7 Best Professional (Prosumer) Espresso Machines For Home

Having the option of enjoying a true barista-like espresso brew from the comfort of your home is one of life’s amazing pleasures. It eliminates the need for trying to find the coffee shop that brews espresso the way you like.

However, to enjoy it, you first need to find a prosumer espresso machine that provides all the amazing features and functions of professional models but is still affordable and suitable for home use. So let us get started!

The Rundown

What Is A Prosumer Machine?

A professional machine for home is also called a prosumer machine. It shares features and functions of commercial-grade espresso makers but is essentially designed for use in domestic environments. It is the perfect choice for those looking for a machine that will provide a barista-style brew.

How Is It Different From Professional And Home Models?

Even though a prosumer machine professional features, it is not made to withstand the high demands that hotels, restaurants, and professional coffee shops have.

On the other hand, it provides much better performance than the basic home espresso machines. It offers a higher power rating, design quality, extracting pressure, programmable performance, etc.

Different Types You Can Find

There are 4 main types of professional home espresso machines you can choose from:

• Manual Lever – Manual lever espresso machines provide you with complete control over their performance. This includes coffee grind size, dosing weight, tamping pressure, shot timing, etc., but you are also in control of the extraction pressure. You need to manually create it using the lever.
• Automatic – Automatic machines don’t come with many programmable features and are fairly easy to use. You need to dose grounds and tamp them, but apart from that, the machine is in control of the rest of the brewing process. This makes them the perfect choice for beginners.
• Semi-Automatic – These brewers come with many programmable functions and you are in control of everyone. They are mainly made for experienced baristas that have the hang on the pressure control, tamping, steaming, etc.
• Super Automatic – Super-automatic espresso brewers do everything for you. This includes grinding the beans, dosing and tamping them, frothing the milk, etc. They offer many pre-programmed functions so you only need to choose the setting you prefer.

How Much Do They Cost?

While the common espresso machines for households cost aproximatelly 300-700 dollars, the prosumer models have higher price. Professional features make them cost 700-2000 dollars. Most of these models aren’t available for less than 1000 dollars. However, buying on discounts you can save some money.

Benefits Of Having A Professional Brewer At Home

There are many benefits to having a prosumer coffee machine:

• they offer exceptional quality that will last for many years to come
• although they are initially a larger investment, they provide amazing value for the money
• they brew coffee using a high extraction pressure and ensure flavorful results
• come with a powerful heating system that completes the brewing process in the shortest time possible
• allow you to brew espresso and froth milk at the same time for espresso/milk-based beverages

Although there are not many, having a professional brewer at home has some downsides too:

• they require much more maintenance than basic home machines
• the need to be serviced more often, depending on how often you use them
• if something stops working, the parts are much more expensive to replace

How Do I Choose One?

By now, I am sure you have an idea about what to look for in a prosumer model. However, there are some important features you should not forget about:

Size Of The Appliance

Most of us don’t have a large kitchen space as coffee shops and restaurants do. That is why it is important to think about the size. Make sure that you choose a brewer you can comfortably fit atop your countertop surface. If you opt for a plumbed version, make sure that you have a water supply source nearby.

Ease Of Use

You don’t want to end up with a pro-grade brewer you don’t know how to use. So, before you choose the model you want to buy consider how skilled you are in the brewing process. For instance, brewers with pre-programmed settings are the best choice for beginners, while a bit more experienced people might enjoy machines with versatile programmable functions.

Power Rating

While basic espresso machines have a power rating of around 700 to 1200 Watts, a prosumer brewer should not have a power rating any lower than 1000 Watts. For optimal performance, choose a brewer with a 1500 Watt power rating.

Heating (Boiler) System

There are 3 different boiler systems you might come across when searching for the best pro espresso machine for home use:

• Single boiler system – It handles both the brewing and the steaming system and is mainly found in home models. It is a more affordable and energy-efficient choice, but it can not brew espresso and steam milk at once. As a result, it takes much more for it to complete the desired beverage.
• Heat exchange (HX) system – It is both energy efficient and rapid and allows you to brew and steam milk simultaneously. However, it isn’t as powerful as a dual boiler option.
• Dual boiler system – It offers separate boilers for the brewing and the steaming part of the espresso machine. As a result, your brew is completed in the shortest time possible and the steaming process offers a much more powerful steam generation. The downside is that dual boiler models are automatically pricier and need more time initially to heat up.

