Buying an espresso machine is one of those purchases where the price range is completely absurd. You can spend $199 or $5,000 and there are people who will tell you both are the right answer. Here's how to figure out which one is right for you.
The first thing to understand is that the grinder matters more than the machine. Any halfway decent machine with a great grinder will produce better espresso than a great machine with a bad grinder. If your budget is $500 total, spend $250 on the machine and $250 on the grinder. Do not spend $500 on the machine and $50 on a blade grinder from Amazon.
Second, decide how much you're willing to learn. Espresso is a craft. Real espresso, the kind that's worth spending money on a machine for, requires you to understand grind size, tamping pressure, dose weight, extraction time and water temperature. If you want to press a button and get a coffee, buy a super automatic machine and skip this guide.
Third, figure out your ceiling. If you know you'll want to upgrade in two years, buy something that resells well. Breville and Gaggia hold value. Cheap knock offs do not.
For most people starting out, we recommend either the Breville Barista Express (integrated grinder, forgiving, easy to learn on) or the Gaggia Classic Pro plus a dedicated grinder (steeper learning curve, but you'll never outgrow it). Both will make you real espresso. Both will still be worth using in ten years.
If you're jumping straight to the deep end, look at heat exchanger machines like the Rocket Appartamento or dual boiler options. But don't start there. Learn on something cheaper first. You'll waste less coffee that way.
The full ranking with all our picks is on the espresso machines page.