When speaking of coffee machines, the talk of the town goes immediately to Cuisinart—the rightful leader of the industry.
Cuisinart makes hundreds of coffee machine models, starting from basic drip machines and all the way to fully automatic makers with built-in coffee grinders.
Today, we’ll shed some light on some of the best Cuisinart espresso machines around so that you can enjoy your next cup of morning coffee with your new machine!
In This Guide
Cuisinart Espresso Machine Reviews
We've picked our three favorite Cuisinart espresso machines, and really dove in on them.
These Cuisinart machines are fan favorites, and the best three around. There's something for everyone between the three of these!
Let's take a closer look.
Cuisinart EM-100 Espresso Maker
Cuisinart EM-100 Espresso Maker
The Cuisinart Em-100 is a top-selling espresso machine in all markets—partially because of its Cuisinart label that customers trust and majorly for its array of useful features and advanced specs.
Capacity
The EM-100 can make up to two cups of espresso, using easy-serve espresso pods or regular ground coffee. You can make a single shot, a double shot, or use ESE pods; the powerful 15-bar pump ensures you get an excellent shot every time. Not only that, but the machine also makes lattes and cappuccinos, thanks to its milk frother and steam wand.
Convenience
The Cuisinart is a pretty compact countertop appliance, so you won’t face hardships trying to find a place for it. It measures 8.5 x 11 x 12 5/9 inches, making it a space-conscious unit that fits anywhere. Plus, it weighs 9 pounds, which is relatively lightweight.
The machine comes bearing a heating tray for cups, so you can have multiple warm cups at hand whenever you need to. There’s also a 53-ounce water reservoir that gives you plenty of time before needing a refill.
Components
The Em-100’s components reflect the machine’s high quality, despite its affordable price. It comes with a stainless steel steam nozzle and a frothing cup, likewise. They’re rust-resistant and durable, so you can use the machine for years before it shows the least signs of wear and tear.
The Em-100 comes fully equipped with a Portafilter holder that has a locking mechanism. That way, you can easily pump out the wet grounds after each use. It also makes your cleaning mission much easier.
Luckily for you, the machine’s removable tray and cover already make it a breeze to clean it. Paired with the detachable water reservoir, you couldn’t ask for better. After taking every removable part out, cleaning them will only take a few minutes.
Features & Specs
- One stainless steel boiler
- Two cups capacity
- One stainless portafilter
- Maximum cup height: 3.5 inches
- 53-ounce water reservoir
- Compatible with capsules and pods
- Knob and push-button controls
- Stainless steel housing
- Plastic drip tray
- Pressurized single and double portafilter baskets
- Power: 1000 watts
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Compact design for easy storage
- Large water reservoir for more time between refills
Cons
- Manual time extraction
Get more information on Cuisinart EM-100 Espresso Maker
Cuisinart EM-200NP1 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker
If you want an upgrade from the Em-100, and you’re willing to throw in some extra cash, the Em-200 is your best bet.
Capacity
The upgraded espresso machine sports one manual brewing button and two programmable brewing buttons. They allow you to choose your brewing settings as per your preference, and the manual controls let you switch from brewing to steaming with ease.
On top of that, it gives you the option to use regular ground coffee or easy-serve espresso pods and capsules. You’ll feel as if you have a full-fledged barista in your kitchen!
The espresso maker extracts the flavors using bar-pump pressure. As a result, the resulting espresso crema is thicker than that brewed with steam, giving you a more enjoyable drinking experience.
Like the Em-100, the Em-200 features a stainless steel frothing wand, along with a frothing pitcher that enables you to make lattes, cappuccinos, and more drinks easily.
Convenience
The Em-200’s control panel is user-friendly and pretty easy to use. No one would like to wake up early to a complicated espresso machine, anyway!
The panel has six metallic buttons with different labels:
- Power
- Manual brewing
- 1-cup
- 2-cup
- Programming
- Steam
Once you determine the right size for your morning espresso shot, you typically want to get the same result every day. Luckily for you, that’s pretty easy with the Em-200. The two programmable brewing buttons allow you to determine your preferred liquid volume for the shot.
If you’re okay with pre-programmed settings, the 1-cup button gives 1.5 ounces, while the 2-cup button gives 3 ounces. You can change them if you need different volumes.
Components
The E-200 has a stainless steel housing that’s resistant to dust and scratches. You’d have to deliver a lot of abuse for the machine to show any signs of wear and tear.
