Best Prosumer Espresso Machines: Ready to Step Up?

I’m fully aware that lots of my Coffeeness readers are ready to take their home espresso game to the next level. If you’ve outgrown your entry-level machine, this guide to the best prosumer espresso machines is for you.

I’ve compiled a list of awesome machines, all of which are capable of producing the best espresso possible. As a bonus I’ll also give you a few pointers on what to look for in a prosumer espresso machine.

Incidentally, you’ll notice that I’ve linked to Seattle Coffee Gear for most of my picks. That’s because I feel like those guys are the best choice if you’re buying a prosumer machine. Trust me, they really know their stuff. 

So, if you’re hankering after the ultimate home barista setup, sit back, relax and let me take you on a journey through the wonderful world of prosumer espresso machines!

Best Prosumer Espresso Machines at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at the best prosumer espresso machines we’ll be looking at today:

What Is a Prosumer Espresso Machine?

In case you haven’t already figured it out, the word “prosumer” is a mashup of “professional” and “consumer.” Essentially, prosumer machines use components commonly found in commercial espresso machines, while still being aimed toward the home espresso market.

I guess you could say switching from an appliance-grade machine to a prosumer model would be like upgrading from coach to business class. In short, a prosumer espresso machine will allow you to produce cafe-quality espresso and milk foam.

Rather than relying on a single boiler or thermoblock, a prosumer machine often gets its super powers from dual boilers or a heat exchanger boiler. This means you’ll be able to brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously. Plus, you’ll be guaranteed better performance and temperature stability, which means you’ll be able to brew back-to-back shots with more consistency.

Sounds pretty great, right? Well, if you’re serious about honing your espresso skills, a prosumer espresso machine is the way to go. However, you’ll need to spend a decent chunk of cash to get into one of these machines. Not only that, without a burr coffee grinder that’s good enough for espresso, you might as well forget it.

How to Choose a Prosumer Espresso Machine

Now that you know what a prosumer espresso machine is, the questions about what to look for are likely coming thick and fast. Well, fear not – I’m out ahead of you! Let’s take a gander at a few things to consider as you start to narrow down your search.

Boiler

For the most part, the best prosumer espresso machines are equipped with either a heat exchanger or dual boilers. By the way, you’re going to get excellent results with either option.

A heat exchanger boiler features a small isolated section inside that constantly circulates water out and around the group head. This cools the water to the right temperature for brewing. Meanwhile, the rest of the boiler’s water is kept at the right temperature for steaming milk.

Although that means you can brew and steam at the same time, heat exchangers do have disadvantages. The biggest downside is that the overall temperature will increase over time. Still, a simple cooling flush will take care of that issue.

Having dual boilers is your best bet. Seeing as there are dedicated boilers for steam and brewing, you’ll never have to perform a cooling flush. Plus, you can often control the temperature of each boiler independently. Still, dual boiler espresso machines are usually much more expensive.

PID vs Pressurestat

You may have heard of PID controllers – they’re actually quite common on appliance-grade machines. Incidentally, PID stands for Proportional Integral Derivative. There. Now you know. Anyway, a PID controller is a super accurate way of adjusting and maintaining temperature, although it can make an espresso machine more expensive.

On the other hand, a pressurestat is a simpler, more old school device that turns off the heating element once it reaches a certain threshold. When the temperature drops, the pressurestat kicks the element back on. As you might imagine, this can lead to some inconsistencies, although an E61 group head will smooth these out.

Group Head

Speaking of the E61 group head, let’s take a moment to appreciate its ingenious design. There’s a reason this type of exposed group head is so popular in heat exchanger and dual boiler espresso machines. In fact, it’s kind of the gold standard.

Thanks to its chrome plated brass construction and unique design, pressure builds up gradually, allowing for natural pre infusion. Plus, temperature inside remains incredibly stable because water is constantly flowing between the group head and boiler.

Other group heads can work just as well, with a shorter heating time. Still, the E61 is kind of where it’s at in my opinion!

Other Considerations

While I’ve just covered the main things to look for in a prosumer espresso machine, there are a few other considerations to take into account.

The 10 Best Prosumer Espresso Machines

Now that you’ve got a clearer idea of what to look for in a prosumer espresso machine, let’s get down to business. Oh, and I’m sticking to the rule I set for myself in my home espresso machine guide. Namely, that there has to be some kind of price ceiling involved.

So, none of the best prosumer espresso machines on my list cost more than $3,000. Anything more than that is just silly money, and out of the range of most people.

Rancilio Silvia Pro X

The original Rancilio Silvia has to be one of my all time favorite espresso machines. Still, getting to grips with it involves a lot of time and patience.

Enter the Rancilio Silvia Pro X, which takes the cult classic to new heights. Sure, you’ll have to shell out a whopping $1,990.00 for the Pro X model, but what you get is truly impressive.

