One of the best coffee makers you can buy is a super automatic espresso machine. The best super automatic espresso machine controls every aspect of making espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and many other specialty beverages. It can grind beans with an integrated conical burr grinder, provide consistent water temperature and pressure, and time the shot for you. It makes perfect espresso very easy for those who haven’t experienced baristas.
Thanks to the high level of automation, a super automatic espresso machine takes the guesswork out of making espresso. While beginners and experienced baristas alike can use them, they’re expensive machines, and they take away the extreme customization that many people like. However, because they’re fully automated, these machines give you the convenience of preparing espresso and specialty beverages from your favorite coffee beans without going to the coffee shop.
Keep reading our buying guide to learn more about super automatic espresso machines.
Top Super Automatic Espresso Machines
#1 Gaggia Brera Coffee Maker
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: You’ll enjoy the user-friendly display that this coffee maker offers. This display makes it a great model for beginners. It is also effortless to clean, with a water tank, drip tray, and dregs drawer all within reach.
- User-friendly display
- Rapid steam technology
- Extremely easy to clean
- Internal leaking may occur
If you require frothed milk for your beverage of choice, this is an excellent option as far as espresso machines go. It includes a Pannarello wand for expert frothing the same way a barista would do it. This wand is also a dispenser for hot waters if you want to make an americano or even some tea. However, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any internal leaking. Some consumers report that their coffee ground tub had water leaking into it.
This is also a model that is easily cleaned. You won’t have to dig around to get to the drip tray, dregs drawer, or water tank. All are designed to be quickly taken out for deep cleaning purposes. The user-friendly display allows even beginners to navigate through different drink options easily. It has push-button controls with illuminated icons for more intuitive usage. These features are powered by a motor with 1250 watts of power.
#2 Saeco Xelsis Coffee Maker
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: There are many features you’ll enjoy with this model, thanks to the premier programming technology. You can customize your drink down to the foam. It also has an accurate 3.5” touch-screen design.
- Premier programming technology
- Accurate 3.5” touch-screen
- Has a Hyggiesteam system
- Uses plastic in the design
This model has a 1.7 capacity water tank, perfect for those requiring regular espresso pulls. You could even use it successfully in an office environment. It also has touchscreen controls on a 3.5” display. This makes it an excellent option for beginners to espresso and highly convenient with an easy user interface. Unfortunately, this is an espresso machine that uses plastic in the design. Because of this, it might feel or look a little flimsy to some consumers.
It also supports user profiles. This means that after you perfect a drink, you can save it to your profile on the machine. That means going back to the best drink you’ve ever had is as easy as pressing a button. This easy access is due to the premier programming that went into the model. It allows for perfected milk and espresso volume, temperature, dose, and texture in every shot of espresso you pull.
#3 De’Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR DUAL BREWING
WHY WE LIKE IT: The easy-to-use control panel makes this a friendly model for beginners. You can use this to program any preferences you have for your beverage. This makes every cup as good as the first one you perfected.
- Can brew two cups at a time
- Able to program preferences
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Requires troubleshooting often
You’ll enjoy the power of a professional-grade burr grinder when you choose this model. It allows for even, thorough coffee grounds, which are necessary to pull espresso properly. There are also 13 adjustable grind settings, so you always have a perfect grind texture. Unfortunately, this model does come with a fair few problems that pop up from time to time. This can usually be fixed through basic troubleshooting, but it still may be a dealbreaker for some.
There is also a second chamber to use pre-ground coffee for ultimate convenience. You’ll have access to a manual frother that you can use to steam milk for creamy, rich foam. This allows you to create barista-style beverages with ease. You’ll also be able to program in your preferences when you find the perfect settings for your drink. The machine will remember everything from strength to beverage size and even more.
#4 Jura A1 Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: A 15 bar pump pressure drives the ability of this model to pull espresso shots that are smooth and flavorful expertly. A conical burr grinder ensures the production of optimal grounds.
- Extremely compact design
- One-touch technology
- Conical burr grinder
- May wear out quickly
If you have limited kitchen space, this is the perfect option. It is a highly compact option that can easily fit into tight spaces. This makes it great to store on your countertop or tuck away into a cupboard for seamless storage. The only drawback is that this is not a model known for having high longevity. There are reports of it wearing out after only a year or two, which may be a turn-off for some consumers.
