If you take daily trips to Starbucks (no judgment here!), buying one of the best latte machines may be a great investment for your kitchen. With these handy machines, you can craft a coffee house-worthy latte or cappuccino right in the comfort of your home, without even getting out of your pajamas. 

best latte machines
Credit: Williams-Sonoma

The best latte machines are from popular brands like Mr. Coffee, Nespresso, and Keurig. One of my personal favorites is the Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe, but I also love that you can use any one of these appliances to make a delicious espresso martini or affogato al caffe. It’s a huge win for coffee lovers! 

Ahead, check out the best latte machines for making the perfect espresso drink morning, noon, or night! 

My Top Picks:

  1. Overall Best Latte Machine: Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe – $399.99 at Amazon
  2. What’s In My Kitchen: Breville Oracle Touch – $2,778.99 at Amazon
  3. Best Automatic Latte Machine: De’Longhi Dinamica Plus – $1,495.02 at Amazon
  4. Best Latte Machine for Beginners: Keurig K-Café Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker – $159.98 at Amazon
  5. Best Nespresso Machine for Lattes: Nespresso Gran Lattissima Original Espresso Machine by De’Longhi – $299.99 at Amazon
  6. Best Budget Latte Machine: Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte Maker – $65.46 at Walmart

Reviews of the Best Latte Machines

1. Overall Best Latte Machine: Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe

Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe
Credit: Amazon

This compact pick from Mr. Coffee offers a great overall value! The small but mighty semi-automatic machine can help you handcraft an espresso shot, latte, or cappuccino in minutes. You’re just a button and a short wait away from a tasty drink! 

I love the one-touch control panel that’s located on the top right, which makes things a total breeze. Although it’s not the model I have in my own kitchen (more on that below), one of my favorite features is the versatile milk frother. Not only is it great for dairy milk, but it does a great job of steaming non-dairy ingredients, like oat or almond milk. 

It’s definitely one of the best espresso latte machines I’ve found. While you do need to have a grinder for the beans or buy pre-ground, it also comes with a scoop and a tamper to help you prepare mess-free espresso shots each time. Plus, some parts are dishwasher-safe, which is a huge win!

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Semi-automatic
  • Brewing Functions: One shot/two shot espresso, cappuccino, latte
  • Extra Features: Milk frother
  • Time to Heat: Not specified
  • Pressure Bars: Not published
  • Dimensions: 13.3 x 11.7 x 16 inches

The Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Digital progress bar display
  • Dishwasher safe parts
  • Froths non-dairy milk and creamers
  • Adjustable drip tray for different cup sizes
  • Small footprint takes up minimal counter space

The Cons:

  • Not fully automatic
  • Extra tall travel cups don’t fit
  • Plastic parts can feel flimsy

Buy the Mr. Coffee Prima Latte Luxe:

2. What’s In My Kitchen: Breville Oracle Touch

Breville Oracle Touch
Credit: Amazon

We’ve had this Breville latte machine for less than a year, and it’s already managed to become one of my favorite kitchen tools. As a super-automatic latte machine, it does all the heavy lifting for you, including grinding beans and dosing, but it still offers adjustments for personal preference, like the texture of your milk foam and the strength of your espresso shot. 

You can also adjust the grind, concentration of the espresso, temperature of the water, and temperature of the steamed milk. I also love that it steams your milk instead of frothing it, so you get that super delicate, yummy microfoam you’d find at a coffee house! The quality is AMAZING!

While it’s definitely on the pricier side, I love that all my preferences can be saved so I can repeat my perfect latte every day. There are also a ton of different coffee settings to choose from, ranging from flat white to cappuccino.

My Tips:

I regularly use my latte machine to make Cubano coffee. I put turbinado sugar and a pinch of salt in the bottom of the mug. Then I make an extra-hot double espresso, and when the hot coffee hits the sugar in the mug it caramelizes a little. Then I swirl in steamed milk, and it’s perfect!

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Super-automatic
  • Brewing Functions: One shot/two shot espresso, long black, latte, flat white, cappuccino, hot water
  • Extra Features: Bean grinder, automated grinds dispensing/tamping, milk steamer
  • Time to Heat: 3 seconds
  • Pressure Bars: 9
  • Dimensions: 15.4 x 14.7 x 17.8 inches

The Pros:

  • Easy to set up
  • Accessible for beginners
  • Great tasting espresso
  • Easy to clean
  • Customizable settings
  • Can save your personalized settings

The Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Some customers reported durability issues

Buy the Breville Oracle Touch:

3. Best Automatic Latte Machine: De’Longhi Dinamica Plus

De'Longhi Dinamica Plus
Credit: Amazon

This super automatic latte machine is a workhorse, making it one of the best automatic latte machines for the home. It has some incredible features, like an intuitive touchscreen, tons of brewing functions, and consistently positive reviews for its ease of use, maintenance, and delicious drinks. 

