The Your Home and Garden team is often asked this question: What’s the best espresso machine in New Zealand?
From testing and trialling a variety of machines from trusted coffee brands, we can confidently say that the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about finding an espresso machine that suits your lifestyle and coffee preferences.
Espresso machines work by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee to create a bold, velvety base for café-style drinks like flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes. They come in several types: manual machines for complete control, semi-automatic machines, and fully automatic machines for coffee at the push of a button. There are also pod machines, such as those made by De’Longhi and Breville for Nespresso, which are popular for their quick, mess-free, and consistently reliable brewing.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic espresso machines in New Zealand to help you find your perfect match. The only thing left for you to decide? Which local coffee beans will fill your cup.
The best espresso machines in New Zealand
Sunbeam Compact Barista Espresso Machine
$168.42 (usually $291.69) at Sunbeam Amazon storefront
The best compact coffee machine for small kitchens and apartment benchtops
Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 1L
Accessories included: 1 portafilter, one cup and two cup dual wall filter baskets, tamper measuring spoon, milk jug
Key features:
- Cup warming tray
- Fast heating water system
- In-built temperature controller for optimum espresso and stream
- Auto Shot function for single and double espresso shots (or manually control the pour by holding the button down)
- Cafe style steam wand for creating microfoam texture
- Use with pre-ground coffee or purchase a separate grinder (no integrated grinder)
Available at:
- $168.42 (usually $291.69) at Sunbeam Amazon storefront
- $357.01 at Mighty Ape
Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine
$1,099.99 at Ninja
The best smart espresso machine to bring the cafe to your kitchen benchtop
Type: Smart semi-automatic/assisted espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 2L
Accessories included: Portafilter, single, double and luxe baskets, funnel, tamper, milk jug, cleaning accessories
Colours: Stainless steel, Midnight black, Gunmetal, Cyberspace blue
Key features:
- Built-in grinder and scales for weight-based dosing
- Makes espresso, cold brew, and filter coffee
- Hands-free or manual milk frothing
- Four milk froth presets: steamed milk, thin froth, thick froth, and cold foam
- Works with dairy and plant-based milk
- Mug warmer
- In-built accessory storage
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy clean-up
Available at:
- $1,099.99 at Ninja
- $1,099.99 at Mighty Ape
- From $709.86 at Ninja Amazon storefront
KF8 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
$2,899 at KitchenAid
The best fully automatic espresso machine for busy individuals seeking convenience and style
Type: Fully automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 2.2L
Accessories included: Spoon, cleaning tablets
Colours: Porcelain (gloss finish), cast iron black (crinkle finish)
Key features:
- Removable bean hopper
- User-friendly touchscreen to select and personalise 40+ preset drinks, alongside customised user profiles
- Works with dairy and plant-based milk
- Automatic milk frothing
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next Fully Automatic Coffee Machine
$1,449 at De’Longhi
Type: Fully automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 1.8L
Accessories included:
Colour: Titanium black
Key features:
- User-friendly display
- 13 preset drinks with personalised options (5 sizes, 4 levels of intensity, and 3 temperature options), alongside customised user profiles
- LatteCrema Hot Technology produces a fine, rich foam
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy clean-up
Sunbeam Barista Max Espresso Coffee Machine
$355.66 at Sunbeam Amazon storefront
The best semi-automatic coffee machine for budding baristas with a penchant for latte art
Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 2.8L
Accessories included: Portafilter, One cup and two cup single wall filter baskets, milk jug, cleaning accessories
Colours: Silver or black
Key features:
- Integrated, on-demand grinder with 30 settings (fine to coarse) to adjust for taste
- Dry steam wand for silky, textured milk that’s cool-to-touch for safety
- Large cafe-inspired 58mm group head to extract more flavour from your coffee
Breville The Barista Touch Impress
$2,299.95 at Breville
Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 2L
Accessories included: Portafilter, one and two cup single and dual wall filter baskets, milk jug, razor trimming tool, cleaning accessories
Colour: Brushed stainless steel, black truffle, or sea salt white
De’Longhi Rivelia Fully Automatic Coffee Machine
$1,899 at De’Longhi
The best espresso machine for changing up coffee strengths or to decaf on a whim
Type: Fully automatic espresso machine
Water tank capacity: 1.4L
Accessories included: Two interchangeable bean hoppers
Colours: Grey, black, or white
Key features:
- Two bean hoppers for easy switching
- Bean adapt technology optimises flavour by adapting grind, dose, and brewing temperature
- User-friendly touchscreen display
- 16 preset drinks with personalised options, alongside customised user profiles
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup
Available at:
- $1,899 at De’Longhi
- $1,117.27 at De’Longhi Amazon storefront
De’Longhi La Specialista Touch Manual Coffee Machine
$1,499.99 at De’Longhi
The best smart coffee machine for home baristas in training
Type: Semi-automatic (manual with smart assistance)
Water tank capacity: 1.8L
Accessories included: Tamper, milk jug
Key features:
- Bean adapt technology optimises flavour by adapting grind, dose, and brewing temperature
- Cold brew functionality
- Precision grinding with 15 settings and guidance
- User-friendly touchscreen display
- Cool-touch steam wand for safety
- Intelligent milk texturing for dairy and plant-based milk
- Customisable milk temperature and frothing levels
Available at:
- $1,499.99 at De’Longhi
- $889.09 at De’Longhi Amazon storefront
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