Best Espresso Machine Under 300 Dollars Review 2024

Our Pick: DeLonghi EC860

The DeLonghi EC860 is an interesting machine because absent an integrated grinder, it qualifies as a semi-automatic, but it’s got several features that you typically only find on super automatics, which gives you increased functionality and convenience.

As such, it’s no great surprise that it appears at or near the top of other “best espresso machine under 300 reviews” we’ve seen elsewhere on the net.

The EC860 Dedica exists at the extreme upper end of the price band we’re looking at, and a big part of the reason why is that in addition to having a surprisingly robust set of features, it also has a thin sheen of stainless steel on its front face, where most machines at the low-end of the price scale are constructed entirely of ABS plastic, which just isn’t as sturdy, durable, or long-lasting.

It’s also surprisingly small, which makes it easy to find a permanent home for it, even if you have a small kitchen and only limited counter space.

Major Strengths:

There’s a lot we like about EC860, but in our view, here are the reasons it deserves top billing on our list:

As good as these things are, there are two features that make the EC860 stand out from the crowd.

The first is the fact that you can use pods if you want to, thanks to a specially designed portafilter basket. This is a huge win, given the popularity of pod-based machines, and gives you the best of three different worlds: Semi-automatics, super automatics, and pod-based machines. 

Often, you can get killer deals on specialty coffee pod packets, which gives you a great opportunity to try new flavors, and this machine allows you to do that, which is exceptional.

In our view though, the best aspect of the EC860 is the fact that it gives you the option of using the auto-frother if you’re in a hurry or a steam wand for those times when you want to dazzle your friends with your growing Barista skills and exert more control over the drinks you create.

Note: if you make use of the auto-frother, the machine provides one-touch convenience (once the portafilter is loaded, of course), as the milk spout can be angled so that the steamed milk and foam dispenses straight into your waiting cup as it sits beneath the portafilter.

Having said that, this machine does have one potential drawback, that being its relatively small water tank. Offering just a 35-ounce capacity, if you’re a power drinker, you’ll find yourself having to refill the reservoir far more often than you’d wish to.

On the other hand, most of the machines offered at this price range suffer from the same limitation, so by comparison, this one isn’t half bad.

Runner-Up: Mr. Coffee BVMC ECMP1000

This machine is a pleasant surprise, and very nearly won top billing as the best espresso machine under 300 dollars. The main reason is its incredibly low price. Although it narrowly missed winning top honors, it is far and away the best value for the money in this price range, which makes it well worth considering.

It has other strengths besides that, of course, including:

It’s got three issues worth mentioning. The first is, of course, a relatively small water tank, which is the norm for machines in this price range. The second though is that the manufacturer skimped a bit on the boiler.

It’s not awful, but you will find it to be a bit slower heating than others on our list. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but it will mean that the drink making process will take slightly longer, so plan accordingly.

Finally, rather than using a telescoping coffee spigot, which would be impossible, since the model relies on portafilters, the platform you rest your cup on can be raised and lowered to accommodate different cup sizes.

This isn’t as efficient or as elegant a solution as telescoping coffee spouts, but it’s a decent workaround under the circumstances.

Value Pick: DeLonghi BCO 430

Although this model didn’t win top honors, it’s got all the basics covered, is well-priced, and has one feature that we think is absolutely spectacular. It combines a fully functional espresso maker with a 10-cup, drip-brew coffee maker.

This is ideal for people who are just beginning to explore the world of specialty coffee drinks, because after all, you may find that you don’t like making specialty coffee drinks at home as much as you thought you did. 

Further, you might want to retain a foot in both worlds, because let’s face it, sometimes you just want a good, old fashioned cup of Joe! Sure, specialty coffee drinks are fun, but why not retain the ability to have both?

Another point in the Delonghi BCO 430’s favor is that it’s got the largest water tank in its class, making it the natural choice for power drinkers, and has no weaknesses to speak of in its design. 

Well, that’s perhaps overselling it. Obviously, there’s plenty of room for improvement, but anything we’d suggest adding or changing would take it out of the entry-level price range and make it a more expensive machine.