Latte machines can get pretty expensive, but with all of the cool add-ons this one has — like the super-automatic functionality, built-in grinder, automatic ground dispensing, and milk steamer — this one is decently priced, especially in comparison to other models. But if you’re a daily latte drinker or love a large variety of espresso drinks (there are 15 brewing functions!), it more than pays for itself over time.

As a bonus, this latte machine also makes standard coffee in addition to rich espresso shots. This means that it can function as an all-in-one coffee machine, even when you have guests over who aren’t the biggest espresso fans.

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Super-automatic
  • Brewing Functions: Espresso, coffee, long, doppio+, coffee pot, over ice, cappuccino, latte macchiato, cappuccino+, cappuccino mix, hot milk, caffe latte, flat white, espresso macchiato, hot water
  • Extra Features: Bean grinder, automated grinds dispensing/tamping, milk steamer
  • Time to Heat: 40 seconds
  • Pressure Bars: 19
  • Dimensions: 9.3 x 16.9 x 13.7 inches

The Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Can brew full pots of coffee
  • Thermal milk carafe with auto-self-clean function
  • Easy to maintain
  • Makes standard coffee

The Cons:

  • Some customers say it doesn’t get hot enough
  • Some experience water splatter

Buy the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus:

4. Best Latte Machine for Beginners: Keurig K-Café Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker

Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker
Credit: Amazon

If you’re new to hand-crafted coffee drinks and want a latte machine without tons of bells and whistles, I recommend snagging the Keurig K-Café. It’s way more affordable than some of the high-end options available but doesn’t sacrifice functionality, making it the best coffee machine for lattes. I love that it comes with a milk frother that can work with either cold or warm milk, too. 

Instead of having to grind beans, measure, and tamp them down, you can use your favorite K-Cup coffee or espresso pod or even a universal K-Cup filter with your favorite grinds. It’s not quite the same as a standard espresso, but there is a “shot” button that brews a more concentrated serving. You can also brew a regular coffee and craft a milky drink with that, instead. It’s the beginner, wallet-friendly version of the best automatic latte machine above.

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Automatic
  • Brewing Functions: Coffee, latte, cappuccino, hot water
  • Extra Features: Milk frother (warm or cold)
  • Time to Heat: On demand
  • Pressure Bars: not applicable
  • Dimensions: 14.17 x 17.32 x 14.41 inches

The Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Good value
  • Easy to clean
  • Quick brewing
  • Good-quality froth

The Cons:

  • Some customers find the temperature not to be hot enough
  • Doesn’t make “real” espresso

Buy the Keurig K-Café Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker:

5. Best Nespresso Machine for Lattes: Nespresso Gran Lattissima Original Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

Nespresso Gran Lattissima Original Espresso Machine by De'Longhi
Credit: Amazon

Nespresso is a favorite brand for at-home espresso drinkers. It’s no surprise, since the machines use convenient pre-packaged capsules and high pressure to make an espresso-like coffee that’s stronger than regular drip. 

This model in particular has easy-to-use button controls and a built-in cleaning system that works between recipe preparations to keep the machine in great shape. It comes with a detachable milk frother that can be used for three settings (espresso macchiato, cappuccino, and latte macchiato), while the machine itself has two brewing functions, espresso and lungo. Plus, I love that the detachable milk frother is dishwasher-safe.

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Automatic
  • Brewing Functions: Espresso, lungo 
  • Extra Features: Milk frother, descaling arm 
  • Time to Heat: 18 seconds or 33 seconds for milk beverages
  • Pressure Bars: 19
  • Dimensions: 7.9 x 14.4 x 10.8 inches

The Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Small
  • Simple, clean design
  • Adjustable drip tray for different cup sizes

The Cons:

  • May produce bitter espresso shots 
  • Some customers find the temperature not to be hot enough

Buy the Nespresso Gran Lattissima Original Espresso Machine by De’Longhi:

6. Best Budget Latte Machine: Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso, Cappuccino & Latte Maker

Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso, Cappuccino & Latte Maker
Credit: Walmart

This lower-priced option tops my list for budget-conscious aspiring-at-home baristas. Unlike a traditional pump espresso maker, this is a steam espresso maker, so it has fewer bars of pressure. Despite this, it makes dark, rich espresso — in fact, it can make up to four shots in one serving! It’s also great for making Cuban coffee, a type of strong, sweetened espresso. 

With a super simple button interface, it’s also very easy to use. Plus, with its affordable price point, I love that it has a steaming arm for milk instead of a frother so you can get those foamy microbubbles.

