6 Top 15-bar Espresso Machines: Is This Pressure Good For Coffee?

Have you been trying to find the best 15 bar espresso machine?

Then you are in the right place!

I reviewed six of the top models that are currently available on the market for you to buy. Check them out, compare their designs and features, and choose the best one.

The Rundown

What Does 15 Bar Mean?

The “BAR” is a measuring system for atmospheric (barometric) pressure that is exerted upon coffee grounds inside the espresso machine. This means that a 15-bar brewer creates a pressure that is equal to 15 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level.

How Many Bars Should An Espresso Machine Be?

When it comes to finding an optimal extraction pressure for an espresso, anywhere from 9 to 15 bars is a real sweet spot. You will be able to extract all the delicious coffee oils without accidentally burning your grounds.

Does A 20 Bar Pressure Provide Better Results?

Now, this is debatable. Of course, there is a large difference between a 9 and 20 bar pressure in flavor, aroma, etc. However, you will not notice the difference between a 15 and 20 bar espresso machine, except maybe in the top crema. But, since this is higher pressure, if you do not know your way around the brewing process you might end up burning your brew.

How Does Pressure Afect The Brewing Results?

The 15 bar of pressure means the espresso will be stronger and have more crema. For someone, it may be too strong so they would rather prefer lower pressure. However, it’s not recommended to use too low pressure which means 5-7 bars. For that reason, to please everybody’s liking, most machines provide 9 bar pressure since it provides the middle strength of espresso.
Now that we have established that the pressure does indeed affect the machine’s performance, the conclusion is:

• less than a 7 bar pressure – your espresso might be too weak and under-extracted as the pressure does not push the water and air through the grounds with enough force.
• 7 to 15 bar pressure – this is a typical and the most desired pressure range as it provides the optimal espresso flavor.
• 15 bar pressure or higher – if you are not careful, the espresso might get over extracted and have the burnt flavor.

Does The Price Entail The Extraction Pressure?

The price doesn’t depend only on the pressure range. Cheap models usually come with a 5 to 7 extraction pressure. However, you can find many machines that use a 15 bar pressure but are still fairly affordable, which means 100-200 dollars.

Things You Should Keep In Mind

These machines are specially designed to provide very powerful extraction which ensures the most perfect taste of your coffee. However, there are some things you should keep in mind when deciding which one you want to buy:

High-Quality Construction

Wheter you are buying a machine for professional use or your home, you need it to feature durable and high-quality construction. Stainless steel models are a perfect choice because they provide a modern design and, due to their durability, ensure the long life-span of the appliance.

Powerful Performance

It is very important that you choose a machine with a powerful performance. 1500 Watt (or higher) machines are the best choice as they meet both home and professional requirements. If you opt for a 900 Watt (or lower) machine, keep in mind that it will need more time to heat up (and is therefore made only for home use).

Heating System

Once you get to the machine’s heating system, you will notice that the machines come either with a:

• heat exchange boiler – this is a single boiler that comes with a heat exchange mechanism that divides the heated water between the brewing and the steaming system. For this reason, the teperature in these machines often flactuates and they do not provide consistent results.



• single boiler – single boiler machines also heat water both for the brewing and the steaming system. Their only downside is that you can not use both functions at once as one won’t provide the optimal results.



• double boiler – double boiler machines are the best option but also the most expensive one. They have separate boilers for brewing and steaming process, and as a result, allow you to use both functions simultaniously and consistently.

Automation Level

The next thing you should consider is what automation level works the best for you. While you can find super-automatic models, these machines are generally semi-automatic. This means that you get the opportunity to adjust the brewing parameters to your liking.

Time-Efficient Performance

When it comes to pulling a perfect espresso shot, timing is everything. Depending on wheter you are making a single or a double espresso shot, you should get your espresso shot in about 25 to 35 seconds.

Pressure Gauge

A pressure gauge is a great feature if you want to be able to track the extraction pressure throughout the brewing process. It is usually located on the front of the machine to ensure that you can easily observe it.

Frother Vs. Steamer

If you want to brew specialized beverages such as lattes and cappuccinos you need to know the difference between a frother and a steamer. A frother or a frothing system is an automatic system that combines milk and air at a high speed to make thick and rich milk foam. It does not steam. On the other hand, a steam wand dispenses highly pressurized steam to steam the milk and create a light texture with the top microfoam.

Safety Features

You can easily find coffee makers that provide versatile safety features. These may include a programmable automatic shut-off that will turn off the unit once the timer runs out, overheat protection that eliminates the possibility of dry burning, etc.

Additional Accessories

There are versatile accessories you can look for when choosing the best machine. First of all, a grinder is a must-have if you want to be able to brew the freshest espresso shot. Different portafilters and filter baskets can come in handy when you want to make different size shots, a measuring scoop will help you add the perfect amount of coffee to the filters, and cleaning tools can help you maintain your brewer in its optimal condition, etc.

6 Top 15 Bar Espresso Machines

Breville BES840XL Espresso Machine

Professional Performance
You can be sure that this machine will always provide you with a professional performance. Thanks to this feature you will get a flavorful and rich taste of coffee every time you use the unit.

Auto Purge Feature
Another great thing about this coffee maker is that it features an auto-purge feature. It is specially designed to adjust the temperature of the incoming water after the steaming process to ensure that you always get the most perfect results.

