Choosing an espresso machine

Can You Build a Home Espresso Setup for Under $500?

Published · By the Espresso Shortlist editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Yes, as long as the $500 is a pre-tax budget for a machine and an espresso grinder together. At list price, Breville's Bambino ($299.95) and Baratza's Encore ESP ($199.95) come to $499.90. Pairing the same grinder with De'Longhi's Dedica Duo ($249.95) brings the total to $449.90 and leaves about $50 for a scale or coffee.

The grinder is part of the $500

If you buy whole beans, the machine is only half the purchase. Espresso needs a grinder that moves in small, fine steps, which is why Baratza gives half of the Encore ESP's 40 settings to the espresso range alone. A $450 machine with nothing suitable to grind for it is not a $450 setup.

If you already own a grinder that handles espresso, the whole $500 can go to the machine, and that is a different shopping question.

The $499.90 pair

ItemList priceIncluded with it
Breville Bambino$299.95Portafilter, single-wall and dual-wall baskets (1 and 2 cup), tamper, milk jug, steam wand tip cleaning tool, descaling powder
Baratza Encore ESP$199.95Dosing cup and base, 58 mm adapter ring, brush
Total$499.90

Nothing extra is needed to make these two work together. Baratza says the Encore ESP's dosing cup fits 54 mm baskets as is (the adapter ring is for 58 mm), and the Bambino uses a 54 mm portafilter.

The weak point is the ten cents of headroom. Once sales tax is added, the checkout total goes over $500 in any state that charges it, and nothing is left for a scale or a first bag of beans.

The $449.90 pair

De'Longhi lists the Dedica Duo at $249.95. It comes with a portafilter, tamper, measuring scoop, and single and double filter baskets, and De'Longhi describes it as a 15 cm (about 5.9 in) slim machine with one-touch presets for espresso, double espresso, and cold brew. With the Encore ESP, the pre-tax total is $449.90, leaving $50.10.

The two machines differ in ways a price table doesn't show. The Bambino has volumetric one- and two-shot buttons and, by Breville's figure, reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds. The Dedica Duo trades those for a narrower body and a cold brew preset. The cheaper machine buys margin, not a better shot.

Where the leftover $50 tends to go

Baratza's suggested starting setting for espresso on the Encore ESP (15) assumes an 18 g dose, and Breville designs the Bambino's basket around 18 g as well. The only way to know you are at 18 g, shot after shot, is to weigh it, so a small scale is usually the first thing that $50 buys.

Bottomless portafilters, puck screens, WDT tools, and upgraded baskets each fix a specific problem, and nobody knows which of those problems they have until they have pulled a few dozen shots.

Shopping for one? Browse every shelf →

Sources

  1. Breville — the Bambino®
  2. Baratza — Encore™ ESP
  3. Baratza — Encore ESP Product Sheet
  4. Baratza — Encore ESP Operations Manual (v1.0, January 2023)
  5. De’Longhi — Dedica Duo EC890M

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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