The Specs:

  • Machine Type: Semi-automatic
  • Brewing Functions: One shot/two shot/four-shot espresso, cappuccino, latte
  • Extra Features: Milk frother
  • Time to Heat: Not stated 
  • Pressure Bars: 1-3
  • Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.8 x 12.4 inches

The Pros:

  • Small
  • Easy to use
  • Good value 
  • Affordable price point

The Cons:

  • Milk frother works best with 1% or skim milk

Buy the Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso, Cappuccino & Latte Maker:

Other Latte Machines We Researched

Breville Bambino Plus

This semi-automatic espresso machine has a milk steamer that can be set for auto or manual operation. It takes just three seconds to heat up (crazy fast!), but the top temp is only 200°F, so it might not get hot enough for some espresso lovers. It may also be difficult to maintain this model long-term because replacement parts are often sold out and repairing the lightweight, plastic parts can be expensive or just plain pesky. The Breville Bambino Plus is available at Amazon for $499.95.

Calphalon Temp IQ with Steam Wand

When you need to get out the door quickly but can’t leave without your morning cappuccino (been there!), this machine has your back with a heat-up time of less than a minute. This one is slightly different from the others I reviewed because it has a dial interface, instead of quick and easy buttons or a touchscreen. Additionally, there are mixed reviews about the machine’s quality and drink temperature, so I didn’t want to recommend this as a top favorite. The Calphalon Temp IQ is available at Target for $349.99.

Keurig K-Latte Single Serve Coffee & Latte Maker

This is a pretty simple coffee and latte maker. Similar to the K-Café model we picked above, this model also uses K-Cup pods or a universal K-Cup filter. We like that the milk frother arm flips up when it’s not in use to save some space. However, the K-Latte model can only fill 6-, 8- or 10-ounce cups, whereas the K-Café can fill cups of up to 12 ounces. Some users have also reported performance issues, too. The Keurig K-Latte Single Serve Coffee and Latte Maker is available at Walmart for $127.72.

Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ Espresso, Cappuccino & Latte Maker

This semi-automatic espresso machine takes easy serving espresso (ESE) pods, which means it removes the guesswork out of grounds dosage and tamping. It makes one-shot and two-shot espressos with a large, 18-ounce removable milk frother for cappuccinos and lattes. People love how easy it is to use, but there are mixed opinions about temperature, performance, and quality. The Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse+ is available at Amazon for $349.99.

Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System

This Ninja model can produce different strengths of espresso-like brews and even works with K-Cup pods (it comes with the necessary adapter) or a standard filter for your favorite ground coffee. I like that it has a water reservoir that can be mounted on different parts of the machine, but there were a lot of complaints about residue build-up, which means you’ll have to clean it more often than your average home latte machine. The Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System is available at Target for $179.99.

Why You Can Trust Me

best latte machines
Credit: A Spicy Perspective

Hi! I’m Sommer, the founder of A Spicy Perspective. I’m a professional food writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer, and have worked to create TONS of recipes over the years to share with my wonderful readers! I love cooking things that bring back happy memories from my past, and foods from places I’ve traveled. And if the perfect morning cappuccino doesn’t evoke memories of an Italian adventure, I don’t know what would!

I’m a big coffee fan, but I know that running out to your local coffee house every day can get pricey, and fast. Even if you’re an espresso-lover like me, I’ve found that you can make incredible lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso-based drinks (like my 3-Ingredient Affogato Bourbon Shots!) right at home with the help of the best latte machines.

What to Know About Latte Machines

Glass of coffee
Credit: A Spicy Perspective

What to Consider Before Buying a Latte Machine

Before purchasing the best latte machine, you’ll want to consider some other factors, like the type of machine and features. 

Machine type

Espresso shots are usually the basis of latte machines. Generally, there are four different types: manual, semi-automatic, automatic, and super-automatic. 

  • Manual means that the person controls all parts of the brewing process, from grinding beans, dosing, and tamping the puck, to adding water and physically pulling a lever that “pulls” (a.k.a. makes) the shot.
  • Semi-automatic models mean the user is still responsible for grinding beans, dosing, and tamping, as well as controlling the water input for the pull. But instead of a lever, all they have to do is press a button to activate an internal pump that pushes the water through to pull the shot.
  • Automatic machines generally have reservoirs for water and are capable of managing that output and pull time based on whatever brewing function (latte, cappuccino, espresso, and so on) the user selects. These machines might require the user to grind, dose, and tamp, or they might use a pre-made pod or capsule.
  • A super-automatic machine does it all, from grinding the beans, to dosing and tamping them, to adding water and managing brewing time, and may even have a built-in spot to dispense of the used puck (espresso grounds) when the process is complete.

Brewing functions

A basic espresso machine will generally offer options for one or two shots, with some offering up to four shots in a single pull. However, latte machines take things a step further by offering different espresso-drink types, such as cappuccinos and lattes, which introduce milk into the recipe.