Additional Accessories
Alongside this coffee maker, you will get a variety of accessories that will make your experience much more enjoyable. These include a stainless steel jug, a water filter with a holder, a coffee scoop, single and dual wall filter baskets, a cleaning disc and tablets, and a cleaning tool.

Black Plastic Insert
The included stainless steel bowl of the portafilter comes with a small black plastic insert that reduces unwanted heat loss. It also prevents the splashes that often happen inside the pressurized filter baskets.

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Gevi Espresso/Cappuccino Machine

Durable Design
This is another machine features a durable stainless steel design. This is a great thing because stainless steel material is highly resistant to all kinds of exterior damages including rust, corrosion, scratches, spill stains, etc. You can be sure that it will have a much longer life span than the plastic models.

Quick Performance
Another amazing thing about this coffee maker is that it will provide you with very quick performance. It features a built-in instant heating system that will provide a rapid heat up in about forty-five seconds. The best thing is that it will produce very low noise levels.

Temperature Control
The dual temperature control system will allow you to adjust the precise temperature of the water and the milk to ensure that you achieve the best results that fit your needs. Note that you should extract coffee at 198°F and use the steam at 212℉.

Safety Features
The best thing about this 15 bar espresso maker is that it comes with versitile safety features. These include a 25-minute automatic power off, automatic pressure relief protection that prevents unwanted water leakages, and an overheat protection system that prevents the possibility of dry burning.

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Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine

Programmable Performance
This espresso maker comes with a simple user-friendly control panel that features versatile settings. The best thing is that you can program them according to your needs. Everything you need to do is push a button and let the coffee maker do the rest of the job.

Automatic Frother
The best thing about this model is that it comes with an automatic milk frother that removes all the guesswork from the process. That means that you will get a perfectly rich and creamy milk foam with every single use.

Self-Cleaning Cycle
Thanks to the highly practical self-cleaning cycle, this coffee maker provides, you won’t have to spend your time trying to clean the inner brewing system. Simply activate the “clean” option and wait for the coffee maker to complete the cleaning process.

Low Maintenance
Both the milk and the water reservoirs are completely removable from the unit. This means that you won’t have any trouble cleaning them up or refilling them once empty. Once you dry them up thoroughly you can place them back in the coffee maker and have the unit ready for the next use.

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Brim Espresso Machine

Stainless Steel Construction
This brim brewer is another coffee maker that features high-quality stainless steel construction. Thanks to this feature you don’t have to worry that you might need to replace the unit after a short time.

Simple Control Panel
Another great thing about this model is that it features a very simple control panel that is conveniently placed on the front side of the unit to ensure that you can easily set the desired program. It also features a small pressure display that keeps a precise track of the pressure that the coffee maker uses.

Thermo Coil System
Due to its specially designed Thermo coil system, this semi-automatic machine will consistently deliver perfectly hot espresso. The controlled pressure will ensure that the unit extracts all the delicious and rich flavors from the ground coffee you add to the filter baskets.

Removable Water Tank
The included 51 oz water tank is completely removable from the unit. Thanks to this feature you won’t have any trouble cleaning it up or refilling it once it empties out.

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De’Longhi Espresso Machine

Multipurpose Use
The best thing about this machine is that it is designed for multipurpose use. It is the perfect choice for everyone who wants to have a coffee maker that will help them make versitile hot beverages.

Twin Brewing Cycle
Another highly practical thing about this machine is that it provides you with a twin brewing cycle. This is an amazing feature that will allow you to make two cups of delicious coffee, instead of a single-serve, at the same time.

Convenient Water Tank
This espresso/cappuccino maker features a highly convenient water tank that has a small see-through window. Thanks to this feature you will be able to easily check the amount of water inside the tank and know when it’s time to refill it.

Bottom Drip Tray
The bottom drip tray features a fully adjustable design. This means that you will be able to adjust its position or completely remove it from the unit to ensure that it can accommodate larger cups or travel mugs too.

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Gevi Espresso Machine

Elegant Design
The great thing about this machine is that it features a very elegant design. Thanks to this feature you won’t have any trouble finding the perfect space for it inside your kitchen. Its modern stainless steel construction ensures that it will fit into all surroundings.

Temperature Control
Another very important thing worth mentioning is that this 15 bar model provides very precise temperature controls. The built-in visual thermometer will help you adust the perfect level depending on the results you want to achieve.

Cup Warmer
The included heated metallic plate that comes with this coffee maker works as a cup warmer. Thanks to this feature the quality of the brewed coffee won’t be affected by the cold parts of the cups.

Stainless Steel Frother
This coffee maker under $200 also comes with a stainless steel frother that will help you make the most delicious and rich milk foam. This means that you will be able to make the perfect coffee, cappuccino, lattes, etc.

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Is There A Way To Increase The Brewing Pressure?

There are some tricks you can try out if you feel like the extraction pressure simply does not reach its top level:

• you can change your grinder to a finer setting
• try to increase the coffee dose inside the filter basket
• use more force to tamp your grounds to create a thick coffee puck

What Else Affects The Quality Of Your Brew?

If your espresso doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would don’t blame it on the pressure right away. Here are some things that also affect the brewing results:

• the coffee dose inside the filter basket
• size of the tamped coffee puck
• size of the coffee grounds you use (the finer the better for espresso)
• quality and the freshness of the coffee grounds you are using
• type of the coffee roast you have
• the brewing temperature