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Top Ten Best Latte Machines 2022

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Scott

October 10, 2023

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Coffee drinks come in all shapes and sizes and coffee drinkers each have their own ideas of which option is the best one. A carafe of rich, dark coffee is perfect for some whereas others need a rich creamy latte to see them right.

A latte is made from ultra-dark, espresso coffee mixed with thick, textured milk. It’s creamy, it’s sweet and it’s the perfect treat any time of day.

I love a latte in the morning but I don’t love the cost that comes with ordering one from my local coffee shop. It seems like a small cost each day but when you add it up it can end up coming to a huge expense each month.

An at-home latte machine saves you time and money in the morning, especially if it takes more than a single cup of coffee to get you going for the day. The initial investment is completely worth it in the long run and once you get the hang of your new machine, you’ll be the envy of all your coffee-loving friends.

To help you out, here are ten prime examples of latte machines that will elevate your coffee game to new heights. Each one is reviewed so you can easily see if it ticks the boxes for you. Have a browse and if any of these options stand out then click the ‘Price and Reviews’ button to check current prices on Amazon.

Let’s dive right in and look at our top choice today, the De’Longhi Dinamica espresso machine with automatic milk frother, perfect for thick creamy lattes.

Top Five Best Latte Machines Reviewed

• 1. Top Choice – De’Longhi Dinamica Espresso Machine
• 2. Runner Up – Nespresso Lattissima One Coffee and Espresso Maker
• 3. Best Automatic Machine – Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine
• 4. Best Coffee Shop Quality Machine – Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
• 5. Best Pod Machine – Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker, Latte Maker, and Cappuccino Maker

1. Top Choice – De’Longhi Dinamica Espresso Machine

The best latte machine has to be this Dinamica by De’Longhi. Starting with the built-in burr grinder you can add the coffee beans you enjoy best and always enjoy the freshest tasting cup. The grinder has 13 settings so it is very versatile and there’s even a by-pass system so you can use decaf if preferred.

The milk frother is fully automatic so no training is required. It creates the thickest textured milk perfect for lattes and even has a self-cleaning function which is really handy. It works with dairy and non-dairy types of milk so anyone can enjoy a creamy latte.

With 18 recipes to choose from you’ll never get bored of this machine. From a ristretto to drip coffee and even over ice you can select the coffee that best suits your needs. There are even personalization settings so you can choose the strength, size, and amount of milk you want and then save these settings for future use.

This machine is great as an all-in-one machine for coffee drinks and the customization makes it great for all kinds of coffee lovers. The only downside is there are no temperature settings so you can’t choose to brew the coffee extra hot.

2. Runner Up – Nespresso Lattissima One Coffee and Espresso Maker

If you’re a beginner at making lattes or ease of use is your top priority then this super-automatic espresso machine by Nespresso is ideal for you. All you need to do is select a Nespresso Original capsule, load up the machine, and press a button.

The coffee is brewed and the milk is foamed automatically before it’s delivered directly into your favorite mug. You can choose from three milk recipes, espresso macchiato, latte macchiato, and cappuccino, and the milk jug is even dishwasher safe so clean up is a breeze.

The compact design fits well into any kitchen and it comes in several color options to suit any home. The only downside is this machine is only compatible with Nespresso pods which can get expensive if you use the machine a lot.

3. Best Automatic Machine – Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse Espresso Maker and Cappuccino Machine

An automatic espresso machine takes all the hard work out of brewing coffee as you can enjoy your favorite espresso drinks at just the touch of a button. This One-Touch automatic latte machine by Mr. Coffee does exactly this!

The machine is fitted with a powerful, high-quality Italian pump for optimal espresso extraction. The thermocouple heating system ensures the water temperature is heated evenly so it brews the best tasting cup of coffee.

A built-in cleaning cycle makes it easy to keep this machine clean and the adjustable drip tray accommodates any size of mug. This machine isn’t ideal for an open plan home as it can be very loud so that’s worth considering before you press the ‘buy’ button.

4. Best Coffee Shop Quality Machine – Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine

From bean to cup, this machine by Breville can create an espresso shot that will rival any coffee shop. The conical burr grinder accurately doses the coffee and grinds it evenly and precisely before delivering it straight into the portafilter. The grind size dial allows you to finely tune the grinding to suit any kind of coffee beans.

