If you love coffee but don’t have lots of space in your kitchen, it can be difficult deciding what kind of coffee maker to buy. Do you go with an espresso machine for the variety or a drip coffee maker for convenience?
Luckily, you don’t have to choose! There are coffee and espresso maker combo machines, meaning you can have as much flexibility and convenience as you need without losing too much counter space. Below is a roundup of some of the best coffee and espresso maker combo machines available.
5 Best Coffee and Espresso Maker Combo
Best Overall Pick: De’Longhi Combination Coffee Maker
De’Longhi Combination Coffee Maker
Pros
- Both sides can brew at the same time
- Plenty of functionality
- Easy to use
Cons
- The espresso isn’t amazing, but it’s to be expected from an at-home machine.
The De’Longhi Combination Coffee Maker is a pretty self-explanatory machine. It has a drip coffee maker on one side and an espresso pump on the other. Helpfully, they have separate water tanks and heating systems, meaning you can use them both at the same time.
The espresso maker has 15 bars of pressure, which is fairly standard for an espresso pump. There’s also a milk frothing wand, so you can make steamed milk for your drinks too. Both sides use ground coffee, although you’ll obviously need 2 different grinds for each side.
It’s got a decent range of settings, including brewing options for getting the perfect flavor and aroma out of your coffee. While these aren’t completely necessary, they give you lots of flexibility. There’s also a 24-hour timer that works with the drip coffee machine.
The coffee pot is spill-proof and has a hotplate to keep it warm. Its functionality is straightforward, but this is what you want from a drip coffee maker – they don’t need to be complicated. The espresso pump takes a bit more work but, again, this is standard.
Despite the price, the espresso machine is what we would consider a budget option. If you’ve ever seen the price of a commercial espresso machine, you’ll know this to be the case. As such, you shouldn’t expect amazing espresso, but it does a good enough job for the type of machine.
Top Budget Pick: Ninja CM401 Specialty Coffee Maker
Ninja CM401 Specialty Coffee Maker
Pros
- Easy machine to use.
- Good range of brew settings.
- A milk frothing wand is useful.
Cons
- Doesn’t make actual espresso.
The Ninja CM401 Specialty Coffee Maker is about as low a price as you’ll want to go for a coffee and espresso maker combo. Espresso makers involve more parts and technology than drip coffee makers and, as such, cost more. If you go too cheap, you’ll definitely notice the difference.
However, it’s worth noting that the Ninja technically isn’t an espresso maker. It can make concentrated coffee shots, which you can use to make lattes, cappuccinos, etc. But it does so using its drip coffee function – you simply add more water and less coffee to achieve an espresso.
This isn’t a massive problem but it’s worth noting. The machine has 4 coffee brew settings: rich, standard, over ice, or specialty brew. You’d use the specialty brew setting to make an espresso, which you could then combine with the milk of your choice.
Helpfully, it has a milk frothing wand, too, so you can still make milk-based drinks. You can also make different single-serving sizes, such as large cups or travel mugs, and either a half or whole carafe.
The biggest downside of this machine is that it technically doesn’t make espresso because it doesn’t force the water over the coffee under pressure. However, the equivalent that it makes tastes good enough, and is strong enough to be used in blended drinks, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Top Pick for Space-Saving: Lavazza Expert Coffee Maker
Lavazza Expert Coffee Maker
Pros
· Makes a range of drinks off only one pod type.
· Includes a milk frothing set.
· Clear and easy to use.
Cons
· Only compatible with Lavazza Expert pods.
The Lavazza Expert Coffee Maker is a pod coffee maker. However, a benefit over other pod machines is that it only uses one pod strength, and you choose the coffee type on the machine. For example, you add the pod and can then select either espresso or lungo (long coffee).
There are also accessories for frothing milk. It includes a jug and frothing wand, which you fit into the machine and selects what type of frothing you want.
Combined with the espresso maker, this gives you loads of options for the types of drinks you make. While it obviously won’t make a pot of coffee like some other options, it’s a decent space-saving machine.
Its water tank holds 42 fl. oz., so you can make quite a few coffees without refilling it. It’s easy to clean and has a removable drip tray to help with this. The buttons are super clear and it’s really easy to use – you simply insert the pod and choose the type of coffee you want. You even have the option to add more water as needed.
Although not a major issue, it’s worth noting that this machine is only compatible with Lavazza Expert pods. They’re less common in stores than Nespresso or K-pods but are widely available online. They offer fewer options than other pod styles, but you still have good flexibility over the drinks you can make.
Top Pick for Minimal Effort: Aeropress Coffee Maker
Aeropress Coffee Maker
Pros
· Really easy to use.
· Makes versatile coffee.
· Coffee is meant to be less acidic.
Cons
· Doesn’t heat its own water.
Like the Ninja model above, the Aeropress Coffee Maker is a combo coffee maker by technicality. If we’re being really technical, it makes neither espresso nor long coffee. Instead, it makes concentrated coffee shots (similar to espresso), which you can then lengthen with extra water.
If you’ve ever used an Aeropress, you’ll know how simple they are. And if you haven’t, it takes literal seconds to learn. You put the coffee in, pour over the water, put the plunger in, and then press it down. The result is coffee with low acidity, which you can then turn into any drink you want.
There’s not much more to it than that. As an insider tip, use it upside down (put the filter and cap on last and then invert it onto your mug). It’s just a lot easier to fill it this way, and there’s less risk of coffee shooting out if you haven’t put the cap on properly.
Its biggest advantage over full machines like the ones listed above is that it’s small and simple to use. While it only produces one kind of coffee, you can do a lot with it – just as you would with an espresso. Plus, it’s really easy to clean: you just push the used coffee out and rinse it.
You won’t find much to complain about with an Aeropress. If it had to have one downside, it’s that it doesn’t have a water heater (whereas the other models do). It’s not a massive problem, but does mean you’ll need a kettle.
5. Espressione Combination Coffee Maker
Espressione Combination Coffee Maker
Pros
· Quite high pressure for an at-home espresso maker.
· Functional and easy to use.
· Works with ground coffee or pods.
Cons
· You can’t brew both kinds of coffee at once.
The Espressione Combination Coffee Maker is very similar in design to the De’Longhi. It has a drip coffee function and an espresso maker. While they share the same water tank, it’s around 3 pints, meaning you can make enough coffee without having to refill it.
One advantage this model has, however, is that it uses 19 bars of pressure for its espresso maker. This extra pressure makes quite a difference to the strength of the espresso and also produces a thicker crema. Helpfully, you can run the espresso maker using the included single- or double-shot baskets or coffee pods.
The drip coffee maker is pretty standard. It makes 10 cups of coffee, which it holds in a glass pot. There’s a hotplate underneath to keep it warm for a few hours. However, there isn’t an automatic shutoff, so be aware of how long you leave it on for.
It has a milk steaming wand so you can make blended drinks, and there are options for manual or automatic espresso brewing. The difference basically boils down to how much water you use to make the drink. However, it’s lacking a programmable timer, which is a shame but also not a massive loss.
Other than this, its biggest downside is that you can’t brew espresso and drip coffee at the same time. You can on the De’Longhi, though, which is why it won the top spot. But if that’s not an issue and you want more intense espresso, this is the machine for you.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best coffee and espresso maker combo generally comes down to the quality of the espresso machine. But there are plenty of options out there, so hopefully one of the coffee makers above will be suitable for your needs and budget.