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Cafe grade/commercial and some high-end prosumer espresso machines generally utilize a separate boiler for the coffee extraction than the steamer function. They frequently use a Faema E61-style group head (named for the year of its introduction, 1961) along with standard 58mm portafilters and baskets. These machines also usually incorporate a PID unit used to thermostabilize brew temperature to pull consistent espresso shots.
At a $400 base (often on discount for under $350), the Calphalon Temp iQ is one of the best performing and least expensive consumer espresso machines on the market. In addition to an intelligent boiler temperature regulation system, integrated Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) has a built-in warming tray to serve drinks at the proper temperature and an enlarged portafilter to wet the coffee grounds to extract the best flavor adequately. The machine has a built-in milk frother for making lattes and other specialty coffee drinks.  For a $200 upgrade, you can get a version of the machine with an integrated conical burr coffee grinder with 30 adjustable settings. Pros:

Produces a high-quality extractionIntegrated PIDReasonable price

Cons: 

Base model doesn’t have a coffee grinderPortafilter can be difficult to access compared to other models

The Rancilio Silvia (starting at around $775) is the veritable Porsche 911 or Volkswagen of manual home espresso machines – a simple classic design with excellent performance for the money that has not changed fundamentally since its introduction in 1997. It uses a standard 58mm portafilter and accessories (such as brew baskets, tampers, and levelers), employs a single boiler design, and has a vibratory pump. It was my first real espresso machine, and I know many home espresso enthusiasts who still swear by it and have been using Gen 1 machines and easily maintain them by themselves with simple tools. Pros: 

Classic designExtremely modifiable, easy to use, and maintainExcellent crema extraction

Cons: 

If you want to steam milk, you need to switch to steamer mode, which takes a few minutes to heat the boiler to a higher temperatureLearning curve to produce consistent shots without a PID

In the last several years, Breville has been making waves with its Barista line of home espresso drink machines because they integrate a conical burr grinder into the design, providing an all-in-one experience.  The Barista Express is a base-level model ($700) that incorporates “dose control,” which grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of ground coffee directly into the specially-designed portafilter.  The Barista Pro ($800) incorporates an LCD display and integrated PID, making the $100 upgrade well-worth it for more discerning espresso enthusiasts desiring better temperature precision with their extractions and a faster heat-up time to steamer mode.  For another $200, the Barista Touch ($1000) incorporates a color touch screen with 5 pre-programmed drink types with 8 adjustable coffee settings, including programmable milk temperature and texture and an instant hot water dispenser for tea and other drinks. Pros: 

Different machines for different price points and needs

Cons: 

Single boiler designRelatively high-priced if you compare it to a lower-end model when paired with a grinder

Philips Saeco has been making top-notch superautomatic espresso machines for well over a decade, and the price of these systems in recent years has dropped dramatically – the “Lattego” 3200 series with milk dispensing system streets for about $800. By loading the water and milk reservoirs, and the coffee hopper with freshly roasted beans, the machine will make you a pre-programmed perfect latte or espresso at the touch of the button; no messing with settings is required.  Pros: 

Completely automatedIntegrated ceramic grinder, and milk frother/dispenser.

Cons: 

Requires factory repair if maintenance is requiredNeeds a larger amount of countertop space compared to other options

At under $200, the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is the least expensive espresso machine on our list with semi-automatic capabilities. It features a powerful 15-bar pump and integrated milk dispenser/frother with one-touch controls that make it very easy to make your morning drink.  Pros: 

Produces nice espresso drinks at a budget priceMake quality espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes 

Cons: 

Requires a separate grinderMust prime the system properly and clean the frothing unit after each use

If you are inclined to buy an espresso machine without an integrated grinder, you’ll need a good quality conical burr grinder that has many levels of granularity to help you “dial-in” the precise grind that your machine needs to produce a consistent and tight extraction. There are many on the market, but one of the best for the money is Breville’s Smart Grinder Pro, which at around $200 street, is probably one of the best for the average consumer without moving into prosumer or professional-grade models at $500 or higher.  Pros:

60 electronically-selected precise grind settingsDirect grind into 50mm, 54mm, and 58mm portafilters with intelligent dosing

Cons: 

Consumer-grade grinder may not hold up to many years of use

Alternative: Baratza Virtuoso+ ($249) The Baratza Virtuoso is also a very good choice for about $50 more and may be a better choice for heavier use The cheapest E61-style single group head machines for homes or small cafes use heat exchangers instead of a separate boiler for each function, use vibratory pumps, start at around $1400, and have higher wattage circuit requirements than a typical home kitchen appliance. The more expensive prosumer and cafe-grade machines use dual boilers and higher-quality and quieter rotary pumps. 
The cost of these machines is separate from the cost of a burr coffee grinder which starts at around $200and is needed to produce the fine, powdery, tightly packed grinds needed for proper espresso extraction. Because of the high costs of these prosumer setups, and the large variety and price points of machines and grinders in this category, we won’t be covering these here. If you are inclined to purchase a machine of this type, I suggest starting with specialist commerce sites such as Seattle Coffee Gear or Whole Latte Love.
Less-expensive consumer machines listed in this guide have improved at making espresso drinks and have become more reliable in recent years. However, they use smaller, nonstandardized group heads and portafilters than the E61, and in most cases, you will need a separate grinder. Additionally, most of the consumer machines on the market under $700 do not have PIDs. Still, some, such as the Rancilio Siliva and the Gaggia, can be retrofitted, allowing them to produce much more consistent shots approaching professional-level extractions. These retrofit kits can cost about $300 or higher, and some versions of these machines can be purchased with them already installed.