The right all-in-one machine depends less on the spec sheet and more on one question: do you want to make espresso, or just drink it? This guide matches six current models to that answer.
We have not used these machines. Summaries come from makers' specs and published reviews, linked below. Prices are late-October-2026 snapshots.
Quick picks
- Best if you want zero effort and lots of drinks: De'Longhi Rivelia
- Best for iced coffee and cold brew lovers: De'Longhi Eletta Explore
- Best hands-off "real" espresso: Breville Oracle Jet
- Best for learning with a coach: Breville Barista Touch Impress
- Best value guided machine in the UK: De'Longhi La Specialista Touch
- Best for hands-on milk steaming: Breville Barista Express Impress
Breville Oracle Jet
US $1,999.95 list · UK about £1,699 (Sage)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Automatic grind, dose and tamp | Large and heavy (about 12.6 kg) |
| 58 mm portafilter, 45 grind settings, Baratza burrs | Grind knob can be sticky (Serious Eats) |
| Hands-free milk with temperature and milk-type settings | Static mess reported (TechRadar) |
| Cold brew and cold espresso presets | Highest price of the six |
Review summary: Serious Eats liked its compact auto-tamped puck and latte-art-ready foam; TechRadar praised the extraction feedback; Forbes Vetted rated it 3.8.
Breville Barista Touch Impress
US $1,499.95 list · UK £1,199.95 (Sage BES882)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Touchscreen coaching with shot feedback | Expensive for a semi-automatic |
| Assisted Impress tamp, Baratza burrs | Experienced users may find it limiting (Serious Eats) |
| Auto MilQ with plant-milk settings | Earlier version had a durability failure in Serious Eats testing |
| Cold espresso and cold brew |
Review summary: TechRadar calls it an excellent option for beginners; Serious Eats measured cold espresso at 102°F and a cold brew in under two minutes.
Breville Barista Express Impress
US $799.95 list (seen at $649.95 on sale at Macy's) · UK £599.95
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Assisted tamp with dose feedback | Manual milk steaming only |
| PID temperature control, 25 grind settings | No touchscreen, no cold drinks |
| Lightest Breville here (about 10.3 kg) | 54 mm rather than 58 mm portafilter |
Review summary: the modern version of Breville's best-selling grinder machine — the choice for people who enjoy the process.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore
UK £899.99–£999.99 · US prices vary by retailer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cold brew in about 5 minutes | Large, deep footprint |
| 50+ drinks, hot and cold milk | Premium only worth it if you drink cold coffee (Balance Journal) |
| Bean Adapt grind tuning via app, four profiles | Single fixed hopper |
Review summary: BBC Good Food 4.5/5 (glossy crema, user-friendly); Balance Journal 7.5/10.
De'Longhi Rivelia
UK £649.99–£749.99 · US prices vary by retailer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Two swappable 250 g bean hoppers | Noisy grinder (The Guardian) |
| Up to 16 drinks, user profiles | Milk texture could be better (The Guardian) |
| One-touch automatic milk | No cold brew |
Review summary: The Guardian's best bean-to-cup under £1,000; Coffee Machine Reviews UK's best overall.
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch
UK £699.99
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Guided touchscreen, auto LatteArt milk with 5 foam levels | Only 15 grind settings |
| Large accessory kit included | Not one-touch; more cleaning than bean-to-cup |
| Relatively compact | Integrated grinder limits upgrades |
Review summary: BBC Good Food 5/5; Coffee Machine Reviews UK scored it 9.6 for milk drinks and 9.4 for value.
How to decide in 30 seconds
- Don't want to touch a portafilter? → Rivelia (or Eletta Explore if you drink iced coffee).
- Want real espresso but no tamping? → Oracle Jet.
- Want to learn, with help? → Barista Touch Impress or La Specialista Touch.
- Want full control of milk? → Barista Express Impress.
For the full side-by-side table, read Breville vs De'Longhi: all-in-one espresso machines compared. Curious why grinding is the core of espresso? See hand vs electric grinders.
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