Cappuccino Machine Complete Review – Which One To Buy In 2021

As you look for a cappuccino machine that delivers real quality, you want a solid coffee brewer that fits all your needs in terms of price, features, design and can conveniently make a perfect cappuccino rich in flavor.

If you want to start at-home cappuccino brewing, then you’ll need to start by getting a quality espresso machine to improve your brewing standards. Keep reading to learn more about the best cappuccino makers on the market.

Plus we’ll look at things you should be aware of to ensure the espresso maker shopping process goes much easier.  

Best Cappuccino Machines You can buy in 2021

Last update on 2023-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cappuccino is made with the perfect combination of espresso, steamed milk, and a foam topper. Therefore, coffee/espresso machines with milk frothing or foaming options can make you a cup of cappuccino. 

Image courtesy Pexels

That said, this cappuccino machines review will look at all the features of some of the best cappuccino makers. This way, you’ll be able to choose the best cappuccino machine that fits your needs.

1. Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who is it for? 

Breville’s Barista Express is for you if you’re looking for a mid-range, semi-automatic espresso/cappuccino machine. It’s the perfect match for those looking for physical involvement or control over the cappuccino-making process.

Additionally, Barista Express is an ideal cappuccino machine for the home and fits both beginners (ready to learn) and experts in cappuccino making. 

It’s not for you if you already have a burr grinder, which comes in-built with the machine. Also, if you aren’t interested in learning to brew espresso/cappuccino yourself, look for another brewer. 

Features

The cappuccino machine from Breville is semi-automatic, meaning you must understand some basics in espresso extraction, dosing, grinding, tamping, and frothing. If that doesn’t sound like what you’d like to do when preparing the cappuccino you love, opt for another machine. 

What’s more, the brewer features highly customizable controls that allow modifying the quality of the espresso, which is the base for your cappuccino.

Specifically, Breville Barista Express features the dose control that lets you adjust the grind amount in the espresso, giving you control over the coffee: water ratio. Also, the machine comes with a grind size control that allows choosing from 16 levels of fineness of the coffee grounds for different flavor boldness. 

The machine has a built-in, conical burr coffee grinder, which is relatively affordable than buying the grinder separate from the brewer. Still more, the coffee maker has a digital temperature control that delivers hot water at the right temperature for optimum extraction.

Breville Barista Express comes with a stainless 360 degrees wand that lets you hand texture the milk and find the right angle for your steaming pitcher when making a cappuccino.

Also, the wand has a hot water nozzle and uses a conventional thermoblock that allows you to control the air getting into the foam. 

Generally, milk frothing using the wand is a little bit challenging if you’re a beginner. It’ll take some practice to master the art of milk frothing.

Cleaning The Machine

More interestingly, the Barista Express from Breville has removable parts, making it easy to clean. For instance, the machine features a removable bean hopper that allows removing the steel burrs for cleaning. 

Similarly, the water tank and water filters are removable for quick refilling and cleaning.  Even better, the cappuccino machine has a clean me light that stays on when cleaning is necessary.

Additionally, a floaty thing (in the tray) denoted ’empty me’ will notify you when to empty the drip tray. All these features combined make cleaning the coffee maker less of a hassle.

On the flip side, the machine is quite big and heavy. You’ll need to check on your counter space before buying it – it’s over 13 inches tall with a 12.6 inches length, 12.5 inches width, and a weight of10.4 kg (23 pounds). All in all, it still delivers the decent cappuccino you’re looking for. 

2. Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who is it For? 

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is your perfect match if you’re looking for an automatic machine that delivers your drink at the press of a button.

Again, if you’re a total beginner in milk frothing and cappuccino making, the automatic frother and the recipe that comes along make this machine perfect for you. 

Don’t buy if you want manual milk steaming or frothing.

Features

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is an entry-level espresso, latte, and cappuccino machine perfect for beginners. It’s a fully automatic brewer that does almost everything for you – if frothing the milk yourself gives you goosebumps when making a cappuccino, this machine has got you covered. 

The cappuccino maker features a user-friendly three buttons control panel. The machine dispenses espresso or steams and froths your milk at the press of a button when making a cappuccino. Also, you can use the buttons to make a single or double espresso. 

More than that, Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista comes with a milk reservoir that does the frothing for you and is removable for easy refilling and storage of leftover milk into the refrigerator. Sadly, the milk reservoir doesn’t come with any volumetric measurements. 

