If you are used to or looking to brew coffee in your home comfort but are not sure how much to spend on a coffee machine or the features you should look for in that price range?
We’re here to the rescue with our best coffee maker under $300 review. Be at ease and read on — because there are some really good options under this price range.
It is a hard task to narrow down and find a handful of perfect suitors. Especially, to find a functional machine that offers a wide range of drinks with high-quality brewing. Our compiled list of the best espresso machines under $300 consists of 7 proven and popular models.
We focused on machines that will give you decent espresso, with milk-based drinks, build quality, and smart functionalities. Even after that, you’ll be able to find both the pros and cons of each product.
So, let’s check out the list and reviews!
Best Coffee Maker Under $300: Product Reviews
Finding the best coffee maker for under 300 dollars can be a daunting task. With so many different models and brands to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the best coffee machines under $300, based on expert reviews and customer feedback. So whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly model or something more high-end, we’ve got you covered. Let’s have a quick glimpse at the list.
- Mr. Coffee Café Barista (Top Pick)
- Flair Signature Espresso Maker (Best Manual)
- Nespresso Vertuo Next (Best Capsule)
- Breville Café Roma
- Cuisinart SS-15P1 Coffeemaker
- Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker
- De’Longhi EC702 Pump Espresso Maker
Mr. Coffee Café Barista
Best Overall
Pros
Cons
Features
The Mr. Coffee Café Barista is a stout 3-in-1 semi-automatic machine. It gives you enough automated controls without having to switch to capsule machines. You can make espresso, cappuccinos, and lattés. It has separate buttons for each option on the one-touch control panel. Press any of these drink buttons once for its single shot and press twice for the double.
This 15-bar machine heats up quickly and pumps out a rich brew every time. It should be an important factor when buying an espresso machine.
It also comes with an automatic milk frother instead of a wand. The frothing is also automatic for your latte and cappuccino. Meaning, it not only makes for easy cleaning but also saves you from wasting unused milk (just store the milk in the fridge with the reservoir).
The nice thing about the Café Barista is its easy-fill, removable milk, and water reservoir. The drip tray is also detachable, so you can fit taller cups (not taller mugs) under its spout.
It will take up some space on your kitchen counter. Please note, this machine will need a good cleaning with vinegar before the first use in order to function properly.
Technical Specs
This beautiful machine has claimed the first spot in our list as the best coffee machine for under 300 dollars. Build with stainless steel this machine weighs 10.37 lbs. and has a dimension of Product Dimensions 11.22 x 8.86 x 12.6 inches. Available in only Silver color the Mr. Coffee manufacturers have provided a smart touchscreen interface with a dial for the users and it consumes 1040 watts of power. It has a large 55 oz. (1.6 liters) water tank for 10-12 cups of coffee. Even though this machine is a bit heavy, you can still move it around since it has a cord length of 26 inches.
- 15 Bar Pump System Brews Rich Tasting Espresso Coffee
- Trouble-Free Automatic Milk Frother Removes the Guesswork
- One-touch control panel for drink selections
- Easy fill, removable water, and milk reservoirs
Flair Signature Espresso Maker
Best Manual Coffee Machine Under $300
Pros
Cons
Features
The Flair is a 100% human-powered press machine. With it, you will have a fully manual machine that’s capable of producing professional-quality shots at your home. Add 60 ml. of boiled water and 18 grams of coffee to brew a 40 ml. shot with crema.
The Flair Espresso Maker has a completely detachable brewing head. This patented design lets its users completely detach and rinse underwater.
The custom pressure gauge lets you have immediate visual feedback and a range for espresso while pulling the shots. The Flair is capable of brewing with 6-10-bar pressure which is a perfect range for espresso. The Pressure kit comes with a stainless steel-made tamper and a 2-in-1 bottomless portafilter for spouted or naked brewing.
As it’s made and upgraded with cast aluminum and steel the robust base, post, and lever are built to last. Both the aluminum press stand and steel brewing head have a 3-year warranty from Flair.