This one-touch system allows you to create 3 of your favorite barista-style drinks. You’ll be able to choose between ristretto, espresso, and coffee. This makes it an all-in-one system to take care of everything you need when it comes to your morning beverage. The design includes a conical burr grinder called the AromaG3, a precise model that grinds whole beans to an optimal level for the drink you’re trying to make.
#5 Mcilpoog WS-203 Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR HIGH CAPACITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: The ability to make microfoam milk is a huge pro for this model. It has a 1.7-liter tank capacity, which means you can brew more and refill the reservoir less. You’ll have a selection of sixteen beverages to choose from.
- Has an interactive display
- Makes sixteen beverages
- Makes microfoam milk
- Might make too much noise
If you have an office of people that need espresso as quickly as possible, this model will make the perfect match. It has a high-capacity system to store up to 1.7 liters of water. This is more than enough to take care of even the busiest households. It can also store up to 250 grams of whole coffee beans in a specially designed box. While this is an impressive model, it’s also a bit on the noisy side. This is due to the powerful mechanisms driving the brew cycles.
Touch-screen technology separates it from several competing models. This espresso machine allows easy access to your favorite style of coffee, with simplistic options for easy brewing. You can adjust milk texture, temperature, and coffee strength settings. There are 16 different types of beverages available. Each one allows you to adjust the milk content, concentration, and water content so that your espresso is always pulled perfectly.
#6 Hipresso Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This model’s impressive touch screen design will make using it far easier than using competitor models. A dual heating system ensures every pull will be perfectly even and smooth.
- Easy touch screen
- Dual heating system
- Professional grinder
- Uses metric measurements
The high-definition touch-screen display on this model is more than enough to impress. It offers 7” of length, which provides more than enough real estate to choose from the selections provided easily. You’ll be able to choose from an espresso pull, latte, americano, flat white, macchiato, lungo, and far more. However, those who don’t use the metric system may be in trouble with this espresso machine. It only provides measurements in milliliters and celsius, which may be a dealbreaker for some.
You’ll never have to guess when it’s time to refill the water reservoir, either. This model has an alarm that automatically alerts you when it’s time to replenish. It’ll also let you know when wastewater is high when it’s time to add beans, or even when you need to clean it. The professional conical burr grinder has adjustable settings, so you can get as fine a grind as you need every time. This is a long-lasting system made out of durable materials like stainless steel.
Beginner’s Guide to Super Automatic Espresso Machines
What is a Super Automatic Espresso Machine?
A super automatic espresso machine is a modern-day coffee maker that makes espressos and other coffee drinks using pre-ground coffee beans and milk. These machines will grind your beans, pull your shot of espresso, steam or froth your milk, and dispense the final drink, all without requiring you to lift a finger.
A super-automatic machine may come in various sizes and styles, but they all have the same goal: to make your life easier by automating the coffee-making process. You can find those with a modern design, adjustable settings, and you can find them in a compact machine or one with a larger footprint.
They take away most of the customization that experienced baristas prefer, and they can be very pricey. But for many coffee lovers, they are the perfect kitchen appliance because they do everything for you at the push of a button, from grinding your beans to timing the shot. They also allow you to customize your preferences, so you don’t have to choose them every time.
Super Automatic Espresso Machines vs Other Espresso Machines
Automatic espresso machines are an excellent choice for those who want to make high-quality cups of coffee with little effort, and a super automatic espresso machine is the best automatic coffee machine you can buy. They differ from other automatic machines in that they have additional functions like bean grinding and milk steaming that other machines lack.
Additionally, the best superautomatic espresso machine usually has a higher price tag. That said, they come with more features and often have a longer lifespan. This is especially true if you’re looking at brands like DeLonghi or Jura.
On the other hand, a manual espresso machine is a great choice for those who want more control over their coffee-making process. These machines require you to grind the beans and pull the shot yourself, which gives you more flexibility in terms of the final flavor of your coffee. Additionally, manual espresso machines are often cheaper than super automatic machines. If you like doing things manually, you may want to read about the best stovetop percolator.
Semi-automatic espresso machines are a good choice for those who want the convenience of an automatic machine and some additional control. Semi-automatic machines make it easy to pull a shot of espresso by using groups, which allow you to set the water pressure and ensure your coffee maker doesn’t overflow.
You can also do other things like froth milk while pulling your shot. However, these machines still require you to grind the beans and tamp them yourself because they don’t have built-in grinders, which can be a bit of a hassle.
