Best Manual Espresso Machine Reviews 2023

Our website has tons of espresso machine reviews.  The Quick Mill Achille stands out though, because it’s the only machine we’ve reviewed so far that earned a perfect five-star rating, and it is well deserving of that honor. In some respects, it’s almost not fair to compare the Achille to the other machines on this list, because it’s more of a “prosumer” piece of equipment.

On the other hand, the Achille delivers the goods where it counts.  It connects you with every aspect of the drink making process and gives you full control over whatever drink you’re crafting. 

Combine that with the fact that it's solidly built and manufactured by one of the legendary companies in the industry, and it’s hard not to love this machine.  Perhaps best of all though is the fact that you won’t pay an arm and a leg for the unit.  It’s significantly less expensive than some of the other models on our list.

On that topic, some people might be surprised at how expensive is a fully manual espresso machine.  After all, most people assume that stripped of all the fancy electronics, manual espresso machines would be a good deal cheaper than their super automatic counterparts.

Yes and no.

While it’s true that you can find a relatively inexpensive manual espresso machine that will meet your needs, the reality is that the manufacturers simply spent the money on different things. 

For instance, you won’t find any cheap ABS plastic in any of the machines that made our list of finalists.  They’re all ruggedly built, either of stainless steel or brass, and some of the machines listed here have hardwood accents and other high-quality finishing touches.

The big draw with this machine is its pre-infusion piston system, which allows you to draw a small amount of water into the chamber and then to the waiting puck.  This pre-infusion helps to more fully bring the flavor of the coffee to life, resulting in a more robust tasting shot, or whatever other drink you’re making.

It’s a beautiful, well-built machine, but compared to our top pick, we have the following gripes:

While there’s no denying the longevity of the machine, we found it to be a somewhat weaker pick than the Achille, although we realize that not everyone will agree.  If you place a premium on precision Swiss manufacture, then this is probably the one you want.  This is truly one of the best manual home espresso machines on the market today, and well deserving of your consideration.

So far, both of the machines we’ve talked about have been designed with power drinkers in mind, but what if you aren’t?  What if you’re more of a casual drinker?

In that case, then the first two machines on our list will probably be overkill in your home, and this one might be just what you’re looking for.

With its brass and rosewood construction, this one looks like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel, and if that aesthetic is appealing to you (it certainly is to us!), then you’re going to love the look of this machine.  Bear in mind though, that it probably won’t “fit” well into every home kitchen.

With its modest price, smallish reservoir size, and tiny footprint, the PPG-16 can find a permanent home in even the tiniest of kitchens where countertop space is at a premium.

Don’t let its diminutive size fool you though.  La Pavoni didn’t sacrifice quality here.  This machine is capable of pulling a shot every bit as good as our top pick, it’s just that it’s got a very different aesthetic, and is aimed at a different sort of user; one who values aesthetic at least as much as raw functionality.