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Buying guide

Best espresso machines with a built-in grinder

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Sage Barista Express Impress: assisted tamping, 25 settings

    Intelligent dosing adjusts the dose and assisted tamping gives consistent pressure.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Breville Barista Max: 30 settings, 2.8 L tank

    The 2.8 L water tank is the largest in this guide.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    Sage Barista Touch Impress: hands-free microfoam

    Hands-free milk texturing makes silky microfoam.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

An espresso machine with a built-in grinder gives you a real portafilter and steam wand without buying and fitting a separate grinder. You still dose, tamp and pull the shot, so the result depends on you, but the machine can help. The key differences are how many grind settings there are, whether dosing and tamping are assisted, how the machine heats water (thermoblock, ThermoJet or PID boiler), and whether the milk wand is manual or automatic. This guide compares eight machines from Sage, De'Longhi, Ninja and Breville on those points. All facts come from the makers' listings. More grind settings is not automatically better, but it does give more room to dial in lighter roasts.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Sage

Sage Barista Express Impress: assisted tamping, 25 settings

The Impress system sets the dose and assists tamping, so beginners get repeatable pucks from day one. A machine you will not outgrow quickly.

In its favour

  • Intelligent dosing adjusts the dose and assisted tamping gives consistent pressure.
  • A 25-setting conical burr grinder is built in.
  • PID temperature control and pre-infusion help even extraction.

Good to know

  • Milk texturing is manual, which takes some practice.
  • The listing does not mention double wall baskets for beginners.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Sage Barista Express Impress, Bean to Cup Machine, Brushed Stainless S...

No. 2 · Sage

Sage Barista Touch Impress: hands-free microfoam

The Barista Touch Impress pairs hands-free microfoam with a 30-setting grinder, 14 presets and cold brew. A guided all-in-one for milky drinks.

In its favour

  • Hands-free milk texturing makes silky microfoam.
  • Fourteen presets include flat white, latte, cappuccino and cold brew.
  • The 30-setting hardened steel conical grinder doses on demand.

Good to know

  • The listing does not detail the milk temperature or texture settings.
  • It costs much more than the Bambino Plus.
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Listing title: Sage Barista Touch Impress, Cold Brew Function, Brushed Stainless Stee...

No. 3 · Sage

Sage Barista Pro: 30 settings, 3-second ThermoJet

The Barista Pro pairs a 30-setting conical grinder with ThermoJet heating that reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds. It suits people who want speed and fine grind control.

In its favour

  • The integrated conical burr grinder has 30 settings with auto grind and dose control.
  • ThermoJet reaches optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds, according to Sage.
  • Low-pressure pre-infusion is followed by 9 bar extraction, with 1 and 2 shot or manual control.

Good to know

  • The listing does not describe the steam wand.
  • Tamping is not assisted, so you tamp by hand.
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Listing title: Sage Barista Pro, Bean to Cup Machine, Black Truffle

No. 4 · Ninja

Ninja Luxe Premier: 25 settings, built-in scale

Ninja's Luxe Premier makes espresso, filter and cold brew, with a built-in scale, assisted tamper and a hands-free froth wand. It suits people who want guidance plus filter coffee.

In its favour

  • Espresso, cold brew and filter coffee are all made in one machine.
  • Barista Assist uses integrated scales, presets and recommendations, and an assisted tamper is included.
  • The automated froth wand has four presets, including Cold Froth, for dairy or plant milk.

Good to know

  • The listing does not state the heating system or the portafilter size.
  • At 17 kg it is heavy to move around the worktop.
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Listing title: Ninja Luxe Premier 3-in-1 Coffee Machine, Silver ES601UK

No. 5 · De'Longhi

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte: smart tamping station

De'Longhi's La Specialista Arte uses a sensor grinder and a built-in lever tamping station, so dosing and tamping happen inside the machine. A tidy option for new home baristas.

In its favour

  • Sensor Grinding Technology uses two sensors for a consistent dose.
  • The Smart Tamping Station tamps with a lever, without mess, inside the machine.
  • The Latte System offers Flat for hot milk or Foam for froth, and the tank holds 2 L.

Good to know

  • Eight grind settings is the fewest in this guide.
  • The listing does not state the portafilter size.
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Listing title: De'Longhi La Specialista Arte - Espresso Machine 3 Preset Drinks White

No. 6 · Breville

Breville Barista Max: 30 settings, 2.8 L tank

Breville's Barista Max offers a 30-setting conical grinder, Temp IQ shot control and the largest tank here. A good value way to get a built-in grinder.

In its favour

  • The 2.8 L water tank is the largest in this guide.
  • Thirty grind settings and a one-touch Tap and Go grinding system.
  • Auto Shot volumetric control measures water for one or two shots, with a manual shot button.

Good to know

  • Tamping is not assisted, according to the listing.
  • The listing does not give the portafilter size.
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Listing title: Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine | Latte & Cappuccino Coffee Make...

No. 7 · Sage

Sage Barista Express: 16 settings, manual tamping

The original Barista Express with a 16-setting grinder, a 93°C brew temperature and a powerful manual steam wand. It suits people who want to learn espresso the traditional way.

In its favour

  • The conical burr grinder doses straight into the portafilter.
  • Water at a precise 93°C and low-pressure pre-infusion are listed for even extraction.
  • The steam wand is described as powerful enough for latte art microfoam.

Good to know

  • Sixteen grind settings is fewer than the Impress and Pro models.
  • Tamping is fully manual, so consistency depends on your technique.
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Listing title: Sage Barista Express, Bean to Cup Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel

No. 8 · Ninja

Ninja Luxe Café Mini: compact 2-in-1 with scale

A smaller Ninja with Barista Assist, a precision scale, assisted tamper and hands-free steam wand. It suits beginners with less worktop space.

In its favour

  • Barista Assist auto-calibrates grind recommendations and monitors brewing.
  • The hands-free steam wand makes microfoam with dairy or plant milk.
  • It switches between espresso and filter coffee.

Good to know

  • The 1.3 L water tank needs regular refilling.
  • The number of grind settings is not stated.
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Listing title: Ninja Luxe Café Mini 2-in-1 Espresso and Filter Coffee Machine ES351UK

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Espresso machines

Bean and Crema chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.