Once the coffee is ready you tamp it down and fix it to the group head. Digital temperature control gets the water to just the right temperature for optimal coffee brewing. As the espresso is brewing, the 9 bar pump ensures the optimal pressure profile is used including low-pressure pre-infusion that ensures an even extraction.

All these features collaborate to brew espresso that’s coffee shop quality without any hassle. The powerful steam wand allows you to create textured milk with cafe-quality microfoam as you get to tweak the method to perfection. Manually steamed milk is the best for making perfect lattes as well as latte art but it does require some technique to get it just right. If you’re happy to put in the practice then this machine is one of the best options available to make delicious lattes at home.

5. Best Pod Machine – Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker, Latte Maker, and Cappuccino Maker

A pod machine is really useful if you prefer a quick and simple coffee brewing solution. Keurig is famous for the versatile coffee brewers they make as well as the enormous variety of coffee pods available.

The large 60 Oz removable water reservoir is easy to refill and will brew 6 cups or more before you need to refill the water tank. There’s a jug attachment that will froth milk to perfection and this is dishwasher safe making it easy to keep clean.

This machine is programmed with Smart Start which means it will heat up and brew in one go so you don’t have to wait to select your coffee settings. It also has a strong brew button so you can customize your coffee in this way.

You can brew coffee using the My K-Cup universal reusable filter which helps reduce the waste caused by the coffee pods. As with most pod and capsule machines, the waste produced is a big issue and some people feel this is a good reason to avoid these machines.

Latte Maker Buying Guide

Automatic Espresso Making

When you choose a machine to make lattes the espresso is the first thing to consider. Espresso coffee makes up the base of a latte and better quality coffee means a better quality latte. The two most common ways to make espresso are the fully (or super) automatic machines and the semi-automatic machines.

Fully automatic coffee makers carry out all the steps for you so all you need to do is press a button and receive delicious hot coffee. The downside is you can’t adjust or fine-tune the settings to suit your individual tastes.

Semi-automatic machines require you to grind the coffee, load up the portafilter and then pour the shot of coffee. Some machines will time it for you whereas others let you set the pour time. These machines require a bit more input from you but let you adjust all the settings to suit your needs.

Milk Frother

Once you have the espresso, the next ingredient you need to consider is steamed milk. Again, these come in a couple of different forms to suit various needs.

Fully automatic milk frothers remove all the guesswork from making lattes and these allow you to finish your latte off with the touch of a button. The downside is they don’t give you control over the quality of the microfoam you end up with. they also tend to have more pipework and pumps so are prone to issues.

Steam wands give the best quality foamed milk and give you all the control over this step. The downside with these is that they do take some practice to get really good at using them so are a more hands-on option.

Cleaning Cycle

Some coffee makers have an in-built cleaning cycle which can help save time and effort when it comes to cleaning your machine. the most tricky parts to clean are often the milk frothing attachments, especially automated ones. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the cleaning procedure as well as for how frequently to clean it.

This is also true for descaling your coffee maker. Make sure you use the correct descaling solution recommended b the manufacturer as failure to do so can end up invalidating your warranty.

Programmable

Automatic coffee makers sometimes come with the benefit of programmable timers so you can set the machine to have the coffee ready for whenever you need it most. Settings like strength and temperature can also be really useful in helping you to adjust your coffee maker to suit your taste preferences. If you like full control over your coffee then make sure you choose a machine that has programmable settings.

Coffee Grinder

To make good quality espresso you need coffee that’s finely ground to an even consistency. To do this you need a good quality burr grinder. Some coffee makers will have one of these built-in but if this isn’t the case then you will need a grinder as well.

Freshly ground coffee has the optimum flavor and aroma and this slowly declines the longer the coffee is left after being ground up. Always grind up just the amount of beans you plan to brew with to ensure you get the freshest flavor each time.

F.A.Q.s

What is the best coffee machine for making lattes?

Our top pick for coffee machines that are perfect for making lattes is the De’Longhi Dinamica Espresso Machine. It’s easy to use, has loads of programmable settings, and even has a burr grinder built-in.

What machine does Starbucks use for lattes?

Starbucks uses a commercial machine, the Mastrena High Performance Espresso Machine which is designed for high volume use. These machines are made exclusively for Starbucks.

