity in mind, these machines often skip the fancy bells and whistles, making them easy to use while still delivering delicious results.
Compact and Space-Saving: With their smaller footprints, budget espresso machines are perfect for cozy kitchens, apartments, or even a dorm room setup.
What to Look for in a Budget Espresso Machine?
So here’s a breakdown of what to look for, along with some examples from our top picks.
| Feature | What to Look For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Build Quality | Durable materials like stainless steel parts, stable frames, and components that hold up to daily use. | De’Longhi Stilosa — solid build for an entry-level manual machine. |
| Ease of Use | Simple, intuitive controls that make brewing stress-free — especially if you’re new to espresso. | Chefman 6-in-1 Espresso Machine — one-touch buttons and clear operation. |
| Milk Frother Options | A built-in steam wand or frother for making lattes, cappuccinos, and milk-based drinks. | SHARDOR 20-Bar Espresso Machine — powerful steam wand for creamy foam. |
| Cleaning & Maintenance | Machines with removable parts and easy-access components for quick cleanup. | Gevi Professional Espresso Machine — detachable water tank and drip tray. |
Note: When choosing your espresso machine, think about your priorities. Are you more into lattes and need a frother, or do you value a no-fuss brewing experience? For beginners, the SOWTECH Espresso Maker is a compact, easy-to-use option, while the Capresso Steam PRO offers a more classic espresso experience.
9 Top Espresso Machines Under $100
As you are about to see, you don’t need to spend much time to start making good quality coffee at home. So, let’s check the best cheap espresso machines out there:
Affordable, beginner-friendly espresso starter
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1 – De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
The De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine is designed for people who want to start their espresso journey without spending a fortune. But who also doesn’t mind getting a little hands-on in the process.
Instead of pressing a single button and walking away, you’re the one grinding, tamping, locking in the portafilter, and watching the shot as it runs. That’s the experience this machine leans into.
The 15-bar pump and stainless steel boiler give you enough pressure and heat stability to pull good espresso shots once you get your grind and tamping right.
The pressurized basket makes early mistakes more forgiving, and the manual steam wand lets you experiment with lattes, cappuccinos, and milk drinks at your own pace. It’s compact, simple to maintain, and pretty capable for its price as long as you’re willing to practice a bit.
You trade convenience for learning and that’s the whole point. If you like the idea of slowly getting better with every shot, the Stilosa fits that role well. It’s not a café-level machine, and it won’t automate anything for you.
But if you want an affordable, beginner-friendly way to make real espresso at home, it’s a solid choice to start.
Best for Large Households
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2 – Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso
This machine is fantastic when you just want strong, dark espresso at home without spending much. Instead of a pump system, it uses steam-brewing, which gives the coffee a bold, almost “Cuban-style” intensity.
You fill the water pitcher, pack the portafilter, lock it in tight, and it brews up to four shots in one go. Making it great if you’re making drinks for two people or having one of those mornings.
The built-in frothing wand is simple but capable once you get the hang of it, and the included stainless steel pitcher is a nice touch for a budget machine. I like that everything feels straightforward.
So, no touchscreen, no menus, just a switch and some steam. Cleanup is quick, the parts come off easily, and it doesn’t take up much counter space.
It’s not a café-level espresso maker, and yeah, some parts feel basic. But if you want an inexpensive, no-nonsense way to make lattes, cappuccinos, or bold espresso at home, this little Mr. Coffee holds its own.
Best for Large Households
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3 – SOWTECH Espresso Maker
This is the kind of machine you buy when you’re curious about espresso but still on a small budget, a “let me see if I even enjoy making this at home before I spend more”.
You turn the dial, wait a moment, and a few minutes later you’ve got a small batch of espresso in the carafe. It’s quick, simple, and pretty approachable if you’re brand-new to the process.
But you notice the trade-offs almost right away. The espresso comes out warm rather than hot, and the flavor is a little thin.
The steam wand is easy enough to angle. But it doesn’t have much power, so getting milk frothy for cappuccinos takes patience (and maybe a couple of attempts where you’re just standing there, swirling the cup, waiting).
That said, it’s lightweight, compact, and surprisingly forgiving to learn on. If you want an inexpensive starter machine to practice lattes and basic espresso before upgrading, the SOWTECH makes sense. It’s more of a training wheel machine than a forever one. Still, for some people, that’s exactly what they need.
Best for Large Households
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4 – SHARDOR Espresso Machine 20 Bar
This is one of those budget machines that tries to punch a little above its weight and it mostly does. You’ve got touchscreen controls, single and double-shot buttons, and even a manual mode if you like experimenting with how your espresso pours.
The 20-bar pump and 1350W motor give the shots a fuller, smoother taste than most entry-level machines in this price bracket. Once you find the temperature setting you like, the extraction feels consistent for something this compact.
The steam wand is where it leans a little more “serious barista.” It has enough power to create proper microfoam. So if you’ve been wanting to practice latte art or make creamier cappuccinos, you actually can with this one, even with alternative milks, which is nice.
And because the water tank is big enough for several rounds, you’re not stopping to refill constantly.
The trade-off comes with maintenance and learning curve. It needs descaling fairly regularly, and if you skip it, the machine may just stop brewing until you sort it out. The touchscreen and features also take a bit of getting used to.
But if you like the idea of a compact machine that gives you more control and better milk frothing than most budget models, the SHARDOR is the step up without jumping into expensive territory.
Best for Large Households
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5 – Chefman 6-in-1 Espresso Machine
The Chefman 6-in-1 Espresso Machine feels like something you’d buy when you want café-style drinks at home, but don’t want a machine that takes forever to learn or figure out.
