Guide · Espresso machines
The best espresso machines for beginners
Five beginner-friendly espresso machines from under £100 to about £600, with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, what makes a machine easy to learn on, and the kit you'll need.
Choosing the best espresso machine for beginners in the UK isn’t about buying the fanciest model. It’s about finding one that forgives early mistakes, heats up without a long wait and doesn’t bury you in settings. We’ve picked five machines, from under £100 to about £600, and we explain what makes each one easy or hard to learn on. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on the makers’ published specs, UK retailer listings and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
For every type of espresso machine, not just beginner picks, see our espresso machines guide.
Best espresso machine for beginners UK: the short answer
- Cheapest way to start: the De’Longhi Stilosa, £89.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For a small kitchen: the De’Longhi Dedica EC685, £149.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For a quick start and a full box: the Sage Bambino, £329.95 at Sage UK (checked 3 Oct 2026; Damson Blue was sold out).
- If milk is the scary part: the Sage Bambino Plus, £399.95 at Sage UK (checked 3 Oct 2026; only brushed stainless steel was in stock, the other colours were sold out).
- If you want a grinder built in: the Sage Barista Express Impress, check price at Sage UK.
What makes an espresso machine beginner-friendly?
Quick heat-up. A machine that’s ready fast is one you’ll actually use on a weekday. Sage says its Bambino models reach temperature in 3 seconds, and De’Longhi describes the Dedica’s Thermoblock as fast heating. Those are the makers’ claims, not figures we’ve measured.
Forgiving baskets. Dual-wall (pressurised) baskets are more forgiving with pre-ground coffee, so you can get started without a grinder. Single-wall baskets give you more control once you’re grinding fresh beans. The Stilosa comes with single and double baskets, and both Bambinos include dual-wall and single-wall baskets.
A steam wand you can manage. Learning to froth milk is the hardest part for many people. A manual wand takes practice. The Bambino Plus can texture milk automatically, which takes that pressure off.
Built-in guidance. The Barista Express Impress helps with two steps beginners often get wrong: how much coffee to use and how hard to tamp.
The picks
De’Longhi Stilosa EC260BK. The cheapest machine here, and a low-risk way to find out whether you enjoy making espresso. De’Longhi UK lists a stainless steel boiler, and Currys lists a 15-bar pump, a steam wand, separate thermostats for water and steam, a 1-litre tank, room for cups up to 110mm tall and ESE pod compatibility. A tamper and single and double filter baskets come in the box. It’s £89.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys prices can change. It’s £126.99 at De’Longhi UK on the same day.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who drinks from tall mugs (110mm cup height is limiting), or anyone who wants a stated heat-up time, as we couldn’t find one in its listings.
De’Longhi Dedica EC685. De’Longhi says the Dedica is just 15cm wide, which makes it the one for a cramped worktop. It lists a 15-bar pump, Thermoblock heating, the Adjustable Cappuccino System (which lets you switch between steamed milk and foam), room for mugs and glasses up to 12cm tall and ESE pod compatibility. It’s £149.00 for the black EC685BK at Currys and £179 at De’Longhi UK, both checked 3 Oct 2026. Prices can change.
Who it isn’t for: anyone wanting a milk jug in the box. Currys lists the machine, two filters, a tamper and the instructions, and a one-year guarantee. If you’re torn between this and the Bambino, our Sage Bambino review covers the Sage in detail.
Sage Bambino BES450. The Bambino is compact and, according to Sage, ready in 3 seconds thanks to its ThermoJet heating. Sage lists a 54mm portafilter designed for an 18g dose, single-wall and dual-wall baskets in one- and two-cup sizes, a manual steam wand and a 480ml stainless steel milk jug in the box. That full box matters for beginners, because you won’t need to buy a jug straight away. It’s £329.95 at Sage UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, with at least one colour in stock that day.
Who it isn’t for: anyone on a tight budget. It costs more than twice the Dedica’s Currys price, and you’ll still need a grinder or pre-ground coffee.
Sage Bambino Plus. The Plus has the same quick-start heating and 54mm portafilter as the Bambino, but adds an automatic steam wand. Sage lists 3 milk temperatures and 3 texture levels: you set the jug in place and the machine does the frothing. You can switch to manual steaming once you’re ready to learn. Sage also lists a 54mm tamper, both basket types and a 480ml jug. It’s £399.95 at Sage UK, where only the brushed stainless steel version showed as in stock, and £399.99 at Currys (both checked 3 Oct 2026; Currys prices can change). Our Sage Bambino vs Bambino Plus comparison explains whether the automatic wand is worth the extra.
Who it isn’t for: black-coffee drinkers. If you rarely make milky drinks, the automatic wand is money you won’t use.
Sage Barista Express Impress. The Impress puts a grinder and an espresso machine in one body, with help for the fiddly bits. Sage lists a conical burr grinder with 25 settings, a dosing system that adjusts the next dose based on the last, and assisted tamping at a set pressure, plus PID temperature control and a 54mm portafilter. Currys lists a 480ml milk jug, single and dual filter baskets and a 2-litre tank. Check price at Sage UK. It’s £599.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys prices can change.
Who it isn’t for: anyone unsure whether espresso will stick. It’s a big outlay to start with, and Currys lists a one-year guarantee.
Your beginner starter kit
Unless you choose the Impress, you’ll need a few extras to get the most from any of these machines.
- A grinder. Grinding fresh beans just before brewing is the usual first upgrade, but not every cheap grinder can go fine enough for espresso. Our guide to burr grinders under £100 explains which are realistic.
- Scales. Weighing your coffee in and your espresso out is the quickest way to make shots repeatable. See our best coffee scales for espresso.
- A milk jug. The Bambino, Bambino Plus and Impress include one. For the Stilosa or Dedica, budget for a small stainless steel jug.
We haven’t priced these extras here; the linked guides have dated prices.
Downsides to know before you start
- There’s a learning curve. Apart from the Impress’s dosing and tamping help and the Bambino Plus’s automatic milk, you’ll dose, tamp and steam by hand.
- No grinder on four of the five. Pre-ground coffee works with dual-wall baskets but goes stale faster once opened.
- Prices move. Currys prices can change, so check on the day.
FAQ
What’s the easiest espresso machine for a complete beginner? For milky drinks, the Bambino Plus, because the automatic wand handles the milk. For black coffee on a budget, the Dedica or Stilosa.
Do you need a grinder to start? No. All five accept ground coffee, and the dual-wall baskets in the Bambino boxes are generally the more forgiving choice with it. A grinder is the best upgrade once you’re hooked.
Is it worth paying more for a built-in grinder? If you’re sure you’ll stick with it and want fewer gadgets on the worktop, the Impress makes sense. If not, a cheaper machine plus a separate grinder lets you upgrade one part at a time.
Can you use pods in any of these? The Stilosa and Dedica are listed as compatible with ESE paper pods.