You’ll have to use a measuring cup to enhance quantity preciseness. On top of that, the automatic frother doesn’t give you much control of the foam-making process, unlike steaming using a wand.

All in all, automatic frothing is perfect for beginners in cappuccino making. Additionally, the machine comes with a froth control knob setting that has the latte and cappuccino option. Adjusting the knob to the right is for cappuccino, and to the left is for a latte. 

Cleaning The Cappuccino Machine

Beyond that, the cappuccino machine features a removable water reservoir, meaning you won’t need to move the whole unit during cleaning (don’t wash the water reservoir in a dishwasher). The removable milk reservoir and the self-cleaning cycle facilitate a hassle-free regular cleaning.

With that in mind, note that since the type of milk you use influences the froth quality of your cappuccino, the machine’s frothing tube can negatively affect froth quality if not cleaned regularly. Clean the frothing tube after every use.

What’s more, this cappuccino maker is smaller and lighter compared to Breville’s Barista Express. The 4.7 kg machine stands at 12.6 inches tall, 11.22 inches in length, 8.86 inches in width. It’ll consume relatively small space on your counter. 

That said, Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista has one major issue. It’s pretty inconsistent in brewing temperature, which may result in under or over-extraction of the espresso for your cappuccino. 

3. DéLonghi EC155 Espresso And Cappuccino Maker

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who is it for?

DéLonghi EC155 is your ideal cappuccino maker if you’re looking for an automatic machine at an affordable price. It’s the perfect brewer for beginners or cappuccino lovers with limited counter space. 

However, if you’re looking for a machine to serve a larger household of cappuccino enthusiasts, this isn’t what you’re looking for. 

Also, this machine is not for you if you want your cappuccino at the touch of a button or a quick espresso. 

Features

DéLonghi Espresso and Cappuccino maker has automatic functionality for the most part. Don’t expect much room for manual tweaks because it does much for you.

Built with simplicity in mind, the cappuccino maker features a straightforward user interface – you control everything through a small dial. Better yet, the controls are highly customizable, letting you make modifications for personalized taste and preferences.

The cappuccino machine features average build quality. The bodywork is made of plastic, except for some metal components like the steam wand and the drip tray. Other parts like the tamper and the brew group are plastic. 

For brewing capability, the machine features a 15 bar pressure pump and a stainless steel boiler monitored by an integrated thermostat for the correct brewing temperature and optimum extraction of espresso from the coffee pods or grounds. 

Also, the machine comes with a separate thermostat that monitors milk frothing temperatures and a built-in swivel jet frother that’s just next to the portafilter. The shape of the swivel jet wand provides a better angle of milk frothing or steaming for high-quality froths.

Apart from the straightforward brewing cycle operations, DéLonghi cappuccino brewer is a self-priming machine that eliminates annoying start-up preparations. 

When looking at pod compatibility, DéLonghi works well with regular ground coffee and E.S.E coffee pods because it comes with a dual-function filter holder (suitable for both coffee pods and grounds).

That means you can choose the type of coffee that suits your convenience. But generally, going with freshly ground coffee beans is way better for high-quality espresso as the base for your cappuccino. 

Cleaning Your Cappuccino Machine

What about cleaning? Similar to the brewing process, cleaning this cappuccino maker is quicker and easier. It comes with a cleaning light that tips you off when it’s time to descale the machine.

While some cappuccino makers that come with descaling lights can self-clean (automatically), you’ll need to clean the DéLonghi cappuccino machine manually. 

The removable drip tray enhances the easy rinsing of coffee spills. The removable water reservoir enhances convenience in refilling and cleaning (you can clean the reservoir and the drip tray in a dishwasher).

And lastly, the machine’s sleek profile and compact design make it space-saving on your kitchen’s counter. 

4. Saeco HD8927/47 Picobaristo Super Automatic Espresso Machine

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who Is It For? 

If you’re a hardcore fan of cappuccino, espresso, latte, and other coffee drinks and you’re primarily focusing on quality rather than price, Saeco Picobaristo is the machine you’re looking for. 

In other terms, it’s your perfect match if you’re looking to get spoiled with quality and variety at the press of a button. It’s your ultimate choice if you want options, convenience, and automatic features wrapped up in a package.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a moderately priced super-automatic cappuccino machine, look the other way because SaecoPicobaristo is expensive.