How a Super Automatic Espresso Machine Works
A super automatic espresso machine can be confusing at first because it has so many features. However, the basic process of how these machines work is relatively easy to understand.
When you want an espresso, the machine will grind your beans, tamp them into the portafilter (or group), and pull your shot for you. After your shot is done, the machine will steam your milk for you.
You fill the water tank and bean hopper yourself, but that’s it! Super automatic espresso machines take care of everything else for you.
Some super automatic espresso machines have a milk-steaming system to create custom milk drinks like lattes and macchiatos. The milk will either be frothed or steamed into your cup for you.
Not only do these machines make it easy to make espresso drinks of any size, but they also help with temperature control and consistency, ensuring that each cup of coffee is as good as the last.
After putting the beans in the hopper and filling the water reservoir, the machine will grind your beans and dispense them into the portafilter. It heats the water in a boiler and then dispenses it into the portafilter.
After that, the machine will tamp the grounds and pull your shot for you. Next, it will steam your milk automatically so you can pour whatever toppings you want onto your latte or cappuccino.
The machine takes care of timing the espresso shot for you, so you don’t have to worry about that step. All you need to do is press a button, and your coffee is ready! If you’re a fan of your coffee always being at the right temperature, another fantastic investment is the best thermal carafe coffee maker.
Why Should You Buy a Super Automatic Espresso Machine?
If you’re someone who can’t help but stop at the local cafe every morning for a hot shot of espresso, a super automatic espresso machine is an excellent investment. It’s also an ideal purchase if you want to enjoy great-tasting coffee without having to interact with your machine at all. Super automatic espresso machines make it easy to create various espresso-based drinks, including cappuccino, macchiato, latte, and espresso.
Is a Super Automatic Espresso Machine Worth Buying?
- They offer consistency: Every time you use your machine, it’s going to pull a shot of espresso and steam your milk in the same way. The only thing that will vary is the amount of time you take to drink it. Not only do they draw hot water from a consistent source and filter it, but they also ensure consistent bars of pressure and offer a uniform grind size, making for a much better automatic coffee machine.
- They’re loaded with features: Not only will a super automatic espresso machine pull your shot and steam your milk, but it will also adjust the water temperature for you and do a lot of other things. They may even allow you to customize the grinder settings, digital display, or coffee strength.
- They take care of timing: Most super automatic espresso machines will time the shot for you, ensuring that your coffee is perfect every time.
- They’re easy to clean: Because a super automatic espresso machine takes care of so many things, it’s easy to clean. All you need to do is run a quick cycle and wipe the portafilter with a damp cloth.
Why a Super Automatic Espresso Machine Might Not Be For You
- They’re expensive: Super automatic espresso machines can be a bit on the pricey side, depending on the brand and features you choose.
- They’re bulky: These machines tend to be rather large. Make sure you have the counter space for it before buying one!
How Long Will a Super Automatic Espresso Machine Last?
If you take good care of your super automatic espresso machine and clean it regularly, it should last for a long time. Most super automatic espresso machines last at least ten years and may last up to 15 if you conduct regular cleanings and use them properly.
The best fully automatic espresso machine will be stainless steel and have a sleek design. It will be able to make your favorite drink for a very long time. If you run into trouble with your machine, it will likely be with components like the group head or the frothing arm, which are easy to replace without buying a new machine.
How to Choose a Super Automatic Espresso Machine
When you’re choosing a super automatic espresso machine, there are a few things you need to take into account, including your budget, how much counter space you have, and the features you want.
Best Super Automatic Espresso Machine Key Factors
1. Should I be worried about my budget?
You don’t need to worry about your budget. While some super automatic espresso machines are a bit pricey, plenty of options will fit any budget. However, super automatics are definitely more expensive compared to other espresso machines.
2. How much counter space should I allow for?
Some super automatic espresso machines are large, so make sure you have enough counter space before you buy. If you don’t have a lot of counter space, there are also some smaller machines that will work for you.
3. What features should I look for?
There are many different features to choose from when shopping for super automatic espresso machines. Consider what you want your machine to do. For example, do you want one that will froth your milk for you or one with a built-in ceramic burr grinder? Do you want a machine with a timer, so your coffee is ready when you wake up?
You’ll also want to compare display types and sizes because some super automatic espresso machines have digital displays while others don’t. Consider what’s important to you and make your choice.