It comes with Flair’s precision cut and padded carrying case. Meaning you can carry this espresso maker anywhere you’d like.
Technical Specs
Our best pick from the manual type coffee machine is under $300. The Flair Signature comes in 4 colors – Black, Black and Red, White, and Chrome. This medieval-looking contraption weighs 7 lbs. (3.18kg) and takes up a dimension of 12 (L) x 6 (W) x 10 (H) inches. Its cylinder water capacity is 60 ml and works with a range of 6-10 bar of lever pressure (since it’s manual, hence the range). The shot extraction period varies between 30 to 45 seconds and you can expect a shot volume of roughly 45 ml. You will require 13-18 grams of coffee grounds input for pulling a perfect shot.
- 100% human-powered, manual espresso press
- Capable of brewing between 6-9 bars, the perfect range for espresso extraction
- Completely detachable brewing head
Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine
Best Capsule Coffee Machine Under $300
Pros
Cons
Features
Nespresso’s trademark Centrifusion technology applies centrifugal pressure to create a distinct, full-bodied coffee with a smooth crema. Nespresso offers 30 pods that come in a variety of 3 blends of 10 Stormio, 10 Odacio, and 10 Melozio blends for the Nespresso VertuoLine System. The pods give you a 7.8 oz. of serving that is perfect for a longer drinking experience.
The Aeroccino3 frother makes smooth hot or cold froth with one touch. It froths all kinds of milk in a few seconds and without any noise or vibration. Vertuo Next is a compact, sustainable, and smart VertuoLine machine. It’s made with 54% recycled materials.
The Nespresso capsules offer various intensities with Stormio (Intensity 8), Odacio (Intensity 7), and Melozio (Intensity 6). A perfect way to discover and enjoy a distinctive range of extraordinary coffees. Nespresso Vertuo gives you a full range of cup styles and sizes. Ranging from espresso to Alto XL with easy-to-use pods. You can also make and enjoy hot or pour it over ice. Note that, VertuoLine capsules are not suitable for Original Line Nespresso machines.
Vertuo Next brews both coffee and espresso. In 5, 8, and 18 oz. both single and double espresso sizes too! The 4 different cup sizes are – Espresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, and Alto.
Technical Specs
Nespresso Espresso makers are not only pocket-friendly but also are almost uncontested in the world of capsule-based machines. Thus, meet Vertuo Next! The best coffee machine under $300 is a Capsule machine. Available in Light Grey, Matte Black, and Red colors. It comes with the Aeroccino frother by Breville for your milky beverages. On top of that, Nespresso’s complimentary VertuoLine capsules have 30 pods. These pods are medium and dark-roasted flavored.
Vertuo Next also cuts your recycling headache with a 10 espresso/ 6 coffee used capsule container. You can make 4 cups with this machine. This ultra-modern-looking machine weighs 4 kg(s) and has a dimension of 14.2×42.9×31.4 cm. (WxDxH). You can also move it around your counter as it provides 75 cm. as well is easy to clean and maintain with its 1.1-liter detachable water tank. Vertuo offers Optimized heat up time and auto energy-saving mode for an optimal and worry-free coffee experience.
Vertuo values your time like no other as it offers 15-20 sec of pre-heating time. You can make various-sized coffees and espressos from 40 ml to 535 ml.
- Connectivity via Bluetooth and WI-FI
- Centrifusion technology uses centrifugal pressure to create a unique, full-bodied coffee topped with a smooth crown of crema
- 4 cup sizes – Espresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, Alto
Breville Esp8xl Café Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
Pros
Cons
Features
The Café Roma scores some big points for its simplicity, design, and maintenance. It’s a big, stout, and durable machine. It has some heft and requires space on your counter, but it sets ergonomically too!
With its thermoblock boiler, the Café Roma heats up fast while the pressurized portafilter takes a bit of learning. It does come with 3 filter baskets for singles (7g), doubles (14g), and pods. All 3 filters incorporate Breville’s distinct dual-wall crema technology. This tech ensures a rich and smooth flavor. You can simply begin extraction by turning the dual-action selector dial to the right. If you turn it to the left, the steam wand will get activated for milk texturing.