For starters, this is a dual boiler machine, so you can pull a shot and steam milk at the same time. What’s more, there are dual PID controllers for maintaining accurate temperature. These can be adjusted to-the-degree via a digital display. Incidentally, the display doubles as a shot timer which is a nice touch.

The Rancilio Silvia Pro X also features a pressure gauge, which I always like to see. Best of all, Rancilio has equipped the Silvia Pro X with a pre-infusion function that can be switched on or off. To round things out, the Rancilio Silvia Pro X has a wake up function, so you can program the thing to start heating at a predetermined time. I can see that being very convenient, and I’m definitely thinking of upgrading to this version!

See Also: Rancilio Pro X Review

Ascaso Steel DUO PID

Spanish manufacturer Ascaso has been in the espresso machine business for a long time. The Ascaso Steel DUO PID really highlights the quality and attention to detail that has brought the company so much success. Plus, for $1,895.00, this prosumer espresso machine represents true value for money.

Featuring solid stainless steel construction and a satisfyingly boxy design, the Steel DUO PID is going to look great in any kitchen. I also love the walnut handle on the 58 millimeter portafilter.

As far as performance goes, this machine features dual PID-controlled thermoblocks. Seeing as you’re able to control the temperatures, switching between brewing and steaming is a breeze. Best of all, the machine allows you to program a range of parameters, including pre infusion and shot times. Heck, you can even manually change pump pressure via an adjustable OPV valve screw.

Ultimately, the Ascaso Steel DUO PID is an affordable and high-performing machine that’s ideal for espresso experimentation.

See Also: Ascaso Steel Duo Review

Lelit Mara X

Italian manufacturer Lelit is well-known for producing a premium range of fantastic prosumer espresso machines and the Lelit Mara X is no exception.

Costing around $1,700.00 at Seattle Coffee Gear, this compact and elegant espresso machine is available in a range of stylish colors. I absolutely love the Mara X’s durable stainless steel construction and clean lines – this baby sure is easy on the eyes!

As for its performance, the Lelit Mara X really delivers. The manufacturer has included a ton of thoughtful features, including adjustable temperature settings, automatic preinfusion and a dual manometer that displays both pump and steam pressure.

What’s more, Lelit has included a sophisticated probe system that ensures temperature stability – something usually missing from heat exchanger machines. Oh, and there’s a PID controller on board, just for good measure.

Finally, the Lelit Mara X features two brew modes, one that prioritizes steam power and another for pulling back-to-back shots without cooling flushes. What can I say? This is a superb little espresso machine that’ll please newbies and experts alike.

See Also: Lelit Mara X Review

Nuova Simonelli Oscar II

Costing just $1,495.00, the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II is one of the most affordable options on this best prosumer espresso machines list.

Personally, I just love how this machine looks, though I imagine not everyone will love its retro futuristic vibe. Still, what’s important is that the shiny stainless steel housing makes this a durable workhorse.

The Oscar II is equipped with a 68 ounce (2 liter) heat exchanger boiler, and eschews the famous E61 in favor of a thermosiphon group head. Fortunately, this style is just as effective at maintaining consistent temperature.

Interestingly, the Oscar II uses timed dosing, which is programmed using buttons on the control panel. Frustratingly, there’s no manual mode, though an easy workaround is just to set the time to 60 seconds and stop the shot manually.

Although this Nuova Simonelli beauty has no hot water outlet, the steam wand is powerful and effective. I happen to love the ergonomic steam lever, which makes operating the frothing wand very straightforward.

See Also: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II Review

La Pavoni Professional

Let’s just say that the La Pavoni PC-16 isn’t for everyone. However, if you’re the type of home barista who relishes a challenge, this prosumer espresso machine might be for you. And let’s not gloss over the fact that the La Pavoni Professional is a gorgeous work of art; if anything is going to impress your friends it’s this manual lever machine.

Looks aside, the La Pavoni Professional is capable of producing sublime espresso. Still, you’ll need to invest a lot of time learning the intricacies of how different factors affect your shot’s outcome. What’s more, you’ll have to invest $1,199.00 for the privilege.

Fortunately, the pressure gauge really helps when it comes to dialing in. Plus, the 38 ounce (1.1 liter) boiler means you’ll have plenty of room to maneuver. With that said, the La Pavoni Professional tends to overheat quickly, so it’s not ideal for pumping out coffee for a crowd.

During my testing of the La Pavoni I was impressed by the steam power this thing can generate. The steam wand’s three-hole tip is ideal for creating microfoam, although there’s an automatic frother attachment if you need it.

