Best Espresso Machine for Beginners: Three Types, Plainly Explained
Best espresso machine for beginners: a compact manual machine, one with a built in grinder, or bean to cup. Who each suits, what specs mean, who should skip.
Published: October 23, 2026
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How this guide was put together: picks are based on published specs, manufacturer information and patterns in buyer reviews. We have not tested these products hands on.
Most espresso accessories are sold by size, and the size that matters is your portafilter (the handle that holds the coffee basket). Buy the wrong size and a tamper or funnel simply will not fit. So start here:
51mm: many compact budget machines, such as the CASABREWS CM5418 and De'Longhi Stilosa. Check your manual.
54mm: Breville's small and built in grinder machines, such as the Bambino and Barista Express. Breville baskets take a 53 to 53.3mm tamper, so a "54mm" tamper can be too tight.
58mm: commercial style machines. None of the picks below are 58mm parts.
No portafilter: bean to cup machines grind and tamp for you, so skip the tamper, funnel and knock box. A milk jug only helps if your machine has a steam wand.
Not sure? Measure the inside rim of the basket, or look up your model in the manual.
What you need on day one: a milk jug (if you have a steam wand) and a scale. What can wait: a better tamper, a dosing funnel and a knock box. What you can skip: anything sized for a different portafilter, and puck prep tools if you use pressurised (dual wall) baskets, because those baskets are built to be forgiving.
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Who needs it on day one: anyone whose machine has a steam wand. A 12 oz jug suits one latte or two small cappuccinos; bigger jugs make small amounts of milk hard to steam.
Who can skip it: bean to cup owners with an automatic milk carafe, and anyone who only drinks straight espresso.
Worth knowing: the listing comes in several sizes, so pick 12 oz unless you make large drinks.
Who it suits: De'Longhi owners who prefer a matching jug, and anyone who wants a single clear size without choosing from a multi size listing.
Who can skip it: anyone who already has a jug in the box (some Breville machines include one, so check your box contents first).
Who it suits: owners of 51mm machines such as the CASABREWS CM5418 or De'Longhi Stilosa who want a sturdier tamper than the plastic one in the box, and less coffee spilt on the counter.
Who can skip it: anyone with a 54mm or 58mm machine (it will not fit), and pressurised basket users happy with the included tamper.
Who it suits: Bambino, Bambino Plus and Barista Express owners using non pressurised baskets, where an uneven tamp can cause uneven shots.
Who can skip it: 51mm machine owners (wrong size), and anyone on pressurised baskets, where tamp pressure matters far less.
Worth knowing: the 53.3mm size is deliberate. It sits just inside a 54mm basket wall.
Who needs it on day one: anyone learning to dial in. A scoop can be off by a gram or two, which is enough to change the taste.
Who can skip it: bean to cup owners, since the machine doses for you.
Worth knowing: check it fits on your drip tray with a cup on top before relying on it under the spout.
Who it suits: anyone making more than a shot or two a day on a manual machine.
Who can skip it: bean to cup owners (the machine collects grounds internally), and anyone happy to use the food bin.
Budget 51mm machine, pre ground coffee: milk jug and scale first. Add the 51mm kit later if the plastic tamper annoys you.
Breville 54mm machine, fresh beans: scale, 53.3mm tamper and milk jug (if one did not come in the box), then a knock box.
Bean to cup machine: none of the portafilter tools. Look at cups, a bean canister and descaler instead.
Buying a 54mm tamper for a Breville and finding it binds against the basket wall.
Buying puck prep tools before a grinder: with pre ground coffee and pressurised baskets they make little difference.
Choosing a very large milk jug and then struggling to steam a single drink's worth of milk.
Read our beginner guide first: Best Espresso Machine for Beginners: Three Types, Plainly Explained
Sources: listing details on the Amazon US site checked 23 Oct 2026; Breville, "How to dial in espresso" (https://www.breville.com/us/en/blog/coffee-and-espresso/how-to-dial-in-espresso.html).