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. 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. 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.
- TIMEMORE Sculptor 078SSP, about $1,481. A café-grade electric grinder with 78mm flat burrs and 36-step stepless adjustment, built for both espresso and pour-over. It costs far more than the Geimori models, so it only makes sense if espresso is a serious hobby for you. See the TIMEMORE Sculptor.
What won’t work well: blade grinders, and most entry-level burr grinders. They are fine for drip. They are not 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.
How much to spend on a machine
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.
- Citaly GO-1, about $150. 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.
- A tamper that fits your basket, and a knock box for used pucks.
Where to spend first
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 October 2026.