The best espresso machines typically come with a one or two year warranty and stay in operation anywhere from 7 to 10 years. As you would expect, an expensive fully automatic model will last the longest. When you buy a machine, don’t spring for an extended warranty. It’s unlikely that it will cost less than repairing your machine during its lifetime.
Among the things you’ll notice when your machine breaks down is that stops building up pressure or your espresso doesn’t come out as hot as it used to. These problems could be indicative of a faulty pump or heating element that isn’t worth fixing. If you bring it in for a repair and are quoted a price that is over 50% of the cost of a new unit, we recommend buying a replacement. To keep your machine in good working order as long as possible, be sure to clean your coffee maker thoroughly. Defer to the instruction manual for this, as well as information on regular maintenance on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis.
When you buy a new espresso machine, you’ll also find features available that aren’t offered on older models. Electronic displays, hot water spouts, and frothed milk dispensers are now common. Steam wands have been improved so that they are easier to use and give better foaming. Whether you like the convenience of premeasured pods of coffee or want a machine that grinds beans for each dose of coffee, you can now find more machines to meet your needs.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are still rarely available on espresso machines with the exception of smart coffeemakers from Nespresso. They allow you to control the machine and get alerts when you’re running low on capsules on an app on your mobile device.