Getting a great cup of espresso is one of life’s little joys. The strong flavor of the brew and the creamy, rich crema cap is like nothing else. The best espresso machine under 200 will be a device that has more of the luxury features than a lower cost machine. It will not have all the features of a far more expensive machine though. What it will have are solid and well-made internal mechanics, an attractive exterior and a well-rounded set of features.
These three machines are some of the nicest devices on the market at this price point. They all offer you a great cup of espresso. At this price, you will also start to see the nicer touches found only on higher end products as well. Here you start seeing solid metal trim and precision components, for example.
- See more: The best Espresso Machines under 100 Dollars
The Best Home Espresso Machine Under 200 Dollars
Plastic
Semi-Automatic
12.6 x 4.7 x 9 inches
5,3 pounds
Black, White, Red, Silver, Pacific Blue, Titan
Aluminum (Material)
Super-Automatic
12.8 x 4.3 x 9.2 inches
15 pounds
Titan (Color)
Stainless Steel
Semi-Automatic
12 x 14 x 12.2 inches
9 pounds
Stainless Steel, Red, White
The Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker
The Nespresso Pixie is a middle price range machine. It is tiny, at 12.83 inches long by 4.33 inches wide and 9 inches tall. It weighs a little over nine pounds. It features sleek avant-garde design in silver aluminum and black plastic. It comes with a standard one year warranty.
This machine is more than capable of replacing your daily coffee shop run. It makes good coffee, quickly. These capsule machines are not like standard weak American coffee capsule machines. They produce a dark and rich drink, complete with crema. Unlike machines that don’t take capsules, these machines run with minimal fuss and mess. There is no messing with tampers and grounds! Nespresso commands a strong brand loyalty with high end coffee lovers for these reasons.
Features:
- Thermoblock Heating Technology. Ready to brew in 25 seconds.
- Folding style drip tray for short and tall coffee cups.
- Easy to program in your preferred brew volume.
- Neat red LED back-lighting to warn you that your tank is low on water.
- Used capsule container holds ten empty capsules.
- Programmable buttons for espresso and lungo.
- Easy to remove 24 ounce water tank.
- Powerful high pressure 19 bar pump for café style results.
The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker
Available in black, steel-gray, red, white, blue or a light gray, the Nespresso Inissia is built to complement any kitchen décor. This is a small machine with a tiny footprint. It weighs a little over five pounds and measures 12.6 inches tall by 4.7 inches wide by 9 inches long. This model comes with a standard one year warranty.
Nespresso machines use pre-made capsules. These come in a variety of flavors and blends to suit every taste. They are also available in easy to recycle aluminum. The Innissia is one of the lower priced options in this luxury lineup. Users love them for their simplicity and rich coffee.
Features:
- Easy to insert and eject Nespresso coffee capsules.
- Compact brewing technology that is capable of heating up in under 25 seconds.
- Powerful 19 bar pressure pump for tasty beverages.
- Easy to program buttons for both espresso and lungo.
- Easy to refill or remove 24 ounce water tank.
- Adjustable cup tray holds either tall or short coffee glasses.
- Handy used capsule container holds up to 11 used capsules.
- Class A energy rating. Automatic shut off after nine minutes.
Mr Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso Maker with Milk Frother, Model BVMC-ECMP1000
The Mr Coffee Cafe Barista comes in black, in red and in white with aluminum accents. This machine is very versatile. It has a number of features found on more expensive machines, such as an automatic milk frother and customize-able controls for espresso, cappuccino and lattes. It measures 12 inches by 14 inches by 12.2 inches. It weighs nine pounds. It comes with a typical one year warranty.
The Cafe Barista can brew up single or double shots of espresso , cappuccino or latte. This machine has a built-in automatic milk frother for homemade cappuccino to rival any you’d buy in a café. The control panel is simple. It is easy to get the drink that you want, the first time. This machine also uses any kind of coffee grounds that you’d like.
Features:
- One Touch control panel for complete control over your espresso, latte or cappuccino.
- One button push to clean machine after use.
- Can brew a single shot or double shots at the same time.
- Easy to clean removable milk reservoir. It’s also safe to store milk in the container in your refrigerator.
- Programmable custom brewing controls.
- Adjustable cup shelves easily accommodate all sizes of coffee cup, from short espresso cup to a tall latte glass.
- High pressure 15 bar pump system.
- Not tied to expensive pod or capsule brewing systems.
- Water reservoir is removable for easy cleaning and refilling.
- Removable drip tray is café style and easy to clean.
Comparison of the Machines
Each machine has its own strengths and weaknesses. They all have similar manufacture’s warranties. The smallest of the machines is the Nespresso Pixie with the Inissia just a hair larger. The Mr. Coffee machine is by far the largest. Both of the Nespresso machines only take capsules. The Mr. Coffee machine is the only one that can use any grounds you or I might want.
Don’t count either the Inissia or Pixie out because they require coffee capsules! The Nespresso brand commands loyalty for a reason, they make a good product. While serious espresso enthusiasts may quickly spend a lot of money on the capsules, most of us will still find them more economical than a serious coffee café addiction. Many cost conscious coffee lovers opt for non-brand named capsules for their machines. You can also find reusable capsules that you can fill with your favorite grounds.
The Mr. Coffee machine is the loudest of the three. I chalk this up to it being the only one that offers real milk frothing. The other two can’t froth milk, they just brew up a good cup. The other two machines do offer slightly more pump pressure than the Mr. Coffee machine. It’s not really enough to affect taste.
The Best Espresso Machine Under $200
Selecting the best espresso machine under 200 dollars is mostly a matter of personal taste. At this price point you are getting a solid machine that will give you a great cup of coffee. These three machines are some of the best on the market. I have a hard time choosing between them.
I really like the convenience and good looks of the Pixie. But I also really like the frothy milk and custom options on the Mr. Coffee machine. Both of these machines cost around the same, but the Mr. Coffee does offer more features for the price. I find the Pixie is best for an early morning wake up cup of espresso while the Mr. Coffee machine is more suited to a relaxing latte in the afternoon.
Both the Pixie and the Inissia look more like typical home appliances. They also come in a wider color palette to match your other kitchen goods. The Mr. Coffee machine looks a bit more like something a professional barista might use. All three look quite at home in just any espresso lover’s home.
Espresso Machine Reviews Conclusion
Which brewer is best for you is something that I cannot tell you. I can say that each of these machines has made a lot of people very happy with a fine cup of café style brew. And, I’d be very happy to receive a drink from any of these machines. It all comes down to what you need the machine for.
The least expensive Nespresso Inissia is small and tidy enough for office or home use. It is good-looking, but not so flashy as to attract too much attention (Buy It at Amazon Now!). The fancier Pixie provides the same functionality, but looks much nicer on my counter-top. I also like the easy capsule brew system. It’s just so easy (Buy It at Amazon Now!).
The Mr. Coffee machine approaches espresso differently. I like this machine because it lets me do far more than the other two machines (Buy It at Amazon Now!). I really like having frothed milk for my lattes and cappuccino. I also like being able to just tamper in any grounds that I choose. It also looks far more involved that it actually is, making it more impressive to your guests. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.