The professional-grade adjustable steam wand additionally features a finger-looper for easier control. The aluminum-made warming tray can heat up six espresso cups together. The stainless steel milk wand can be pulled right off for easy cleaning.
The removable water tank can hold enough for 4 double shots, or 3 lattés worth of water. It’s a great machine for making flat whites and cappuccinos.
Technical Specs
Yes, Breville doesn’t only make Nespresso machines for Nespresso (like the Vertuo Next above), Breville itself is a giant in the espresso maker industry. This Esp8xl Café Roma weighs 13 lbs. and measures 9 x 9 x 12 inches. Bonus accessories include a steel-made frothing pitcher, a tamping tool, a measuring scoop, and a cleaning tool. Breville also offers a 1-year limited warranty with the product.
Its Esp8xl model by Breville is made of stainless steel – hence the brushed stainless steel color. The water tank capacity stands at 40.6 oz. (1.2 liters) and it’s removable. The same goes for the drip tray. The 15-bar thermoblock pump and dual-wall filtration system make excellent crema for you cup after cup. Additionally, the froth enhancer and cup-warming plate accentuate your overall coffee-making experience with it.
- Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar thermoblock pump
- Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema
- Removable drip tray and grid
Cuisinart SS-15P1 Coffeemaker and Single-Serve Brewer
Pros
Cons
Features
The Cuisinart offers its trademark 24-hour programmability feature. Known as the “Brew Start” function, it will allow you to schedule the time for your brewer to start making coffee without you pressing a button there and then. You just need to set it up and keep the Cuisinart SS-15 switched on! Also, you’ll need to have enough water and grounds set in place in the machine.
The Cuisinart SS-15 comes with a brew-pause feature. So, if you don’t want to wait and have a cup before the full halt of brewing, you can pause and drink. Its 2-in-1 features stand for a programmable 12-cup coffeemaker and the single-serve coffeemaker on the other. Single-serve brewer has 3 sizes — 6, 8, and 10 oz. All of them are compatible with most single-serve capsules.
The adjustable carafe temperature knob allows you to switch between the heat plate presets beneath the carafe to prevent brew over-extraction.
This Cuisinart coffee maker also has an energy-saving mode. You can program its auto shut-off function for up to 4 hours after the last brew.
The charcoal water filter and gold-tone coffee filter guarantee the purest coffee taste for you. The Cuisinart HomeBarista Reusable Filter Cup lets you use your own ground coffee – talk about freedom!
Technical Specs
Cuisinart has been making affordable but quality coffee makers for years. The SS-15P1 model comes in 5 different colors (Silver, Copper, Black, Grey, and White). You can make 12 cups of coffee with its big 96 oz. (2.8 liters) water tank with charcoal water filter. And of course, this big water reservoir gets housed with a 10.13 x 10.38 x 14.25 inches body dimension and 12.2 lbs. weight.
Like most of the Cuisinart coffee makers, it has a button-based user interface panel upfront. The 12-cup coffee gets poured into its glass carafe with a stainless steel-made handle. The SS-15 offers you not only quality coffee but also the ability to select coffee strengths and different serving sizes (6, 8, 10 oz.) too! This coffee maker an ideal choice with its flexibility. Its Home Barista Reusable Filter Cup allows you to use your own coffee and it’s also compatible with K-Cup pods.
- Compatible with any brand of single-cup pod including Keurig K-Cup pods with an optional reusable filter cup
- Removable water reservoir complements its charcoal water filter and removable drip tray for travel mugs
- Serve up to 12 cups of coffee at once
Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker
Pros
Cons
Features
It takes about 2-3 minutes to brew a single-serve portion. It’s slightly longer than other Keurig models but the glass carafe takes about 10 minutes to completely fill up – that is on par with other models. The coffee machine has 2 ways of brewing coffee: with K-cups (only for a single cup) and with grounds (for a carafe).