If you’re just looking to have a simple latte, make your own Cuban coffee, or enjoy a shot of espresso with dessert, a simple machine might be the way to go. But if you want variety to spice up your drink menu, keep an eye out for a latte machine that can do more (like the super automatics).

Milk frothing 

You can’t have a latte machine without a milk steamer or frother. After all, the milk is what makes the drink! Milk frothers tend to create a thicker foam, whereas steamed milk will be finer and more delicate with a velvety texture. Some frothers have the ability to create hot and cold milk drinks. If you’re into iced lattes, that feature is something to consider.

Heating time 

If you don’t necessarily need to worry about how long it takes to make a good espresso drink, the machine’s heating time may not be super important to you. However, if your morning routine is programmed down to the minute, you’ll likely want a machine that can heat up fast. . Not all machines do this at the same rate — some are much quicker or slower than others, with the average being around 1-2 minutes.

Pressure bars

The pressure-bars number represents the pressure that water is pushed through the espresso grinds, with nine bars being the ideal pressure, or at a pressure that is nine times that of the natural atmosphere, according to HomeGrounds.co. The higher the pressure, the faster espresso is extracted from the grounds. The recommended extraction time for espresso is between 25-30 seconds.

Some of the machines reviewed here have more bars. The reality is, most machines lose pressure between the pump and the group head, so while the process might start at 15 or 19 bars, you will actually brew at around nine bars.

Dimensions

There’s no magic number here other than to consider how much space you have on your counter for a latte machine. These can range in size from relatively small and portable to a massive fixture in your kitchen.

How to Use a Latte Machine

Caramel latte
Credit: A Spicy Perspective

How you use a latte machine largely depends on whether you’re using a semi-automatic, automatic, or super-automatic model. However, there are some basic steps that you’ll take: 

1. If warranted, you’ll grind your espresso beans, measure a dose, tamp it down, and use water and pressure to pull an espresso shot. The process may vary based on what machine you’re using, so make sure to read through the instructions for your specific latte machine.

2. Steam or froth your milk.

3. Pour your espresso shot into your cup and follow it up with milk. If you want a flavored latte, you can even purchase yummy coffee syrups to sweeten your latte.

Mexican coffee
Credit: A Spicy Perspective

How to Make a Latte at Home Without a Machine 

A latte is a beverage made with espresso and steamed milk with a little bit of foam. The ratio is approximately a third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk, topped with foam. If you don’t have a latte machine, or even an espresso machine, you can still make a latte at home.

The quickest way to do it is by brewing strong coffee by using less water than normal. While the coffee is brewing, heat up your favorite milk. You can do this by putting it in a mason jar and giving it a shake for an iced latte, or pouring some into a saucepan over the stovetop, warm it up, place it in an insulated bottle, and then give it a vigorous shake. You can also whisk the milk while it’s in the pan, but it won’t give you the same foamy texture you’ll get from shaking it up. 

Once your milk is prepared, you can pour a small amount of your strong coffee into a mug or cup. Then top with double the amount of shaken milk and spoon any foam you have on top.

How to Clean a Latte Machine

Many of the fancier latte machines have built-in settings to clean the system between recipes to prevent clogs and calcium build-ups. However, any removable parts should be disassembled and either hand-washed or run through the dishwasher (check your owner’s manual). Keurig is one brand that doesn’t have self-cleaning features, so those machines need a little extra attention to make sure they’re in good shape.

The easiest way to clean a Keurig latte machine is to remove the water reservoir, lid, drip tray, and K-cup holder. There’s usually a filter inside the water reservoir, so you’ll want to remove it and set it aside while you hand wash all the other parts in warm, soapy water. Then rinse everything thoroughly and towel dry.

According to Keurig, descaling is also an important part of cleaning your brewer. This process removes calcium deposits, or scale, that can build up inside over time. Calcium and scale are non-toxic, but when left unattended, they can hinder your brewer’s performance. 

Can You Make a Chai Latte with a Nespresso Machine? 

You can definitely make a chai latte with a Nespresso machine with a little finessing. You’ll start by brewing the espresso shot of your choice. If you’re using a standard machine without a milk steamer or frother, you’ll have to heat the milk in a pan and give it a vigorous stir with a whisk. 

Otherwise, you’ll use your Nespresso latte machine to heat and texturize the milk. Once your milk is warm, let a chai tea bag infuse in the milk for approximately five minutes. Put the espresso shot in a mug or glass, then pour the infused milk in (remove the tea bag, first!), and top with any foam you have.

The Best Coffee & Latte Recipes 

best latte machines
Credit: A Spicy Perspective

There are SO many different ways you can use your latte machine to create delicious drinks all from home. Because the basis of your machine is making espresso or rich coffee, there’s no limit to how creative you can get! Here are some of my favorite coffee and latte recipes.

Prices were accurate at the time of publication. 

Share This Recipe With Friends!