If you’re like me you love espresso but don’t love the high price tag that often comes with it.
That’s why I was excited to discover low-wattage espresso machines – they let you get that delicious espresso taste without breaking the bank.
In this blog post I’ll share my top picks for the best low-wattage espresso machines on the market.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced barista there’s sure to be something here for you.
So read on and start enjoying a cafe-quality espresso at home!
Low-Wattage Espresso Machines
De’Longhi ECP3420
The De’Longhi ECP3420 is a high-quality espresso machine that comes with a variety of features to help you make the perfect cup of espresso.
Some of these features include a 15 bar professional pressure system a self-priming operation and a stainless steel boiler system.
Additionally the De’Longhi ECP3420 comes with a double-wall filter for high-quality crema every time.
This machine also has a capacity of 2.3 pounds and an item weight of 10.6 pounds making it easy to move around.
Keurig K-Mini
The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is a single-serve coffee maker that is less than 5 inches wide making it perfect for small spaces.
The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker also has a one-cup reservoir so you only have to add fresh water for each brew.
The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker also has a fast and fresh-brewed option so you can have your coffee in minutes.
The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker also has a cord storage option so you can transport and store it easily.
The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is also travel mug friendly as it has a removable drip tray that accommodates travel mugs up to 7.0 inches tall.
Lastly the Keurig K-Mini coffee maker has an energy-efficient auto-off feature that turns the coffee maker off after 90 seconds of inactivity.
Mixpresso Single Cup
Mixpresso Single Cup is the perfect coffee maker for anyone living alone or even for families whose sleeping schedule does not coincide.
It has a capacity of 13.92 ounces and comes with a quick-brewing technology that makes it compatible with K-Cups.
The preheating time is just 2 minutes and it has a 100% automatic function.
With 800 Watts of power it is perfect for anyone who loves coffee.
The materials are heavy-duty and it has a 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
Wirsh Espresso Machine
The Wirsh Espresso Machine is a high-quality machine that comes with a number of features that are sure to make your espresso brewing experience better.
Some of these features include a 15 bar professional pump 1450W powerful instant thermo-block heating system automatic flow meter and a 2 in 1 portafilter.
These features work together to create the perfect cup of espresso every time.
Additionally the machine also comes with a commercial-grade stainless steel steam wand for making your favorite coffee drinks.
The machine also includes LED lights with each function a 42oz removable water tank which makes it easier to fill the tank and easy for cleanup a hot water function for making tea or americano ETL safety approved to verify you’re protected.
Finally all Wirsh coffee machines including this espresso machine are BPA-free.
Mr.
Coffee
The Mr.
Coffee 12-Cup has a capacity of 12 cups and it has an on/off indicator light that tells you when the coffee maker is on or off.
It also has a grab a cup auto-pause that stops the cycle if you need a cup before the brewing is finished.
The dual water window allows you to see as you fill so there are no more overflows.
The lift and clean filter basket make it fast and easy to clean up and the easy cord storage eliminates counter clutter.
Lastly it has 900 watts of power and a cord length of 26 inches.
The dimensions are 12.56 x 11.76 x 8.43 inches and it weighs 3.6 pounds allowing ease of portability.
What’s The Benefit Of Having A Low-Wattage Espresso Machine?
The lower wattage an espresso machine has the slower it will heat up.
This means that you’ll have more time to prepare your shot before it’s ready to come out of the group head so your water can be hotter when it comes in contact with your coffee grinds.
Generally there are three factors that independent of one another determine how fast a grinder heats up: wattage setting on the machine boiler size/capacity and distance from the boiler to the steam wand.
Most low-wattage machines usually have small boilers which take longer to heat up because there is less capacity for hot water at one time.
Assuming all other factors are equal the further away from the steaming apparatus from the boiler (for example Tazza’s long steam wands) the longer it will take for water to reach that spot.
Does Having A Low-Wattage Espresso Machine Affect The Quality Of Espresso?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the user and personal preference.
A shot of espresso that comes out quickly has different taste characteristics than a shot that pulls slowly because it’s hotter when pulled.
That being said having a low wattage machine will not affect the quality of your coffee provided you’re able to pull consistent shots and properly use the parameters at your disposal (dose grind size tamp pressure).
Does Having A Low-Wattage Espresso Machine Affect How I Need To Grind For An Espresso?
Although less pressure means less extraction of flavors from coarser grinds (which makes sense) more pressure requires finer grinds (less water needed) and can make up for some of the flavor loss caused by the coarser grind.
Does A Lower Wattage Machine Affect Flavor?
Having a low wattage machine will not affect the flavor of your espresso.
It will however increase the time it takes to make your drink.
As previously mentioned this can extend steaming times which prolongs extraction for all components in play (water grinds and steam) if longer steaming times are desired.
Generally machines with different wattages do not produce different flavors because each parameter is controlled by its own regulator.
All other factors being equal be it dose/grind size/tamp pressure or boiler capacity/steam wand distance from the boiler to tip things should come out proportionally the same even though there may be minute differences between two shots pulled on different machines where one has 400 watts and another has 40 watts.
The takeaway here is that if you know what you’re doing then the wattage of your machine will not affect how much or little pressure you use to pull a shot meaning it’s all about skill at this point.
That being said having more than enough steam power (wattage) for milk drinks is always better because it allows for easier and faster steaming.
Does Having A Low-Wattage Espresso Machine Affect The Temperature Of My Coffee?
Having a lower wattage machine does not mean that you’ll have to drink your espresso straight away because the water is hotter when it comes into contact with the grinds.
Hotter water requires finer grinds which in turn increases extraction time and can result in over-extraction.