A super-automatic espresso machine is a lifestyle game changer. They produce cafe-quality espresso and milk beverages at the touch of a button. No need to grind and prepare shots or even wait for a machine to warm up.
They’re a true lifesaver for anyone with a rushed morning. Or anyone who simply wants delicious coffee without having to do any work.
The problem is, super-automatic espresso machines are wildly expensive. Only the wealthiest among us could ever afford one…right?
Wrong.
First of all, even the most expensive super-auto is likely to pay for itself within a few years if it’s replacing your daily visit to a coffee shop. Even better, however, is this little nugget of truth: there’s a whole slew of super-automatic espresso machines that are surprisingly affordable—even when on a budget.
So, if you’re the kind of person who wants to brew a delicious shot of espresso—or a cappuccino or latte—with the touch of a button, we’ve got good news. You don’t have to be independently wealthy to afford this luxury.
Keep reading for our list of the best super-automatic espresso machines for those of us who don’t have Batman’s budget.
If you want a machine that brews milk-based espresso drinks at the touch of a button, this is about the best deal you could imagine getting. For under $600, the Anima Prestige makes espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos with ease. Simply attach the milk frothing carafe, push a button, and you’re good to go.Gaggia Anima Prestige
The Anima Prestige also allows you to customize your beverages’ strength, volume, and temperature, so you can enjoy your coffee the way you like it.
Overall, this is a simple machine for people with simple espresso tastes. It doesn’t do anything fancy, but what it does it does well—nothing in this price range comes close.
Despite being the second-cheapest one-touch machine available, Gaggia’s Velasca Prestige packs a powerful punch when it comes to versatility, functionality, and ease of use. Featuring Gaggia’s wonderful auto-frothing carafe, it perfectly froths foam for coffee-shop-quality cappuccinos and lattes at the push of a button. When you’re done, slide the carafe back into the fridge to keep cool until you need it again. Gaggia Velasca Prestige
When it comes to the actual brewing of espresso, the Velasca Prestige has the versatility to do it the way you like. There are 10 different grind settings so you can fine-tune espresso flavor (plus a bypass doser if you prefer to use pre-ground coffee instead of whole bean). There are also 5 different strength settings, so you can bump up the taste and power of your drinks.
When the brewing’s all done and it’s time to clean up, the Velasca’s removable brew group makes life easy—simply detach it and rinse in the sink.
Philosophically, the Gaggia Magenta and Velasca Prestige are quite similar—they both offer one-touch brewing of delicious espresso plus coffee and milk drinks. Where the Magenta differs from the Velasca, however, is in its increased versatility. Gaggia Magenta Prestige
The Magenta brews a greater variety of beverages than its cousin, including Americanos, café au lait, cortados, flat whites, and latte macchiatos. What’s more, the Magenta will switch up its brew order to best suit the drink being made. (For example, it froths milk first for cappuccinos, but for the flat white it brews espresso first.)
The Magenta also upgraded the clearance of its brew group to fit larger cups of coffee and added an upgraded color screen that allows for even more control of your beverage brewing than on the Velasca.
If milk beverages aren’t your thing, but you still want delicious, café-quality espresso by only expending the effort of pressing the button, the Jura ENA 4 is going to excite you. In making the ENA 4, Jura said “to heck with versatility; we’re going to do one thing perfectly.” JURA ENA 4
And they did.
The ENA 4 only makes 4 different drinks (espresso, espresso doppio, coffee, and coffee doppio), but boy does it deliver on the café-quality promise.
The patented Pulse Extraction Process (PEP) optimizes extraction times for the drink being brewed and its conical burr grinder grinds quickly for maximum flavor extraction.
The ENA 4 is perfect for anyone with a busy morning—it takes less than 90 seconds to turn the thing on and brew a 6oz cup of coffee. Plus, with no milk carafe to deal with, cleaning is minimal—simply toss a cleaning tablet down its pre-ground chute every month or two and you’re good to go.
The one situation where a super-automatic espresso machine might not be the right choice for you personally is if you love iced coffees and don’t want to drink watered down versions where hot coffee is brewed over ice.DeLonghi Dinamica ECAM 35020W
Not anymore.
DeLonghi’s Dinamica ECAM 35030W stands out as the first-ever super-automatic espresso machine to do iced coffees justice.
It uses a combination of a lower brewing temperature, preinfusion, and a specialized recipe to achieve smooth, full-bodied iced coffees that aren’t watered down in the slightest.
Of course, this machine brews regular espressos as well, and includes a manual steam wand that produces cafe-quality foam for cappuccinos and lattes—though you do have to do a little more work than with some of the other machines on this list to get it.
Refurbished Machines
Do you want all the value of the machines discussed in this post but with the increased functionality and beverage options of products twice the price? Consider purchasing a refurbished machine from Whole Latte Love!
Refurbished machines are often priced at about a 50% discount, and most of them were returned for simple reasons (like they didn’t fit the counter-space the original purchaser had).
Regardless of how they ended up with us again, our factory-certified technicians put them through a whole battery of performance tests to ensure there’s absolutely nothing that would prevent them from operating as though they were brand new. If there are any broken parts, they’re repaired or replaced.
Plus, most of our refurbished machines come with a 6 month warranty, so you can save big without sacrificing peace of mind.
Find YOUR Super-Auto
Not sure which of these super-automatic espresso machines is right for you? We can help. Schedule a Coffee Cast for a one-on-one learning session with one of our in-house espresso experts.
They can conduct live product demonstrations of any machines you might be interested in, answer questions you have about how each machine will fit into your lifestyle, and even help you decide on any accessories you might want to further improve your espresso experience.
The best part? It’s totally, 100% free.
FAQ
Do super-automatics make good espresso?
A super-automatic espresso machine should brew café-quality coffee, assuming you buy a quality machine and take good care of it. All of the products we’ve discussed in this article come highly recommended from us—if you keep them clean and in good working condition, you’ll never need to visit the coffee shop again.
What is the biggest drawback to super-automatic espresso machines?
Honestly, if your goal is to brew delicious coffee drinks at home without the hassle, there aren’t really any drawbacks to a super-automatic espresso machine. Some folks enjoy the process of grinding, tamping, and brewing their own espresso shots, and so they may lose out on some fun with a super-automatic.
How long do super-automatic espresso machines last?
Alas, nothing lasts forever. However, like anything else, purchasing a quality product and taking care of it will result in a longer lifespan. With proper care and maintenance, a quality super-automatic espresso machine should last years—if not decades.