Can coffee machines make a latte?

To make a latte you really need an espresso machine with a steam wand or milk frother included. The coffee needs the strong, intense qualities of espresso and the milk needs that thick texture to make a really good quality latte.

What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?

A latte is roughly one-third espresso to two-thirds steamed milk and then topped with a centimeter or so of milk foam. A cappuccino is one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and finished with one-third milk foam. It has a bubblier texture and a more intense coffee flavor due to the lower volume of liquid milk used.

More Latte Machines Reviewed

6. Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

The Breville Bambino is like the baby sibling of the Breville Barista Express. It has all the internal workings that act to make extremely high-quality espresso and steamed milk but its housing is more compact. It is missing the burr grinder so you will need an external one to use this machine.

It does have the precise digital temperature control, optimal water pressure for pre-infusion, and a fast heat-up time means you can get into brewing coffee right away. The automatic steam wand allows you to create lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, or any drink you desire. The frothing wand even has a self-purging function to help keep it clean after use.

With a bit of practice, you’ll be pulling a shot of espresso with a lovely thick crema that will create any specialty coffee you enjoy best.

7. Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine

Gaggia has a range of really high-quality semi-automatic espresso machines and the Anima is a great example of this. The machine itself is a perfect example of great functionality but the housing is made of plastic rather than stainless steel so this can be offputting.

The housing doesn’t affect how user-friendly the machine is with easy button settings and an LCD control panel. It’s programmable and there are even temperature settings that make it fully customizable.

It’s a bean to cup machine as it has a coffee grinder built-in alongside a bypass system if you prefer pre-ground coffee. The steam wand gives it the versatility to make any style of coffee you enjoy best and overall this machine is a very user-friendly, high-quality espresso machine.

8. Gevi Espresso Machines Cappuccino Coffee Maker

This little espresso machine by Gevi is the perfect option for a tight budget. It’s really well designed with double temperature control so it can independently make hot water for steaming milk and brewing coffee so you don’t end up burning them. The downside is you can’t steam milk at the same time as brewing coffee but that’s similar to most espresso machines.

The manual steam wand is optimally pressurized to deliver the perfect amount of pressure for really thick creamy milk. With easy button controls for a single or double-shot you can make americanos or lattes to suit your taste perfectly.

The top of the machine acts as a cup warmer and there’s even a little buoy in the drip tray that floats up and reminds you to empty it before it overflows. Overall this is a really functional machine that’s easy to use and fits into a tight budget.

9. Chefman 6-in-1 Espresso Machine

The Chefman is the perfect solution if you need a latte at the simple press of a button. It can make single or double shots of espresso, latte, or cappuccino all by pressing a single button. You get the hands-on, barista experience as you load up and tamp the portafilter but the machine does the rest of the work for you.

The milk frother creates good quality foamed milk perfect for your drink of choice and delivers it into your mug. It has a powerful pump to brew really high-quality espresso and it even has an internal cleaning function to help keep the machine in good working order.

The downside is that the portafilter can be a bit tricky to manage and you have to be careful when you attach it as it can end up turning on the machine by accident. The milk frother jug also needs to be hand washed which can be a bit tedious so if you hate washing up then consider this before choosing this option.

10. Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

This Latte Maker by Philips is a really good option if you need a coffee maker that’s easy to use. It has a variety of presets for specific drinks but also allows some customization so you can brew coffee just how you like it.

The LatteGo system features a milk reservoir that froths and dispenses your milk for cappuccinos and lattes straight into the glass. It avoids any fine tubing and pipework so can be cleaned easily in the dishwasher or by handwashing.

The ceramic grinder ensures the coffee grounds are the perfect size for espresso thanks to the 12-step grinder adjustment. It also has an Aquaclean filter that helps remove impurities from the water. This means the coffee will taste better and the machine won’t require as much descaling compared to a typical coffee maker.

Overall, this machine is a really good choice and the only issue I could find is that you can’t fit a tall glass or a travel mug under the brew head. The easy solution is to brew into a shorter glass and transfer it to your travel mug once it’s ready.

Final Thoughts

So that’s it for the best latte machines to have in your home or office. These machines can vary a lot in how they work as well as appearance but each fits a different set of requirements. I hope this article has been helpful in showing you which option is the best for your needs and I wish you a rich creamy latte every day!