The machine’s auto-off feature shuts itself off automatically after 1 minute of a single cup of coffee brewing. On the other hand, the heating plate under the carafe shuts itself off after 2 hours. So, your full 12- cups of coffee stays hot for 2 hours.
Just like Cuisinart, Keurig also has its own Pause and Pour feature. So, now you can pour and get an early cup of joe before the entire carafe finishes brewing.
There are no noises generated by the machine while operational. Other than generic mild winding noise you can expect no unusual noise from it.
Technical Specs
Just like Cuisinart, Keurig is another giant in the industry and they specialize in making comfortable home coffee makers for years now. The K-Duo is another single-serving and 12-cup glass carafe drip brewer from Keurig. Compatible with both ground coffee and K-Cups. It has a dimension of 15 x 14 x 16 inches and it weighs 1 lb. This sizeable machine comes with a sizeable 60 oz. (1.8 liters) removable water tank. The K-Duo comes with single-serve (6, 8, 10, and 12 oz.) coffee cups and drip coffee (6, 8, 10, and 12) cups. Impressive features such as strength control and a heating plate are present for you with K-Duo for an easy, relaxing, and prolonged coffee experience.
- Usable for both ground coffee and K-cup pods
- 12-cup glass carafe included with a heating plate
- Compatible with Keurig gold-tone mesh filter accessory
De’Longhi EC702 15-Bar Pump Espresso Maker
Pros
Cons
Features
The De’Longhi automatic 15-bar machine is the real deal for under $300. Not only does it brew tasty coffee like your favorite café house but also can use pods or ground coffee. The full stainless steel machine has a 100% professional brewing system. The pressure pump is perfect which makes the final coffee flavor remarkable.
This coffee machine allows you to brew like a pro. Single, double espresso, or a specialty – can be yours in seconds. It uses 2 separate thermostats to offer full control over the steam pressure and the water temp! The manual milk frother makes a rich, creamy froth by mixing steam and milk evenly for textured drinks.
15-bar pump pressure assures quality every time. Not only that, but its adjustable controls also let you do modifications to your personal preferences. No waiting time between cups of espresso as it maintains the optimal brewing temperature. The Rapid Cappuccino system ensures one cup after another with consistent temperature as well as flavor.
The 3-in-1 filter holder works for 1 espresso shot, 2 espresso shots, and for an easy-serve espresso pod. The water tank is simple to detach, refill, and re-install, and has easily visible water levels to eliminate any guesswork.
Technical Specs
The De’Longhi EC702 stainless steel-made Metallic-colored machine carries a capacity of 44 oz. (1.3 liters). Weighing 11.44 lbs. this EC702 model comes with a buttoned user interface. Similar to Café Barista it has a sizeable dimension of 11.02 x 9.06 x 11.61 inches.
- 15 bars pump-driven machine
- Water level indicator
- Easy to use frother
- On/Off switch
Best Coffee Maker Under $300: Buying Tips
Home-based espresso machines do vary widely in their demands. We’ll go through the machine categories and buying tips below.
Choose the type
Manual Espresso Machines
Manual machines have neither electrical nor electronic components in them. They actually rely on the user’s physical strength and experience. These 2 factors generate the right pressure for pulling the espresso shot. Best for learning the art and science of espresso making. It’s easy to mess up and requires time and patience. But when you nail it, the results will be simply sublime.
Semi-Automatic Machines
Semi-automatics have built-in pumps and electronic temperature controls. So the user can set the temperature and won’t have to push the water through. You should be able to control/decide the start and end of the water flow. You can learn how different factors can affect a shot by playing with the settings.
Fully Automatic Machines
Fully automatics give you minimal control but maximum options. These machines can control grind types, drink sizes, drink options, temperatures, and coffee strengths based on your selection. You just need to grind the beans, load it in, select the drink-related options, and that’s it! Most expensive espresso machines are mostly fully automated.