Check Out: La Pavoni Professional Review

Diletta Bello

A relatively new player in the prosumer espresso machine sector, Diletta is a collaboration between Seattle Coffee Gear and Milan-based Quick Mill. In my opinion, $1,749.00 is a steal for the Diletta Bello.

I mean, each one of these beautiful espresso machines is hand-made in Italy, using high-grade commercial components. Heck, the stainless steel boiler is even wrapped in a blanket! Speaking of the boiler, this is a heat exchanger machine with an E61 group head. That means you can brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously. Plus, you’ll have consistent temperature the whole time thanks to the pressurestat.

Although the Diletta Bello’s prominent pressure gauge enhances the machine’s overall vibe, it’s also very useful. You can monitor pressure in both the boiler and at the group head, making it easier to dial in your shots.

As for steaming milk, you’ve got oodles of pressure on board for whipping up a cappuccino or latte macchiato. Incidentally, both the steam wand and hot water outlet are double wall insulated, so you won’t burn your fingers. That’s a win!

See Also: Diletta Bello Review

Rocket Appartamento

If you feel like the Rocket Appartamento bears more than a passing resemblance to the aforementioned Diletta Bello, you’re not alone. I mean, at $1,750.00, the Appartamento even has an almost identical price tag.

Listen, I’m not sure which came first, but I’m just glad we get to choose between two superb machines. Because, like the Bello, the Rocket Appartamento is superb.

Another machine with a heat exchanger boiler and an E61 group head, the Appartamento is capable of producing outstanding espresso and milk foam. What’s more, this machine is quite compact, so you won’t have to redesign your kitchen around it.

Still, the Rocket Appartamento might make everything else in your kitchen look a little tired. After all, this is a stunning machine – its retro-industrial vibe and highly polished surfaces really float my boat!

See Also: Rocket Appartamento Review

Nuova Simonelli Musica

Although similar in many ways to the Oscar II, the Nuova Simonelli Musica represents a step up in terms of features and functionality. With that said, you’ll have to shell out a not inconsiderable $3,300.00 for this espresso machine.

The Musica is another heat exchanger espresso machine with a thermosiphon group head. Overall, the machine does a great job of maintaining temperature stability, although you’ll need to get used to performing cooling flushes. Still, there isn’t much of a learning curve with this prosumer espresso machine.

Aside from sophisticated programmable volumetric controls, the Musica features Nuova Simonelli’s awesome soft pre infusion. This really helps even out your extraction, regardless of tamping inconsistencies. It’s great to see that the manufacturer has included a dedicated hot water outlet, as well as a powerful and ergonomic steam wand.

See Also: Nuova Simonelli Musica Review

Breville Dual Boiler

While the majority of Breville espresso machines sit squarely in the appliance-grade segment, the Breville Dual Boiler is most definitely a prosumer espresso machine.

Equipped with a 58 millimeter portafilter and commercial grade components, this awesome machine is definitely worthy of consideration. However, its hefty $1,599.95 price tag represents a serious investment. With that said, the Breville Dual Boiler is extremely impressive.

As the name suggests, there’s a pair of boilers on board. However, Breville has taken things further by including PID control in the boiler and at the group head. Add in the fact that the machine has two pumps and you know you’re in business.

As you’d expect from Breville, the machine is very user friendly, with tons of adjustable settings and a clear pressure gauge. All in all, this might be the best bet for inexperienced baristas who want to improve their skills on a high-end dual boiler machine.

See Also: Breville Dual Boiler Review

Stone Mine Espresso Machine

The Stone Mine espresso machine is another stylish and compact prosumer that’s been designed with ease of use in mind. And given its relatively affordable price tag of around $1,000, this awesome machine is definitely worth considering.

Featuring a classic retro-industrial vibe, the Stone Mine will look great in just about any kitchen. Oh, and you can even swap out the side panels for a color that fits your decor if that’s your thing.

I’m a big fan of the Stone Mine’s simple and intuitive controls. There’s a neat paddle for brewing, as well as a chunky steam knob and a prominent pressure gauge. Still, the absence of a dedicated hot water outlet could be a dealbreaker for americano lovers.

Perhaps the biggest appeal of this machine is its quick heat-up time.Seriously, it’ll be ready to go in around 10 minutes, thanks to its 1,000-watt copper and brass boiler. Best of all, there’s a special heating cartridge mounted in the group head. This ensures water will always be at the correct temperature for brewing. How cool is that!

See Also: Stone Espresso Machine Review

Decision Time

As we’ve seen, when it comes to choosing the best prosumer espresso machine, there are quite a few factors to bear in mind. At the end of the day, though, you really can’t go wrong with any of the prosumer machines I’ve discussed.

Depending on your budget and design preferences, you should be able to find a machine that’ll help you to up your espresso game in a big way. Who knows? Maybe there’s a barista championship medal in your future!