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Making a fresh cup of espresso with cafe-grade results in the comfort of home is something many people cherish. However, not everyone wants to go through the process of making their espresso manually.
The answer is a super-automatic espresso machine. These comprehensive machines take care of everything from grinding the coffee to the finished result. The idea is to get a hot, rich, authentic cup of espresso with no more effort than pressing a button or two.
There are so many super-automatic espresso machines on the market, all with many features and benefits. It’s not an easy choice to make. For this reason, we have found the top five best super-automatic espresso machines. There are machines for different price points, size preferences, and drink options.
🌟 Our Top Pick: DeLonghi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine TrueBrew
Product award: Best-Rated Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Highlights:
- Iced coffee function
- Built-in burr grinder (steel) with 13 settings
- Manual frother
- Adjustable strength, temperature, and drink size
The first on our list is the DeLonghi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine. This is the best rated super-automatic espresso machine with a sleek, boxy construction and simple digital control panel. One of the key features is that it can make cold brew coffee as well as hot espresso and larger coffee servings. The “TrueBrew” feature by DeLonghi is designed to ensure a strong iced coffee that doesn’t taste watered down.
There are many options for different brew sizes, strengths, and temperatures, so you can customize your drink easily. For example, you could have a regular espresso shot, with medium strength, with frothy milk on top. Or you could have a large (drip style) coffee with extra strength and extra heat.
While cleaning an automatic espresso machine is never a complete breeze, the cleaning process for the DeLonghi Dinamica is comparatively simple. The brew unit is removable for easy access, and no chemicals are required in the cleaning process.
Considering the quality, the vast number of options and features, the price is pretty great. This is in comparison to similar models that have price tags that are double, or triple the price of this one.
Pros 👍
✔ Multiple brew options
✔ Easier to clean than other models
✔ Makes cold brew coffee
✔ Shuts off automatically for energy saving
Cons 👎
✘ The process can be difficult to get used to
✘ Too large for smaller kitchens
✘ Milk frother is manual
View DeLonghi Dinamica Super-Automatic Espresso Machine on Amazon
The Runner-Up: Philips 2200 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother
Product award: Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machine Under $1000
Highlights:
- Milk frother
- Large water tank and bean holder capacity
- Built-in ceramic grinder with 12 grind options
- Various temperature and strength settings
Our runner-up is an incredibly affordable (comparatively) option and our pick for the best super-automatic espresso machine under $1000. The Philips 2200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine offers two coffee options: espresso or a regular coffee (like an americano).
There’s also the all-important milk frother for cappuccinos and lattes. Note that the milk frother is a traditional steam wand as opposed to an integrated milk carafe. However, it is simple to use and allows you to control the level of froth.
The digital control screen is simple and easy to follow, with intuitive symbols for easy guidance. You can adjust the temperature, aroma strength, or simply get some hot water for a cup of tea.
Pros 👍
✔ Simple to clean
✔ Easy control panel
✔ Large capacity for fewer refills
✔ Can use whole beans or grounds
Cons 👎
✘ Milk frother is manual
✘ Milk frother can be messy
✘ Noisy
View Philips 2200 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine on Amazon
Jura 13626 ENA 1 Automatic Coffee Machine
Product award: Best Compact Super-Automatic Espresso Machine For Small Spaces
Highlights:
- Built-in adjustable conical grinder
- One-touch operation
- Small and compact
- Adjustable coffee spout
Number three on our list is the Jura ENA 1 Automatic Coffee Machine. This is an extremely sleek and simplistic machine with a high-shine exterior and simple, one-touch button operation. It has been designed to be compact and suitable for small spaces. A truly automatic machine with very little input required from the user.
There are three drink sizes and two aroma levels (the boldness of flavor), so you can have a regular espresso shot, ristretto (less water, more concentrated coffee), or an Americano-style large coffee. There is no built-in milk frother, making it ideal for people who prefer their coffee black.
The machine has a cleaning cycle (there is an indicator that lets you know when to do it). You will need to purchase Jura cleaning tablets, but they are very affordable and available here. Aside from that, the cleaning requirements are minimal.
The built-in conical grinder has different settings so you can achieve the grind size you prefer. The coffee spout is also adjustable, sliding up and down to accommodate different cup sizes. The price point is under $1000, which is pretty impressive for an automatic espresso maker.
Pros 👍
✔ Very energy efficient
✔ Easy to clean and maintain
✔ Incredibly simple to use
✔ Excellent espresso/coffee quality
Cons 👎
✘ Does not have a milk frother
✘ Reports of leakages
✘ Prone to faults
View Jura 13626 Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine on Amazon
DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Product award: Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machine For Cappuccinos
Highlights:
- Built-in burr grinder with 13 settings
- Milk frother
- Hot water spout for tea
- Adjustable coffee spout for various cup sizes
This model features a conical burr grinder (13 settings) and manual milk frother for hot milk drinks. Some people find a manual milk frother to be difficult to use at first, as it can take a few attempts to master. You can choose from a regular espresso shot, long espresso, cappuccino, latte, americano (large coffee with hot water), and plain hot water. You can also choose between single and double shots.