The Cuisinart espresso maker features blue backlit buttons on the control that look sleek and elegant. They’re meant to control the programming and the brewing of the machine, and they start flashing when your coffee is heating up or when the machine is in programming mode.
Moreover, the machine comes with a water reservoir that attaches to its backside. Its capacity is 64 ounces, which means it’ll make approximately 34 shots before you need to refill it.
It’s detachable for easier cleaning, and it allows you to monitor the water level so you know when to refill. Additionally, it comes with a carrying handle for easier transportation when it’s time to clean it.
The drip tray that comes with the machine is also removable. Even better, it’s dishwasher-safe, so you won’t need to wash it on your hands.
The machine has a measuring and tamping tool that allows you to prepare freshly ground coffee for brewing three ounces. You can then divide the amount into two small cups or one large cup if you’re alone. The warming tray allows you to leave your cups without the risk of getting cold.
Features & Specs
- One stainless steel boiler
- Compatible with capsules and pods
- Push-button control
- Maximum cup height: 3.5 inches
- 64-ounce water reservoir
- Plastic drip tray
- Pressurized double and single portafilter baskets
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.5 x 15.1 inches
- Power: 1050 watts
Pros
- Programmable settings available
- Simple and easy to use control panel
- Large water reservoir
Cons
- Some users reported that the drip tray leaks.
Get more information on Cuisinart EM-200NP1 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker
Cuisinart EM-15 Espresso Defined Espresso Machine
If you like your espresso intense, rich, and smooth, the Em-15 is definitely the Cuisinart machine you should be looking at.
Capacity
The Cuisinart Em-15 utilizes 19 bars of pressure instead of the 15 bars the Em-100 and 200 use. As a result, it produces rich, creamy espresso with an intense flavor.
The machine makes single and double espresso shots. It only works with capsules rather than freshly ground coffee. Its capsule waste bin can hold up to 12 capsules, so you’ll only need to empty it every few days. On top of that, it has an auto-eject feature for the capsules that drops them in the built-in pin, so you don’t have to do any cleaning.
Convenience
The Cuisinart Em-15 is one of the easiest espresso machines to use. You only need to click on a button, choosing the size of your shot, and you’ll have your cup ready in a matter of minutes.
The machine is fully programmable; you’ll be able to set your preferred brew temperature and standby time, as well as customize how each cup will turn out.
Luckily for you, the machine is compatible with Nespresso OriginalLine capsules, so you can get as creative as you want with the flavors!
Components
The Em-15 comes fully equipped with a 24-ounce water reservoir. It’s not as large as the latter machines we reviewed, but it’s still quite decent for a single user, providing nearly 16 cups. Bear in mind that this machine has a one-cup operation, so you wouldn’t expect a larger reservoir.
The drip tray is removable, making your cleaning mission much easier. The feature also comes in handy if you want to place tall mugs.
Features
- Single and double shots
- Compatible with Nespresso OriginalLine
- Automatic capsule eject
- Waste pin with a 12-capsule maximum capacity
- Fully programmable volume, temperature, and standby time
- 2-year warranty
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 5.75 x 9.5 inches
- Weight: 9 pounds
Pros
- Quick-acting
- Compact dimensions for easy transportation
- Rich, creamy flavor
Cons
- It only works with capsules.
Cuisinart EM-15 Espresso Defined Espresso Machine
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Choosing the Best Cuisinart Espresso Machine
Cuisinart has dozens of espresso machines, but each one fulfills a different purpose. Let's take a look at the three best again:
If we’re talking about the three machines we just reviewed, the Cuisinart EM-100 Espresso Maker is the best option for budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable, durable machine. Its settings are limited, but it’s affordable, and it makes some excellent espresso shots!
As for the Cuisinart EM-200NP1 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker, we can consider it the upgraded version from the Em-100, although its price doesn’t stray far from the latter.
However, it’s obviously the better option with its programmable settings and sleek backlit buttons on its control panel. It’s easy to use, too, despite looking otherwise.
Lastly, the Cuisinart EM-15 Espresso Defined Espresso Machineis the ideal Cuisinart machine for users who love their espresso defined and intense. It’s also suitable for buyers who are always in a hurry, thanks to its fast action.
You’ll need to constantly buy capsules for it, though, which will cost more than regular ground coffee. So, that’s something to think about before buying it.
Last update on 2022-08-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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