Buying guide
Espresso machines for lattes and cappuccinos.
2 min readUpdated October 23, 2026
The short answer
For milk drinks, the way a machine textures milk matters as much as the espresso. A manual steam wand gives you full control of the foam and allows latte art, but it takes practice. An automatic system lets you choose the texture and temperature and froths the milk for you. Some machines offer both.
What to look for.
Manual or automatic
Manual if you want to learn the craft and pour latte art; automatic if you want the same result every morning with no practice.
Plant-based milk
Oat, almond and other plant-based milks foam differently. Some listings mention settings or support for them.
Hot and cold foam
For iced lattes and cold drinks, look for a system that also makes cold foam.
Cleaning
Milk systems need daily care. Removable or dishwasher-safe parts make it easier, when the listing mentions them.
5 models
Automatic milk frothing
Choose the texture and temperature, and the machine does the rest.
Breville
Barista Touch
Espresso machine with grinder
Automatic
- Grind settings
- 30
- Heat-up
- 3 s
- Presets
- 5 + 8 custom
View details
Breville
Barista Touch Impress
Espresso machine with grinder
Automatic
- Grind settings
- 30
- Heat-up
- 3 s
- Water tank
- 67.6 oz
View details
Ninja
Luxe Café Mini Plus
Espresso machine with grinder
Automatic
- Bean hopper
- 250 g
- Dosing
- By weight
- Frothing
- Automatic
View details
De'Longhi
Magnifica Duo
Super-automatic
LatteCrema (hot and cool)
- Recipes
- 20
- Water tank
- 60.87 oz
- Milk
- LatteCrema
View details
1 model
Automatic or manual
Hands-free frothing, with a manual option when you want control.
Ninja
Luxe Café Premier
Espresso machine with grinder
Dual Froth, hands-free
- Grind settings
- 25
- Water tank
- 70 oz
- Brew styles
- 3 in 1
View details
4 models
Manual steam wand
Full control of the microfoam, for those who want to pour latte art.
Breville
Barista Express
Espresso machine with grinder
Manual steam wand
- Grind settings
- 16
- Water tank
- 67 oz
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
View details
Breville
Barista Express Impress
Espresso machine with grinder
Manual steam wand
- Grind settings
- 25
- Water tank
- 2 L
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
View details
Breville
Barista Pro
Espresso machine with grinder
Manual steam wand
- Grind settings
- 30
- Heat-up
- 3 s
- Water tank
- 67 oz
View details
Breville
Dynamic Duo
Espresso machine and grinder set
Manual steam wand
- Boilers
- 2
- Portafilter
- 58 mm
- Grind settings
- 60
View details
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I pour latte art with these machines?
Latte art depends on pouring well-textured microfoam. A manual steam wand gives you the most control over that texture. Automatic systems vary, so check each listing’s description.
Which machines froth plant-based milk?
Several listings say so, including the Breville Barista Touch Impress, the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus and the De’Longhi Magnifica Duo. The highlights on each product page give the details.
Do you test these machines?
No. We compare the specifications each model publishes in its Amazon listing and, where the listing is silent, on the manufacturer’s official website. We do not rank machines by our own tests, and we never show borrowed ratings.
Still deciding?
Let your answers choose.
Four short questions about how you take your coffee, matched against every model's published specifications.
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