Best Coffee Machines for a Latte (Top-notch Choices)

Who doesn’t enjoy sitting in a cozy cafe and sipping on a delicious hot latte? This espresso-based drink is soothing especially on chilly autumn days or when snow falls outside your window.

Imagine enjoying a hot latte from your home kitchen every day.

To get that amazing texture for lattes, a good machine is needed that’s smart enough to keep the blending ratios right and knows how to perfectly steam the milk.

There are numerous options of coffee machines available in the market right now. Picking the best among these needs a bit of research and an understanding of the key features of each.

Short Answer: I personally think that the espresso machines Breville BES870XL Barista Express and De’Longhi Dedica EC680M are perfect when it comes to making a cup of delicious latte.

In this article, I will be telling you why these 2 are the best in making lattes and other helpful tips you’ll need in your decision-making to buy the perfect coffee machine for your home.

So keep reading!

Table of Contents

What to look for in a coffee machine

Freshly brewed espresso dripping on a black cup.

There are various factors to look into when planning to purchase a coffee machine that’s why we need to take a closer look at each then you can go from there.

Convenience: Do you want a hands-free coffee experience in the morning? Because it’s programmable, an automatic coffee machine can provide you with this option. It can prepare a cup for you based on the time you set it to make coffee! Semi-automatic machines, on the other hand, can have your cup ready in a flash by pressing a few buttons.

Space saver: Did you know that there are hybrid machines that can perform the functions of both a coffee maker and an espresso machine? This is a good investment for people who have limited kitchen space.

Brew Size: There are coffee machines that can brew from a cup to a family-sized carafe! While some machines can brew a variety of sizes, others are limited. Single-cup brewers are ideal for singles or families with varying wake-up times. You can also buy a large brewer that makes 10-12 cups at a time, but the serving size is only 5-6 oz.

Timing: A thermal carafe keeps coffee hot all day and are ideal for households with varying waking times. A pod machine is ideal for families on the go who want to make a quick cup of coffee without having to worry about accidentally leaving the machine on.

Sizing: The size of your coffee machine does not affect the quality of your drink, but it can be an issue if it does not fit in the space you want it in. It’s best to accurately measure your machine’s size beforehand to ensure a proper fit. If you plan to buy a single-serving machine, keep in mind that larger mugs may not fit beneath the brewer.

Custom Brewing Options: While basic coffee machines only allow you to add coffee grounds and water, more advanced models allow you to select water temperature, brew size, and brew strength.

Extra Features: Some machines go beyond the brewing options by offering auto-shutoff, timed brewing, or a thermal carafe to keep the coffee warm for longer. Some advanced models have audible and visual alerts that tell you when your coffee is ready. Aside from features like bean grinding and milk frothing, higher-end machines also alert you when cleaning is required. While hybrid brewers and espresso machines have the most options, they are also the priciest.

What kind of coffee machine do you need to make a latte?

Side view of an espresso machine with freshly brewed espresso coming out.

To make a latte, you’ll definitely need an espresso machine. It will provide you with the ideal espresso base for your latte.

If you’re not familiar with the term, a latte is an espresso-based beverage that’s topped with steamed milk and a layer of foam. That pretty coffee you see in cafes, adorned with foam art such as leaves and hearts is a latte.

Making the espresso shots for your latte is an essential part of making the coffee drink.

You may be wondering right now why do you need an espresso machine for making a latte and not a regular coffee maker?

This is because espresso machines are designed to provide you with aromatic, complex, and caffeine-packed shots. And as we’ve discussed a while ago, an espresso is the base of a latte. A regular coffee maker can also give you that bold taste in your coffee but not espresso.

If you’re interested to know more about the difference between an espresso and regular brewed coffee, you can check out my post right here.

Here are some basic differences between an espresso machine and a regular coffee maker:

Process	Espresso machine	Coffee maker
Brewing	Finer grinds of espresso require 25-30 seconds	The coarser grind of drip coffee allows you to be it for about 10 minutes.
Roasting	Roasts are much darker, richer, and less acidic	Lighter roasts are more acidic.
Grinding	Uses fine, powder-like coffee grinds	Uses coarse-thick coffee grinds
Price	More expensive	Usually the cheaper option due to its simple function
Pressure	Uses high pressure to force water through the coffee	Relies on gravity to pull water through filters

Main differences between an espresso machine and a coffee maker

Which coffee machine is best for latte?

After doing some research online, I’ve come up with the 2 best espresso machines in the market. Of course, the final purchasing decision is yours, so keep reading to better understand the characteristics of each machine.

Breville BES870XL Barista Express

The best machine for making a latte is the Breville Barista Express BES870X. It’s very popular right now, and it’s an excellent choice for any home barista looking to upgrade to a sleek, more user-friendly, all-in-one machine.

This Breville model is semi-automatic. The price will make you cringe a little but this means you’ll be getting high-quality parts and it has special “no-slip” feet that prevent the machine from moving.

It also has a built-in conical burr grinder, so you don’t need to buy a separate grinder or pre-ground coffee to make your espresso. With this machine, you can have freshly ground beans for your espresso every time!

The 360-degree swivel-action steam wand is the most important feature for latte lovers, making lattes as easy as ABC!

The following are the best features of Breville BES870XL Barista:

Built-in conical burr grinder
Comes with a weighty tamper
Hot water dispenser
Adjustable for grind size
Integrated charcoal filter in the water tank

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Coffee quality: 4.5/5
Design and Features: 4/5
Durability: 4.5/5
Easy of use: 4.5/5

Price: $700-$800 depending on the retailer.

Disadvantages:

Expensive
Requires regular cleaning
Not suitable for coffee shops

If you want to know more about the Breville Barista, you can watch this video.

De’Longhi Dedica EC680M

This machine is very simple to operate and handle. It has pre-measured filters to ensure the proper blend of espresso for your latte.

The De’Longhi EC680’s body is mostly made of plastic, but it’s quite durable. It’s also programmable and has 4 primary functions, which are as follows:

Water hardness
Brew temperature
Auto-off
Programmable shot size

The following are the best features of this espresso machine:

Has a 15-bar espresso pressure which is the industry standard
Has a built-in milk frother for milk-coffee varieties
3 temperature settings
Super slim design

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

Design and Features: 4/5
Coffee Quality: 4/5
Easy of use: 4.5/5
Durability: 4.5/5

Price: $300-$400 depending on the retailer.

Disadvantages:

Less customizable options
Some boiler overheating concerns

To sum it all up

Top view of a latte with pumpkins and brown leaves.

The best coffee machines for making a latte at home are the Breville Barista Express BES870XL and the De’Longhi Dedica EC680M.

The Breville Barista Express is quite pricey but it comes with high-quality parts, including a built-in conical burr grinder that produces fresh and finer grounds ideal for your espresso base. The best feature of this machine is its 360-degree swivel-action steam wand which makes latte-making easy-peasy.

The De’Longhi Dedica is affordable, easy to use, and durable in spite of its plastic parts. It comes with pre-measured filters that allow for precise coffee ground measurements and a built-in milk frother good for lattes.

When purchasing any appliance, one of the most important factors to consider is the budget. When it comes to coffee machines, you want to get the most bang for your buck in terms of features and durability.

Both of the machines I reviewed have different price ranges (though both still fall within the mid-tier price level) but they both make amazing espressos and lattes! It’s just a matter of preference and how much you’re willing to spend.