Different Boiler Materials
Once you decide which boiler type is the right fit for you, it is time to learn more about their design and the impact that the material has on their performance:

• Aluminum boilers are only found in somewhat smaller and cheaper espresso machines and therefore not used as a heating system in a prosumer model.
• Copper boilers offer the highest heat conductivity, meaning, they can easily reach the required temperature. For that reason, they are found in the most expensive brewers.
• Brass boilers aren’t as conductive as copper ones but are a bit more affordable to manufacture.
• Stainless steel boilers are also relatively inexpensive to make but offer amazing durability. For that reason, they are often used in prosumer models. The only downside is that they initially need more time to heat up to the needed temperature.

Temperature Control

A prosumer machine must provide a stable brewing temperature. That is why you need to make sure that the brewer you like offers a PID temperature control system – it will allow you to set and control the brewing temperature to a degree. It also ensures that the temperature does not fluctuate but rather stays at the set level. To achieve the optimal brewing results, your temperature should be set between 195°F and 205°F.

Vibratory Vs. Rotary Pumps

Once you cover boilers and temperature, it is time to think about the pumping system. You can choose between models with mechanical rotary pumps and electromagnetic vibratory pumps. While the former are found in commercial models, the latter are mostly used in home espresso brewers. Since prosumer machines are in the middle ground, they can come with either.

Rotary pumps are highly durable and very quiet. At the same time, they are much larger in size and more expensive. Vibratory pumps, on the other hand, are somewhat louder and have a shorter life span. Their advantage is that they are much more affordable, smaller in size, and easier to replace if needed.

Extraction Pressure

A 9 bar extraction pressure is just fine for a home espresso machine. However, since you are in the market for a prosumer machine, you should not settle for a machine with an extraction pressure any lower than 15 bars. A 15 to 20 bar pressure is the most common pressure rating for professional brewers.

Group Head Options

Group heads are an essential part of every espresso machine. There are 3 options you might come across:

• The E61 group head is the most common one and the best choice for low volume use. It is specially designed to keep the hot water circulating through pipes between the boiler and the group head.
• The saturated group head offers higher temperature stability because the brewing water flows directly from the boiler to the group.
• The electric group heads come with a built-in heating element and provide the most control out of the three. For this reason, they are also the most expensive.

Coffee Grinder

Espresso machines that come with a coffee grinder allow you to enjoy the freshest brew possible. Make sure that the model you choose provides you with multiple grinding options. That way you will be able to control and adjust the grinding settings to your needs, from coarse grounds to a fine coffee powder.

Frothing System

Most machines come with a commercial-grade steam wand. They do require some practice but once you master their use, you will be able to achieve the perfect microform. Their performance depends on the size of the steaming boiler and how much pressure it can generate. The larger the boiler is, the better temperature stability it will provide.

Plumbing Options

Note that some espresso machines do come with a direct plumbing system. However, this is a feature only rotary pump models offer. Vibratory pumps can pull water only from a reservoir. Although this is mainly a feature of high-end commercial models, it can be just as valuable at home as it provides you with an efficient pre-infusion process with low pressure. Additionally, you never have to worry that the machine might run out of water.

7 Best Professional Espresso Machines For Home

Each of the listed models deserves its place in the “8 top-rated” category. While the first one offers semi-automatic performance and is equipped with a grinder and a frother, the second one is an automatic brewer that is compatible only with Nespresso coffee pods. Read on to learn more.

De’Longhi Specialista Espresso Machine

With its sensor grinding technology and digital dosing dial, this semi-automatic machine for home use will provide you with the perfect amount of coffee grinds per dose. Its smart tamping station ensures the needed tamping pressure to ensure that you get the best brewing results possible.