You’ve got the touchscreen, the single and double-shot options, latte and cappuccino buttons. Everything is laid out clearly. So you can use it first thing in the morning without overthinking or worrying about messing up a shot.
The 15-bar pump does a solid job, and while the espresso isn’t “third-wave café level,” it tastes good enough that you won’t feel tempted to run back to Starbucks.
The real highlight is the frother. It’s simple, consistent, and produces that thick, creamy foam that makes lattes and cappuccinos taste a little extra special.
The big 1.8-liter water tank is another win. You can make drinks for a few people without constantly refilling it, which is especially nice if you’ve got guests hovering in the kitchen.
It does have quirks. It’s pretty loud, and the vibration during brewing is hard to ignore. But if your priority is convenience, quick learning, and press-a-button coffee with foam on top, the Chefman 6-in-1 delivers exactly that.
Best for Large Households
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6 — Gevi Professional Espresso Machine
Instead of coming across as a “starter” espresso machine, the Gevi shows up more like a compact workhorse. The kind you bring home because you want better shots. But you’re not trying to turn your kitchen into a full café setup.
The first thing you notice is the combination of the 20-bar pump, pre-infusion, and that capable steam wand. It doesn’t just heat milk. It actually builds real foam that feels dense and glossy when you swirl the cup.
And if you prefer a bit of control, the single, double, and manual shot options give you room to play without overcomplicating things.
What really stands out is how solid the espresso tastes once you get the grind right. Finer grounds make a noticeable difference here, and after the machine warms up, the temperature holds steady enough that shots don’t feel watery or thin.
The steam wand runs hot and a little aggressively. You’ll find it great for cappuccinos. But it may take a couple of tries before you learn to control the steam and stop the milk from hissing and splashing so much.
Day-to-day, this machine easily fits into your routine. The tank pops off easily, cleaning is simple, and it has that compact, slim profile that disappears into the counter instead of dominating it.
Sure, it needs regular descaling and dialing-in with grind size. But if you want a customizable espresso without jumping to a premium machine, this Gevi holds its own in a practical way.
Best for Large Households
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7 – Flair The NEO Flex
The Flair NEO Flex is one of those espresso makers you buy because you want to make espresso. With your hands, your timing, your focus. There’s no pump, no motor humming in the background. It’s simply you, hot water, coffee grounds, and a lever that lets you control everything from pre-infusion to pressure.
You add about 60 ml of boiled water, lock in your dose, and lean on the lever until the gauge sits in that sweet 6–9-bar range. The first time may feel a little fiddly.
But by the second or third try, the muscle memory starts kicking in. And when you finally pull a thick, syrupy 40 ml shot with real crema… yeah, that’s the moment it clicks.
What most people love is that they can start simple with the flow-control portafilter (so no fancy grinder is needed at first), then switch to the bottomless basket once they’re ready to start dialing things in.
Cleanup is almost too easy. Basically, you pop the brew head off, rinse, and you’re done.
It does take longer than pressing a button, and it’s not a “half-awake before work” kind of machine. But if you enjoy the ritual, slow mornings, tinkering, and experimenting with grind size and pressure, the NEO Flex is for you.
Best for Large Households
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8 – STARESSO Classic Portable Espresso Machine
This is one of those little gadgets you buy half-curious and then you’re shocked that it actually pulls a legit espresso shot. You fill it with hot water, add ground coffee (or a pod, if you’re traveling and want things easy), and start pumping the lever and after a few presses, you see that thick, golden crema forming.
It’s a satisfying moment, especially if you’ve been burned before by cheap “espresso toys” that barely produce brown water.
What you’ll probably appreciate most is how easily it fits into real-life situations. Hotel room. Camping. Tiny apartment kitchen.
You can toss it in a bag with a small hand grinder and, after a couple of test shots, you’ll start getting rich, balanced espresso that beats many cheap countertop machines. If you preheat the chamber and your cup, it helps even more and cleanup takes maybe 20–30 seconds.
It’s not built for latte art or rushed mornings, and you’ll need patience between shots. But if you want a low-cost, ultra-portable way to make real espresso wherever you are, the STARESSO Classic gives you more than you’d expect from something this small.
Best for Large Households
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9 – C1 Small Portable Espresso Machine (PURA COFFEE)
So here’s the deal with the C1 Small Portable Espresso Machine, especially compared to the STARESSO Classic. The STARESSO is the one you throw in a backpack for hikes or hotel stays when an AeroPress isn’t enough anymore. It’s fully manual (no batteries, no power cord ), just hot water and a bit of pumping until the crema builds.
You might take it on a cabin weekend and notice that, it can pull some great shots for something that small. But it’s still a single-serving setup. You wait between shots, and since there’s no built-in heating system, you’ll need a kettle or some other way to boil water.
The C1 lives in a different lane. It’s electric, and that changes everything. Plug it in, let it heat, and the 20-bar pump produces a hot, rich shot with crema that looks closer to a countertop machine than a travel gadget.
The tank is bigger, so you’re not refilling constantly, and there’s also a battery mode for brewing on the go. It feels like a bridge between “portable toy” and “real espresso maker.”
It’s not as rugged or minimalist as the STARESSO. But if you want portability with actual heat and pressure, the C1 hits a really nice middle ground.
Last Thoughts
Have you tried any of the budget-friendly espresso machines on our list? Or maybe you’re still deciding which one is right for you? I’d like to hear your thoughts or questions in the comments. I’m here to help you out, and with that voilà!
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