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Short answer: Yes, but espresso is the hardest way to make coffee, and budget setups come with trade-offs. Spend on the grinder before the machine, ignore big pressure numbers on the box, and think about a portable espresso maker if you mostly want straight shots.
Why espresso is harder than other coffee
Espresso pushes hot water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee in about half a minute. Small changes matter. Grind a little too coarse and the shot runs fast and tastes sour. Grind a little too fine and it drips out slowly and turns bitter. Pour-over forgives small mistakes. Espresso doesn’t.
A common starting recipe: 18 grams of ground coffee in, about 36 grams of espresso out, in 25 to 30 seconds. Adjust the grind until you hit that, then adjust to taste.
The grinder matters more than the machine
To dial in a shot, you need a grinder that goes very fine and adjusts in very small steps. Most budget burr grinders can’t. A great machine with the wrong grinder will usually make worse espresso than a basic machine with a good one.
- Geimori T38 Plus, about $150 (sold here). A plug-in grinder with a 38mm conical burr and stepless adjustment, made for both espresso and filter coffee. See the Geimori T38 Plus.
- Geimori GU38, about $180 (sold here). A slim single-dose grinder, also with a 38mm conical burr and stepless adjustment. You weigh out beans for each shot instead of keeping them in a hopper. See the Geimori GU38.
- Mazzer Mini Electronic (Amazon). A café-grade grinder. It’s large and costs far more than the Geimori models, so it only makes sense if espresso is a serious hobby for you. See it on Amazon.
What won’t work well: blade grinders, and entry-level burr grinders like the $30 Kaffe KF8022 we sell. It’s fine for drip. It isn’t built for espresso.
About that “20 bar” on the box
A lot of home machines advertise 15 or 20 bars of pressure. That’s the most the pump can produce, not the pressure good espresso is brewed at, which is typically around 9 bars. A bigger number on the box doesn’t mean better coffee. Steady temperature matters more, and a pressure gauge helps you see what’s going on.
A budget machine: what to expect
- Wirsh Home Barista Plus, about $160 (sold here). A countertop machine with a pressure gauge, a steam wand for milk, and adjustable brew temperature. At this price, the gauge and temperature control are the useful parts. Expect a learning curve, and pair it with a grinder that can go fine enough, or you’ll be fighting it every morning. See the Wirsh Home Barista Plus.
If you mostly make lattes, a budget machine with a capable grinder is a reasonable place to start. If you want café-level straight espresso, expect to spend more over time.
Portable espresso makers
If you mostly want straight shots and don’t need steamed milk, a portable maker skips the big machine. You still need finely ground coffee.
- Wacaco Nanopresso (Amazon). Hand-pumped and small enough to travel with. You add your own hot water. See it on Amazon.
- Wacaco Picopresso (Amazon). Wacaco’s more advanced model, made for people who grind fresh and want more control. See it on Amazon.
- Citaly GO-1, about $150 (sold here). Heats its own water with a rechargeable battery and takes capsules or ground coffee. Handy for camping, travel, or an office without a kettle. If you always have hot water nearby, a hand-pumped maker usually costs less. See the Citaly GO-1.
Don’t skip these
- A scale that reads to 0.1 gram. Espresso recipes are measured in grams. The Hario V60 Drip Scale (Amazon) works.
- A tamper that fits your basket, and a knock box for used pucks. Tamping station and knock box (Amazon).
The bottom line
For espresso at home, budget for the grinder first. A modest machine with a grinder that can dial in shots will usually beat a pricier machine with a grinder that can’t. If you mostly drink coffee black or with a splash of milk, you may not need espresso at all. See how to pick an everyday coffee maker.
Last updated September 2026.