Four first machines we chose, by what they take off your plate
These are not a ranking. They use different roles from the six on our espresso machines hub. "Not stated" means the maker page does not say, and we do not guess. We have not tested these machines.
1Grinder and automatic tamping, fewer skills to learn first
Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876)
Why we chose it: Adds the maker's Impress puck system, which tamps the dose for you, to a built-in grinder.
- Portafilter
- 54 mm, stainless steel
- Built-in grinder
- Conical burr, 25 grind settings
- Puck system
- Impress: 22 lb tamp and a 7° twist, per the maker
- Pump / extraction
- 15 bar pump, 9 bar extraction
Not for you if: Anyone who wants to learn to tamp by hand: the machine does it.
Specs read on the maker page, 2026-11-04.
See on Amazon: Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876)2Smallest Breville: pair it with a grinder you choose
Breville Bambino (BES450)
Why we chose it: A machine-only option: you choose and buy the grinder separately.
- Type
- ThermoJet heating system
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
- Pump / extraction
- 15 bar pump, 9 bar extraction
- Built-in grinder
- None listed
- Milk
- Steam wand (maker page lists steam and hot water controls)
Not for you if: Anyone who wants a grinder in the same machine: the maker page lists none.
Specs read on the maker page, 2026-11-04.
See on Amazon: Breville Bambino (BES450)3Starter kit with tamper and milk jug in the box
De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus (EC950M)
Why we chose it: A compact manual machine whose box holds a tamper, a milk jug and two filter types, with an automatic steam wand.
- Pressure
- 15 bar
- Temperature
- 3 brewing temperatures (Active Temperature Control)
- Milk
- Auto LatteArt automatic steam wand
- In the box
- Tamper, stainless steel portafilter, stainless steel milk jug, single and double wall filters
- Water tank
- 54 oz, per the maker
- Built-in grinder
- None listed
Not for you if: Anyone who wants a grinder in the machine: the maker page lists none. The page we read also does not give the portafilter size.
Specs read on the maker page, 2026-11-04.
See on Amazon: De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus (EC950M)4Slim machine with a cold brew preset
De'Longhi Dedica Duo (EC890)
Why we chose it: An ultra-slim manual machine with three presets, one of them cold brew, for small counters.
- Presets
- 3: Espresso, Double Espresso, Cold Brew
- Controls
- Digital touch display
- Drip tray
- Removable, double height
- Steam
- Cool-touch steam wand
- Built-in grinder
- None listed
Not for you if: Anyone who wants a grinder in the machine. The page we read also gives no portafilter size or pressure, so we cannot say how it compares on those.
Specs read on the maker page, 2026-11-04.
See on Amazon: De'Longhi Dedica Duo (EC890)We chose these from the makers' pages and Amazon listings. Links with an ASIN open that exact listing; the rest open a search for the model, so check the model there. As an Amazon Associate, BaristaBetter earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Side by side
| Product | Heating | Key spec | Built-in grinder | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876) | Not stated on the page we read | 54 mm, 25 grind settings, Impress puck system | Yes (conical burr) | Skipping hand-tamping |
| Breville Bambino (BES450) | ThermoJet | 54 mm portafilter | No | Pairing with your own grinder |
| De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus (EC950M) | Not stated on the page we read | 15 bar, 3 temperatures, 54 oz tank | No | A complete starter set without a grinder |
| De'Longhi Dedica Duo (EC890) | Not stated on the page we read | 3 presets incl. cold brew, slim body | No | Small counters |
What a beginner has to learn, and what each machine does for you
| Job | Barista Express Impress | Bambino | Dedica Maestro Plus | Dedica Duo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinding | Built in, 25 settings | Your own grinder | Your own grinder | Your own grinder |
| Tamping | Impress system tamps for you, per the maker | By hand | By hand; tamper in the box | By hand; tamper not stated on the page we read |
| Steaming milk | Not stated on the page we read | Steam wand | Auto LatteArt automatic wand | Cool-touch steam wand |
| Shot settings | 15 bar pump, 9 bar extraction | 15 bar pump, 9 bar extraction | 15 bar, 3 temperatures | 3 presets incl. cold brew |
That table is why the grinder is the question to settle first. Three of the four have none, and espresso needs a fine, even grind, so budget for one: see the best espresso grinder picks. Our budget setup checklist lists the rest of the kit.
Your first week
Weigh the dose, time the shot and change only the grind. The dial-in guide walks through it, and the espresso ratio calculator gives a starting yield. Descale as the maker says; see how to clean and descale an espresso machine. Weighing Breville against De'Longhi? Read Breville vs De'Longhi.