Note that this brewer offers 2 separate frothing systems, a manual and automatic one. A manual frothing wand is perfect for creating latte art. On the other hand, the automatic one offers a patented LatteCrema frothing system that dispenses perfect froth directly into your cup.

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Philips Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Due to its intuitive touch display, this top prosumer 15 bar machine allows you to customize its performance to your needs and likings. You can use it to brew espresso, cappuccino, coffee, latte macchiato, and americano. You can also use it as a hot water dispenser and quickly brew tea or hot chocolate.

No matter which brewing setting you opt for, with its AquaClean filter, this brewer will provide you with the richest flavor possible. It will provide you with up to 5 000 servings before you need to think about descaling it.

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La Pavoni Espresso Machine

This brewer provides a semi-automatic performance and comes with a manual lever you need to pull up and push down to create the perfect press. Its small pressure gauge informs you about the brewing pressure to ensure you can always achieve the best results.

With its commercial-quality design, this brewer offers high resistance to versatile exterior damages, from rust and corrosion to spill stains and scratches. Both its portafilter handle and the lever handle come with coated handles to ensure that you, as a user, are completely safe from heat burns.

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Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine

With its quick and efficient 3-second heat-up time, this pro espresso brewer allows you to go from a whole coffee bean to a delicious espresso shot in no time. Its built-in grinder offers multiple grinding adjustments to ensure you have complete control over how coarse or fine grounds you want to make.

Since it offers a semi-automatic performance, this brewer provides you with the perfect balance of automation and control. You can use it to make versatile espresso-based beverages. You can choose whether you want to make a single or a double shot brew with a simple push of a button.

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Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

The best thing about this brewer is that it offers a commercial grade group head. It offers exceptional quality and heat stability. Due to this feature, your espresso will be dispensed at an optimal temperature level. Its portafilter holder is ergonomically designed to ensure that you can have a firm and comfortable grip on it.

Its steaming wand is manually operated. You can easily control the pressure it provides by simply rotating its control knob in the desired direction. It has a small silicone-coated joint to ensure that you can handle it safely.

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Gaggia Babila Espresso Machine

This Italian espresso machine provides you with both a ceramic burr grinder and an additional bypass doser. You get to choose whether you want to brew coffee using whole beans or your favorite pre-ground blend. Both containers are top-mounted to ensure you can easily refill them when needed.

Included with this brewer come versatile accessories including an AquaClean water filter, a water hardness test strip, a coffee scoop, grinder key, a tube of brew group lubricant, a brew group brush, and a Gaggia descaler. All these accessories ensure that the machine provides lasting performance.

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Nuova Simonelli Espresso Machine

This brewer is made out of a combination of high-quality stainless steel and ABS material. It does come in a bit bulkier size so make sure that you have enough room or it atop your kitchen countertops. It comes with an ergonomic portafilter handle and a steamer with a silicone-coated grip for additional safety.

Although this machine does not offer a programmable performance, you can choose whether you want to make a single or a double espresso shot at once. Its small control panel is mounted on the top front side and is very easy to access.

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Are These Machines Worth It?

Yes, prosumer machines are definitely worth the money. You get the machine that provides you with multiple drinks just like in a cafe. Instead of spending money on a cup of coffee every day to drink it outside, it’s more profitable to purchase a machine for home. You will definitely save your money since it’s an investment that will last for a long time.

How Long Do They Last?

This is not the investment you will make often as one can last from 5 to 15 years when cared for properly. Semi-automatic models last for 7 years on average if you maintain them properly. Fully automatic machines are functional for even 10 years.

Maintenance Level

Regular maintenance of your prosumer brewer is the key to its lasting lifespan. You should regularly service the brewer every 12 to 18 months. However, if you notice that something isn’t working properly, contact the designated service center immediately and have it fixed straight away.

Warranty Period

As long as your brewer is covered by warranty, and its fault isn’t human-made, you can repair it for free. Most brands, such as Gaggia, provide a 2-year warranty that covers all faults, parts, and repair expenses.