Also Great: Cuisinart Buona Tazza EM-600

On our list of the best espresso machines for under 300, the Cuisinart is unique, as it is the only model on the list that’s a super automatic, pod-based model.

Keurig launched the very first pod-based machine, and in doing so, wound up creating a whole new industry inside the specialty coffee ecosystem.

There are a few problems and limitations with these types of machines, not the least of which is the fact that the price per cup of coffee tends to be marginally higher. There’s also the issue that most models (including this one) use proprietary pods, and it can be difficult to find third-party pods that will work.

That makes you beholden to the manufacturer for your coffee fix and limits you to whatever types of drinks they have on offer.

On the other hand, the companies that make and sell pod-based machines have a good reputation for offering a wide variety of drinks, and not just coffee. You can purchase specialty teas, hot chocolates, and blends that you can’t get anywhere else.

If you’ve got your heart set on a pod-based machine, the Cuisinart is an excellent choice, because it’s available at a significantly lower price than many of the others on the market today.

That said, it’s not without its weaknesses. In addition to suffering from the same problem with a small water tank, its boiler is somewhat on the weak side and is a bit slower to heat than other models on our list. As with the Mr. Coffee model, this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is something to keep in mind.

It also doesn’t have a telescoping coffee spigot, and it could. Instead, the model relies on a fold-out platform to accommodate smaller cups. This is a huge deal, but it is decidedly inferior to the telescoping action so commonly seen in other models. It’s unclear why Cuisinart opted for this “solution” to a problem when the industry standard solution is superior.

Finally, the Tazza doesn’t come with a cup warming tray, so if your drinks aren’t hot enough, then about your only choice is to put some water into whatever cup you intend to brew in and heat it in the microwave to pre-warm it.

On the plus side, the Cuisinart has more programmable buttons than any other machine in its class, which allows for more convenience of operation. Also, the auto- frother’s dispensing spout is designed so that it can be angled into your cup, which means you can make milk-based drinks with one-touch convenience.

It’s by no means a perfect machine, but its low price and the fact that it’s pod-based makes it a compelling addition to our list.

A Few Words About Grinders

One thing you’ll note about all four of these machines is the fact that they all lack an integrated grinder. That’s one of the necessary tradeoffs at this price point, and as such, is hardly surprising.

Since that’s the case, you’ll need to buy one separately, whichever machine you settle on, unless you select the Cuisinart machine, which is entirely pod-based, or unless you plan on buying the EC860 and using pods exclusively with it.

With that in mind, here are our recommendations where grinders are concerned:

While blade grinders represent a step up from using pre-ground coffee, they’re still not a good fit. After all, if you’re going to spend a few hundred bucks on a decent espresso maker, why would you want to pair it with a sub-par ten-dollar grinder?

Final Thoughts on the Best Espresso Machine Under 300 Dollars 2024

And there you have it. Our top pick for the best espresso machine under 300 is the EC860, by DeLonghi, but all of the machines listed here are worthy of your consideration for different reasons. Here are some reasons to consider the other models we’ve talked about:

As the lowest-priced unit on our list, the Mr. Coffee BVMC ECMP1000 is the ideal choice for people on a tight budget.

The DeLonghi BCO 430 is the best choice for power drinkers, offering the largest water reservoir in its class. In addition to that though, it’s also a combination machine, merging specialty coffee capabilities with a 10-cup, drip-brew coffee maker, giving you the best of both of those worlds.

Finally, the Cuisinart BuonaTazza EM-600 is the lowest-priced pod-based machine we could find on the market today and is the only super-automatic on our list. If you’ve been dying to own a pod-based machine, then this one will give you an opportunity to explore that world without setting you back nearly as much as some of the more popular machines.

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Official DeLonghi Support

Official Mr. Coffee Support

Official Cuisinart Support

Sources & Resources

• Cuisinart Buona Tazza EM600 User Manual.
• DeLonghi USA, Official Brand Website.
• Mr. Coffee, Official Brand Website.
• Cuisinart, Official Brand Website.
• How to Choose a Coffee Machine, Good House Keeping.