Best espresso machines under $500

Top pick: Breville Bambino Plus. It's the easiest way into real espresso — fast heat-up, automatic milk texturing that actually works, and a small footprint. Add a decent burr grinder and you're set.

Who the others suit:

• Breville Barista Express — you want grinder and machine in one box and don't mind dialing in by hand.
• Gaggia Classic Pro E24 — tinkerers who want a classic, repairable machine and full manual control.
• Gaggia Brera / Anima / Cadorna — one-touch, no-fuss lattes; bean-to-cup convenience over craft.
• Turin Legato V2 — value-minded hobbyists chasing manual-brew quality.
• Breville Bambino — the same easy workflow with a smaller tank and no auto milk.
• Casabrews CM5418 — a cheap first machine to see if the habit sticks.