Features

Saeco HD8927/47 Picobaristo is a super-automatic coffee brewer, meaning it has all the features, perks, and extras you’ll ever want in a cappuccino machine. Everything from brewing, tamping, milk frothing and cleaning (partly) are automatic.

All you have to do is press a button after adding the beans, water, or milk and leave the rest to the machine. 

It comes with an in-built grinder made of ceramic material that prevents overheating coffee grounds, eliminating the burnt taste in your espresso.

On top of that, the grinder has ten adjustable settings that let you regulate the fineness or coarseness of the ground coffee and control the intensity and the flavor of espresso you get in your cup. Plus, you’ll have the option to make up to 15 types of coffee drinks. 

More interestingly, the user interface features specific buttons for selecting the aroma strength, making a cup of cappuccino, latte macchiato, espresso, espresso lungo, and Caffe crema. Its heat boiler technology is incredibly fast for quick coffee brewing.

Better yet, Saeco Picobaristo allows customizing the cappuccino-making process and saving your preferences for next time. For instance, if you choose the ideal strength, length, and temperature for a specific coffee drink, the machine’s memo function will save your options for the next brew. 

The removable plug-in carafe allows you to store leftover milk in the fridge till the next brew. The carafe is also efficient as it lets you enjoy up to 5000 cups of coffee before descaling. 

How To Clean Your Saeco Cappuccino Machine

When it comes to machine cleaning, the process is super easy and almost effortless. It comes with an auto-cleaning cycle. Specifically, it features a hygiene steam function that cleans the milk circuit – from the spout to the milk tubes using steam. 

Even better, most of its parts that require washing are easily removable, and you can use a dishwasher to clean them. For example, the brew groups are removable at the touch of a button for regular cleaning. 

Despite its unique features, Saeco HD8927/47 Picobaristo is huge and will consume much of your counter space – height 16.8 inches, 12.9 inches length, and 8.4 inches width. 

5. Gaggia Classic Pro Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who is it for? 

Gaggia Classic Pro suits you if you’re a mid-experienced at-home barista. Meaning, if you’re neither a total beginner nor an expert (you fall in between) in cappuccino making, this machine is what you’re looking for – though it can still serve experts well.

Also, it’s your perfect match if you want to manually froth your milk because it comes with a manual steam wand for cappuccino making. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a cappuccino machine that does all the work for you, this isn’t your ideal match. More than that, Gaggia Classic Pro will disappoint you if you want a brewer with advanced design. Lastly, this coffee machine isn’t for you if you want a brewer with an in-built grinder. 

Features

Gaggia Classic Pro is a semi-automatic machine, meaning it involves you pretty much in the cappuccino-making process. It features a simple user interface that comprises a knob and three switches, making the device much easier to use. 

The machine features dual heating elements with a single boiler that can brew your espresso in about five minutes and generate steam in 30 seconds.

However, a single boiler means you can’t simultaneously brew espresso and steam milk for your cappuccino. You must carry out each process at a time then give the boiler a minute to adjust to the other function. 

Gaggia Classic Pro also has a well-designed pump that enhances quiet machine operation and exciting technology that prevents contamination of coffee ground.

The technology is a  3-way solenoid valve that diverts excess water and pressure to the group heads to dispense contaminants to the drip tray and ensure the coffee grounds remain tidy.

With its large size portafilter, Gaggia Classic Pro beats many of its competitors. The machine’s commercial-sized 58mm filter basket is relatively larger than those of other cappuccino machines with the same price range. 

And when it comes to pod compatibility, the machine works well with both freshly ground beans and ESE pods. That’s because it has both pressurized and non-pressurized filter baskets.

Apart from that, Gaggia Classic Pro comes with a commercial wand (like those in commercial cappuccino machines) for efficient milk frothing and high-quality cappuccino making. 

How To Clean The Gaggia Classic Pro

Its well-sized and removable drip tray enhances the easier cleaning of coffee spills. Additionally, its exterior is stainless steel that you can easily wipe when necessary.

And even better, the 3-way solenoid technology simplifies cleaning the portafilters for a consistent taste or flavor in your coffee. 

On the flip side, descaling the machine is a headache sometimes. The process involves time-consuming and cumbersome disassembly.

For instance, thoroughly cleaning the group head includes dealing with screws, which mightn’t be easy for everyone. Worse still, the decalcification/descaling guide involves as many as 20 steps. 

