5 Best Latte Machines to Help Get Your Starbucks Fix at Home
Channel your inner barista!
If there is one thing the quarantine has taught us (besides that we’re capable of baking really delicious bread and dry shampoo is amazing), it’s that the Starbucks addiction we once joked about was absolutely real. With many coffee shops across the country closed due to social distancing requirements, we’re left to fend for ourselves and find new ways to get our caffeine fix. Luckily, a simple-to-use latte machine makes it easy to recreate your favorite coffee drinks at home.
What Machine Makes the Best Latte?
Whether you’re trying a new coffee-based diet or have an appreciation for finer brews, the best latte machine will allow you to create Barista-quality coffee from the comfort of your home. Depending on your preferences, a reliable machine will provide you with the option to customize your temperature, milk foam levels, and coffee strength without the added accessories.
What is The Best Machine For At-Home Use?
While taste is a big factor to consider, you’ll also want to take into consideration your kitchen space. For larger areas you can get away with machine that’s more bulky, but if you’re short on counter space, then consider a more compact design.
Below are five espresso machines that will turn you into a master barista with the press of a button. And when the pandemic is over, you’ll be free of your Starbucks addiction and will save a ton of money making your own grande skim caramel macchiato from scratch.
Check out our handy guide for how to make a latte at home once you’ve snagged your dream espresso machine!
The Best Latte Machines
Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker
Best combo latte machine
Buy on Amazon ($169.99, originally $199.99)
Why we like it:
- Similar to regular Keurig machine
- Comes with dishwasher safe milk frother
- Customizable foam
If you’re a K-Cup lover but want barista-style lattes, this is the machine for you. Just as you do with a regular Keurig, simply pop in a K-cup and use the button-controls to customize your brew. What sets this apart from other pod machines is its dishwasher-safe milk frother. Fill it with milk and select the type of foam you crave (settings are for cold brew, cappuccino, and latte). Then add it to your coffee and enjoy!
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “The frother is astonishing! I’m still not entirely sure how that little booger works: but within a minute, half & half in a room temperature frothing mug [becomes] the consistency of shaving cream. Just fill it to the appropriate line, put the lid on and hit the button. Done.”
De’Longhi Nespresso
Best Single Serve Latte Machine
Why we like it:
- Has a built-in milk frother
- Added pump extracts all the flavors
- Prevents a watered-down brew
If you prefer lattes, espressos, and cappuccinos to coffee, this is your machine. The built-in milk frother adds steamed milk to the coffee as it brews for the perfect, single-cup barista blend. The high-performance pump extracts all the flavors, so you won’t have to worry about a watered-down brew.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “It takes 25 seconds to have a wonderful espresso and about 35 seconds to have a cappuccino. What a fantastic world! Small appliance that doesn’t take up lots of counter space and looks elegant.”
SowTech Espresso Machine
Best Latte Machine Under $100
Why we like it:
- Customizable milk temperature
- Space-saving design
- Frothing arm allows more control
Besides the amazing price, this little machine makes a big brew — all with just a single knob. The frothing arm allows you to steam milk to the temperature you want. The Sowtech won’t take up space on your counter like other models, but it will give you the most caffeine bang for your buck.
One Walmart reviewer wrote, “The coffee tastes good! The frother works well! Cleaning is a breeze!”
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine
Best Pod Latte Machine
Buy on Amazon ($320.71, originally $350.99)
Why we like it:
- Makes up to 15 different coffees
- Includes an LED touchscreen
- Provides automatic service reminders
This space-age-looking machine uses NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto capsules to make up to 15 coffee creations (basically everything on the Starbucks menu). An easy-to-use LED touchscreen walks you through the process of making your coffee drink, and a WiFi connection provides automatic service reminders and machine care Instructions.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I will admit that I was hesitant to order this machine [due to] the cost … and I didn’t want another failed attempt at my at home drinks. I LITERALLY CRIED AFTER I TASTED THESE DRINKS!!! Using the plain latte macchiato capsules and vanilla coffee syrup, they tasted exactly like a caramel macchiato from Starbucks but they were a fraction of the cost!”
Breville the Barista Express Espresso Machine
Best Commercial Latte Machine
Why we like it:
- Personalize the bean size
- Hand texture the micro foam milk
- Provides coffee shop-quality brews
This is the Cadillac of espresso machines and is guaranteed to give you the most authentic coffee shop brew. Breville’s dose control knob grinds the beans to any size, controlling the strength of your coffee. The steam wand performance allows you to hand texture micro foam milk so you can even create Instagram-worthy latte art.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “We love our Breville machine. We got rid of all of our other coffee machines and replaced it with this one. There is nothing better than a Starbucks / second cup quality latte, at a fraction of the cost.”
