The 5 Best Latte Machines (2023 Review)

Latte machines give you the ability to make a scrumptious coffee drink that you can make in your own home whenever you want. However, with dozens of varieties of latte machines on the market, narrowing down your choices may be difficult. To help you find the best latte machine that’s right for you, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best latte machines on Amazon. We explore our top five recommendations below.

Top 5 Latte Machines

• Easiest Cleanup: Keurig K-Cafe Latte Maker
• Easiest To Use: Mr. Coffee Espresso Maker
• Best for Small Kitchens: Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
• Most Versatile: Philips Automatic Espresso Machine
• Best Value: DeLonghi Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

Easiest Cleanup: Keurig K-Cafe Latte Maker

Key Features

• Can brew up to six cups before refilling
• Can make hot or iced lattes and cappuccinos
• Heats and brews in one single process—no need to wait for it to heat up before use
• Has simple button controls

What Customers Are Saying

Those who gave this product a positive review said that it was simple to use, liked that it had multiple size options, and brewed quickly and consistently. Coffee aficionados may be disappointed that this machine doesn’t brew true espresso, and some users had difficulty using the frother, especially with certain types of non-dairy milk.

Easiest To Use: Mr. Coffee Espresso Maker

Key Features

• Can make lattes, cappuccinos, or espressos
• Has a thermocouple heating system that evenly heats water
• Features an adjustable cup tray that can fit tall or short mugs
• Comes with a removable milk reservoir

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who enjoyed this latte machine said that it was easy to operate, made from durable materials, and has a stylish design. Those who were less satisfied with their purchase claimed that it was hard to clean, while others said that the coffee had an inconsistent taste after it had been brewed.

Best for Small Kitchens: Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

Key Features

• Has three different heat settings and three milk texture settings
• Features a hands-free automatic steam wand
• Has digital temperature control
• Features a 15-bar Italian pump that delivers delicious espresso

What Customers Are Saying

Coffee fans who gave this product a positive review said that it had a compact size, delivered great-looking microfoam, and heated up quickly. Though many loved the lattes this machine produced, they noted it is not without its quirks, as some reviewers said that it can be challenging to clean, while some others felt that it was difficult and confusing to operate.

Most Versatile: Philips Automatic Espresso Machine

Key Features

• Features adjustable aroma strength and quantity
• Has three different temperature settings
• Milk frother has only two parts, making it easy to clean
• Comes with an AquaClean filter that doesn’t require descaling for up to 5,000 cups

What Customers Are Saying

There’s a lot to love about this latte machine, and positive reviews stated that it was easy to operate, was highly customizable, and delivered great-tasting coffee. However, others who left negative reviews claimed that it was overly loud, while others said that it did not last as long as they were anticipating.

Best Value: DeLonghi Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

Key Features

• Has a manual frother that creates evenly textured drinks
• Has a sleek, space-saving design
• Features an easy-to-remove water tank that makes it easy to clean
• Maintains optimal temperature after each brew so you can instantly make another cup

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who were pleased with this product said that it was lightweight, durable, and easy to navigate, even for beginners. While this machine offers a great value, some customers noted that you need to have very small coffee cups due to the short clearance, and the water reservoir needs to be refilled often, making it best for people who don’t need to make coffee for more than one or two people in the morning.

Buyer’s Guide

Latte machines differ in several ways from traditional coffee makers. Before deciding on what latte machine works best for you, there are a number of factors that you should first consider to ensure you’re finding a product that will deliver the best coffee for your personal tastes. Here are some of the major things to look for when buying a latte machine.

Type

Latte machines are either semi-automatic, automatic, or fully automatic.

Semi-Automatic

Semi-automatic machines have a button that activates the pump but allows you to customize other areas of the coffee-making process, such as filter type, grind, or size.

Automatic

Automatic latte or espresso machines are similar to semi-automatic machines but come with a built-in grinder, although they usually require you to froth the milk yourself with a steam wand.

Fully Automatic

Fully automatic (sometimes also called super automatic) machines do all of the work for you, only requiring you to add in beans and the milk of your choice.

Ease of use

Depending on how experienced you are at making lattes, you may be more or less comfortable with certain functions and gadgets on latte machines. Machines with fewer settings, such as fully automatic latte machines, are easy to use and won’t provide a complicated coffee-making experience, but also have less customization, which could be important if taste and quality is more important to you than convenience.

Versatility

Some latte machines have the capacity to make other types of coffee as well, such as espresso, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. Many machines also have the capability to make iced lattes in addition to hot drinks. Ensuring that your latte machine will work on a variety of milk types may also be important if you prefer oat, almond, or soy milk.

Size

If you have a small kitchen with limited counter space, you’ll likely want to focus on a compact latte machine. This may cause it to be missing certain pieces, such as a steamer or a grinder, but they can always be purchased separately and stored away when not in use.

If you have more counter space and are willing to spend a bit more, you can find a machine that has everything you need in one, making it more convenient to use.

Differences Between Popular Coffee Drinks

Lattes are one of the most popular coffee drinks to make, but it’s far from the only option. Some latte machines also have the capability to make several other types of coffee for you to enjoy in your favorite mug. Here is a basic rundown in case you’re unclear about the major differences.

Black

Black coffee is your traditional coffee drink that is the result of combining coffee beans with hot water. It can be served hot or iced.

Espresso

Espresso is a small amount of coffee that is served in a shot form. Also called “short black,” espresso shots can be added to other types of coffee. You can also order double or triple espressos that provide a higher total amount of coffee and caffeine.

Latte

Lattes combine espresso, steamed milk, and foam to create a creamy coffee beverage. It can be served plain or with syrups or creamer.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is similar to a latte but differs in the foam-to-steamed milk ratio. While lattes use only a little foam, cappuccinos use more foam than milk. They are often topped with chocolate, cinnamon, or cocoa powder and can also taste great with added syrups.

Americano

An Americano is a coffee drink that is a mixture of espresso and water, which has a similar consistency to black coffee.

Macchiato

Macchiatos are an espresso-based drink that use a small amount of foam on top, but less than a cappuccino.

Cortado

Cortados evenly balance espresso with warm milk, which reduces its acidity and gives it a creamier taste overall.

Mocha

A great choice for chocolate lovers, mocha is an espresso drink that uses steamed foam, milk, and chocolate powder to give it a taste similar to hot chocolate. It is often topped with whipped cream and is a balance between a coffee and a dessert beverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of milk works in a latte machine?

Most latte machines work with any type of milk. You can choose to use whole milk for more flavor and better opportunities for foam art, or more health-conscious choices like skim, 1 percent, 2 percent, oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk.

How do you steam milk?

To steam the milk you need for a latte, heat a steam or frothing wand just below the surface of the milk up to around 100-115 degrees Fahrenheit. From there, lower the steam wand further into the milk to heat it at or near 160 degrees. Be sure not to exceed 160 degrees, as this can cause milk to scald and have a burnt taste.

How long do latte machines last?

A good latte machine should be able to last for years before a replacement is needed, although it depends on how often the item is used as well as the quality of materials it’s made out of. A well-made machine that is used a typical amount and is well maintained can last for up to a decade.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.