This is a reasonably easy machine to clean, which is a great “pro” when it comes to coffee machines which can sometimes be cumbersome. The parts can be removed for easy cleaning. What’s more, it has a descaling, rinsing, and cleaning program to take some of the onus off you.
An attractive and comprehensive machine with enough drink options to suit various coffee drinkers, without the huge price tag of similar machines.
Pros 👍
✔ Can be used with beans or ground coffee
✔ Variable coffee size and strength
✔ Easy to clean
Cons 👎
✘ The milk frother is manual
✘ Water tank needs refilling often
✘ Plastic parts
View DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica on Amazon
Gaggia R19700/64 Babila Espresso Machine
Product award: Best High-End Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Highlights:
- Built-in milk carafe for instant frothed milk drinks
- Regular milk frother wand
- Multiple drink options with touch buttons
- Coffee grinder and “Bypass doser” for ground coffee
Last but not least, the best high-end super-automatic espresso machine, the Gaggia Babila. The price tag is very high compared to other models, but it is a very sophisticated machine with some great tech features and drink options. There are buttons for espresso, espresso lungo, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and a “special drinks” button for a macchiato, flat white, and ristretto. The control panel is very easy to use, with a digital screen to let you know what you’ve selected.
An excellent feature is the built-in milk carafe. You simply add milk, and the machine creates hot, frothy milk that dispenses along with the espresso to create cappuccino and latte drinks. This is great for people who don’t like to use traditional milk frother steam wands (they can be tricky if you’re not used to it).
You can grind coffee beans for extra freshness, or use the bypass doser for ground coffee. This is great for people who like to enjoy a decaf coffee now and then, or simply have run out of fresh beans.
This model comes with everything you need, including water hardness testing strips and an AquaClean water cleaner. The sleek silver construction would look great in any kitchen, and the simple operation and generous options would please a wide range of users.
Pros 👍
✔ Offers many drink varieties
✔ Can be used with whole beans or ground coffee
✔ Can make milky drinks automatically
✔ Easy to use
Cons 👎
✘ Cumbersome to clean
✘ Milk carafe is made of plastic
✘ Only for very high budgets
View Gaggia R19700/64 Price on Amazon
How to Choose a Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Price
Super-automatic espresso machines tend to be rather pricey, so it’s important to finalize your budget. You don’t need to spend a few grand on a coffee machine, as there are some great options for under $1000.
Size and storage
You will need to have a dedicated space on your kitchen counter for a super-automatic espresso machine, in a space where it doesn’t get in the way. Measure your space, and compare it to the size dimensions of your shortlisted machines.
Maintenance
What are you willing to commit to when it comes to cleaning and maintenance? If you’re time-poor and busy, look for models with self-cleaning options and easy manual cleaning requirements. Remember that a coffee machine must be properly cleaned and maintained to produce the best coffee.
Drink options and extra features
What kind of coffee do you want to drink? Are you a pure espresso shot or black Americano drinker? Or, do you want a machine that can make frothed milk drinks as well? Do you already have a milk frother at home? Do you want various coffee strength, temperature, and cup size options? Who else will be using the machine and what will they expect to drink?
Frequently Asked Questions
A super-automatic espresso machine is a machine that makes espresso and coffee drinks with little input by the user. They grind the beans, heat the water, manage the temperature, coffee strength, and serving size, prompted only by the touch of a button. The built-in coffee grinder grinds the coffee as needed, the water heats up is passed through the freshly ground coffee beans and into the cup below.
This differs from manual espresso machines which require the user to fill the coffee basket, tamp the grounds, control the amount of water, and get rid of the used coffee grounds.
It does depend on the machine, but the general process is as follows:
– Fill the bean holder with fresh coffee beans
– Make sure the water reservoir is full
– Turn the machine on
– Select your drink preference and any other variables the machine offers (strength, temperature, drink size)
– Wait for the machine to heat, process, and dispense your coffee
– Manually froth your milk using the steam wand, or use the built-in carafe if your machine has one
– Use the cleaning cycles when the indicator lights are illuminated
Yes, if you plan on using it daily or very often, at least. They are worth it for people who want cafe-grade coffee without controlling the variables themselves. If you buy a coffee from a cafe every day but switch to a super-automatic espresso machine from home, you’ll end up saving money in the long run.
Choose a medium-roast coffee bean variety for your super-automatic espresso machine. Very dark roasts often have an oily exterior which can cause issues in your machine, sometimes clogging it with excess stickiness.
It depends on what you are looking for. For simplicity, Jura is a great choice, (see product number 3 on our list). For a high-end machine that does everything from automatically froths milk to offers multiple drink options, Gaggia is hard to beat (see number 5). For an added iced coffee option, DeLonghi has an excellent offering (see number 1). DeLonghi also offers more affordable options with generous features (see number 4). For something far more affordable, Philips offers lots of features and drink options, with a fair price tag (see number 2).
- 🌟 Our Top Pick: DeLonghi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine TrueBrew
- The Runner-Up: Philips 2200 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother
- Jura 13626 ENA 1 Automatic Coffee Machine
- DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
- Gaggia R19700/64 Babila Espresso Machine
- How to Choose a Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
- Frequently Asked Questions