Considerations When Buying a Cappuccino Machine

The market floods with many cappuccino machines, making it easier to opt for any model that comes your way. But don’t get overwhelmed or be swept away by the many choices you have. Instead, define your ideal cappuccino machine.

Know the exact features or specifications you’re looking for to make informed decisions and buy the machine that’s right for you. 

Consider the following factors to help you choose the model in line with your needs. 

1. Machine Type (Manual, Semi-automatic, fully-automatic, or super-automatic)
2. Machine Features
3. Price

Machine Type

Here, check whether the cappuccino machine is;

• Manual

Manual cappuccino machines suit you best if you’re an experienced at-home or commercial barista looking for freedom to personalize the brewing process.

It provides total control of the brewing process such that you grind and tamp the beans on your own and operate a piston by hand to generate the necessary pressure for the brewing process. In short, everything is manual.

If physical involvement in the cappuccino-making process is what you’re looking for, a manual machine will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re looking for less handy work and want a quick cappuccino, the following machine types may catch your attention. 

• Semi-automatic

In this type of cappuccino machine, you’ll manually grind the coffee beans, tamper the grounds, and froth the milk yourself. 

The difference with the manual brewers is the automatic pressure generation to pump hot water through the coffee grounds and temperature monitoring features. Also, most semi-automatic machines can brew multiple coffee strengths and come with commercial-style portafilters and frothers. 

Generally, a semi-automatic cappuccino machine is manual for the most part with less automation. All in all, it allows personalizing your cappuccino by giving you control over the flavor intensity, thickness of the foam, and water levels. 

• Fully and Super Automatic  

These types of brewers do much of the handy work. All it takes is the push of a button to make your cappuccino. Most fully and super-automatic cappuccino machines feature in-built grinding functionality, multiple coffee strengths, and various temperature control.

However, all the amazing features come at a heavier price compared to the semi-automatic and manual models. 

Machine Features

While there are other features to consider when selecting a brewer, let’s major on critical ones when making cappuccino. 

• Milk Frothing

This is a significant feature that defines the milk texture you’ll get in your cup. Meaning, milk frothing convenience of a machine determines the general quality of the cappuccino. That said, cappuccino machines come with different milk frothing options depending on the type and model. 

For instance, most semi-automatic brewers come with steam wands for milk frothing. Using a steam wand to make a cappuccino is a real challenge to beginners.

For easier frothing, you may want to opt for full or super-automatic cappuccino machines that come with frothing tanks that do all the difficult work for you. 

• Cleaning Convenience

The level of cleanliness on your machine defines the brew quality you’ll get in your cup. A brewer that’s easier to clean is an added advantage and is what you’re looking for.

A cappuccino maker with removable components like milk and water reservoirs and a demountable drip tray (you can wash with a dishwasher) makes cleaning easier.

On top of that, some automatic cappuccino machines have the technology that alerts you when cleaning is necessary – more advanced brewers come with self-cleaning features that simplify everything for you. 

Price

When considering the price, it depends on the amount you’re willing to spend on a cappuccino machine and the specific features you’re looking for. Do this. Compare your needs against the machine features to check whether they coincide. Then, determine whether the price is fair by gauging the cost of other brands with the same features. 

The general rule when considering the price is that the amount you spend on the cappuccino machine should equal the quality it delivers – what you give should equal what you get. 

Know Your Brewing Skill Level

It’s easy to overlook this factor when shopping for a cappuccino machine, but it’s a crucial one.  That also means you should go for a brewing machine that’s suitable for your skill level.

If you’re trying your hands in the art of coffee making, don’t start by getting a $1000 plus coffee machine. Instead, find a machine that’s easy to operate as you learn to make your coffee at home.

On the other hand, if you have some experience in coffee making, then you should consider getting a machine that gives you the freedom as well as benefits you seek in your brewing adventures.

Which Cappuccino Machine Should I Buy In 2021?

While all the models we’ve covered above are great options for cappuccino machines in their own right, we find that the best cappuccino maker for home brewing is the Breville Barista BES870XL Express Espresso Machine.

This espresso machine is perfect for both beginners and pros alike. Thus, they’ll bring you incredibly high quality to your brewing process itself. 

The semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to be part of the entire process. Even then, be sure to get the right cappuccino cups for a complete experience.