Capsule Espresso Machines
Capsule machines are simple, and kind of automatic too! Because they are hands-off types of machines. You need to fill the water tank, pick and install a capsule into the machine, and place a cup under the spout. Push a button and wait. Within less than a minute, you’ll have your coffee – ideal for office spaces.
How Much Coffee You Brew At A Time
In this case, we simply imply that you check the size of the water reservoir. If you do make a lot of coffee frequently then you need a machine that has a big reservoir. Some machines can’t also do back-to-back rapid brewing! So, check these things before buying one.
15 Bar And 20 Bar Pressure
Under $300, you’ll notice 2 main levels of pressure – 15 bars and 20 bars. To be honest you can have a good cup of espresso with just 9 bars of pressure. A 15-bar pump is 100% professional standard. Most trusted engineers blueprinted their coffee machines with 15 bars for optimality. A 20-bar system is just for faster extraction than the 15-bar machines, but it doesn’t mean it’s better than a 15-bar machine.
Fast Heat Up
Most of the time you probably don’t want to wait 15 minutes for your cup of coffee. You need a machine that will heat up itself and then the water very quickly. Good espresso machines do this heating up around under a minute period.
Milk Frothing
We recommend buying a machine that is already equipped with a decent steaming wand or an automated milk frother – whether you would be using it or not. In any case, it will save you from buying a separate milk frother in the future for cappuccinos, flat whites, and lattés.
Ease Of Cleaning
Cleaning and maintaining your coffee machine is important for taste, longevity, and self-health reasons. It also ensures a smooth operational experience. You must perform basic cleaning after each use according to the official instructions. It’ll save you from unpleasant odors and tastes developing inside your machine. So, find a machine that can be cleaned quickly and easily.
Preferred Style Of Coffee
Because some espresso machines do a particular style well. Few others out there are truly versatile. Most espresso machines are unable to make standard drip coffee. So, make sure you’re buying a machine that can suit your preferred drinks.
Your Counter Space
Check the weight and the dimensions. It will help you determine whether that machine will fit on your counter. Also, try to pick a machine that will be easy to move around.
Cup Sizes And Spout Height
It’s very sensible for you to check whether your coffee machine can work with different cup sizes and/or adjustable spout height. On many models, a detachable or adjustable cup tray can also help you accommodate taller cups.
FAQs
What Types Of Espresso Machines Are There?
Espresso machine types are manual-press, pod, stovetop, pour-over, direct water connect, volumetric, boiler-base (single and double), heat-exchange, steam-driven, pump-driven, and automatics (semi, full, super, and ultra).
Are Espresso Machines Under $300 Worth It?
Yes, of course! With the advancement and addition of smart features with these machines, you can make quality coffee at home. It will vary depending on your experience and effort. You don’t have to break banks for a quality espresso machine these days. But, before buying (regardless of price range) do take the time to research the market.
How Much Should I Spend On An Espresso Machine?
It all depends on your desire to spend on a particular type of machine. The machine must align with your drinking capability and habits. Also, consider the external (accessories, pods, cleaning agents, brushes, etc.) based spending too for a machine before buying it. Considering all of these factors, it’s clear that the budget will vary from person to person.
Can A Under $300 Espresso Machine Make A Good Espresso Shot?
Yes, provided it has a good extraction mechanism and can handle fine espresso ground. A lot of machines under $300 these days can offer a decent water temperature optimal for espresso shots.
Conclusion
Whether you want to make plain espresso or milky delectable drinks like cappuccino, macchiato, and mocha, you need a machine that will deliver you cups of coffee consistently. Choosing the right machine requires not only research but also your drinking preferences and daily habits.
For all that intent and purpose, we complied with this best coffee maker under $300 article. We tried to pinpoint the listed products’ strengths and weaknesses. We’ve also categorized these machines with their nature (i.e. semi, full-auto, manual, and capsule). Finally, we hope you can rely upon this guide for future purchases for your kitchen.
Happy Brewing!
