Searching for an espresso machine with a milk steamer for your home or office? In this guide, you'll find out how to select the best option for your needs.
Here is what we're covering in this guide:
- Who needs an espresso machine with a milk steamer.
- Features and functions to be on the lookout for.
- The best espresso machines with milk steamers that you can buy.
Top Espresso Machines with Milk Steamers
Want to make lattes at home or at work?
We've picked out five machines that will make beautiful drinks in your kitchen or at the office, paying special attention to criteria like:
- Steam power
- Budget
- Steam wand capabilities
Take a look.
Super affordable and sturdy, the Rancilio Silvia M is a no-nonsense machine in the business of crafting expert espresso.
With an articulating dual hot water and steam wand, it will help you angle the milk pitcher for better frothing technique.
One of the best things about this machine is that it can take espresso pods or freshly ground espresso. Beginners who start out with pods and later gravitate toward fresh espresso won't need to buy an entirely new espresso machine.
Between the low price and the pod adaptability, this is an excellent beginner to intermediate espresso machine for your home kitchen.
- Machine Type: Semiautomatic (manual dosing)
- Majesty Coffee Price: $715
- Boiler: 0.3 liter single boiler
- Plumbing: Pour-over
- Steam Arm: Articulating with one-hole steam tip
- Reservoir: 2 liter
- Thermal Wrapped Boiler: The insulated boiler conserves up to eight percent more energy in standby mode.
- Pod Adaptable: You can start with espresso pods and switch to freshly ground espresso at any time.
- Adjustable Expansion Valve: Located right by the boiler for quick access, the adjustable expansion valve allows you to set the maximum brew pressure to tweak your extraction process.
- Optional PID Controller: You have the option of purchasing a PID controller that will let you set the temperature to your specifications.
Learn More: Rocket Appartamento vs Rancilio Silvia
This home espresso machine is a semiautomatic model like the Rancilio Silvia M, but it can actually brew and steam simultaneously with its hybrid boiler.
Built with a PID temperature controller, a three-way solenoid valve, and an integrated shot timer, this machine is advanced but highly user-friendly.
It's a faster machine designed to make working with it more intuitive. However, as a semiautomatic model with user-controlled brewing, it will still take some training if you're brand new to espresso.
- Machine Type: Semiautomatic (manual dosing)
- Majesty Coffee Price: $1,075
- Boiler: 0.4 liter single boiler (hybrid)
- Plumbing: Pour-over
- Steam Arm: Articulating with one-hole steam tip
- Reservoir: 2 liter
- Hybrid Thermoblock Boiler: Heats water to brewing and steaming temperature as it passes through—you can brew and steam at the same time.
- Shot Timer: Keep track of extraction time without needing to use your smartphone.
- PID Temperature Controller: Adjust the temperature for accurate results with a programmable offset for the coffee boiler.
- 3 Position Power Switch: You can fill the boiler without turning on the heating element to ensure that the heating element is protected if the boiler doesn't fill for some reason.
- 3 Way Solenoid Valve: Allows pressure to escape in the group head so that you don't get hit with hot coffee grounds when you remove the portafilter after brewing.
- Quick Water Tank Access: The reservoir is installed in the side of the machine instead of on top with the cup warming tray, allowing you to check and refill it easily.
Learn More: Quick Mill Silvano vs Alexia
Jumping to a 1.8 liter heat exchange boiler, you'll find that the Rocket Appartamento provides steam power to rival commercial espresso machines in cafes.
This is an espresso machine for more proficient home baristas and prosumers who want a top-quality experience. In fact, you could easily use this machine for a small office.
With dedicated no-burn hot water and steam wands, making lattes and Americanos is quick and (literally) painless.
People also tend to be struck by the classic look of this machine coupled with the artistic side panel design in Copper or White.
- Machine Type: Semiautomatic (lever-action manual dosing)
- Majesty Coffee Price: $1,750
- Boiler: 1.8 liter heat exchange boiler
- Plumbing: Pour-over
- Steam Arm: Articulating with one-hole steam tip
- Reservoir: 2.25 liter
- E-61 Commercial Group: Stabilizes brew temperature with a thermosiphon that continuously circulates water. You'll also get automatic pre-infusion to enhance extraction and deepen the coffee flavors.
- Boiler Pressure Gauge: Reading this gauge helps you figure out when the machine is ready to brew and steam.
- Steam Power: The Appartamento brings incredible steam power from its 1.8 liter antimicrobial copper boiler.
- No Burn Hot Water and Steam Wands: Staying cool to the touch, the hot water and steam wands won't burn you if you touch them.
- Removable Cup Guard: Use the cup guard to keep cups from sliding off the cup warming tray on top of the machine, or take it off for the extra room.
- Metal Tamper: Tamp like a professional barista with the elegant metal tamper that comes with the Rocket models.
Learn More: Quick Mill vs Rocket
This machine is fully capable of serving in your home kitchen or office (or even in a small restaurant).
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar II improves on the first Oscar with a longer steam arm that can reach down into any milk pitcher, a larger reservoir, programmable dosing (by time), and a snazzy stainless steel body.
It's another powerhouse for steaming, which more advanced baristas love. Though this machine appeals to proficient baristas, it's also ideal for beginners with its easy-to-use programmed dosing.
Just be aware that this model doesn't have a separate hot water outlet like the Rocket Appartamento.
- Machine Type: Semiautomatic + timed dosing
- Majesty Coffee Price: $1,295
- Boiler: 2 liter heat exchange boiler
- Plumbing: Pour-over
- Steam Arm: Long and articulating (for greater depth and range)
- Reservoir: 2.3 liter
- Programmable Dosing: Program timed espresso shots (single or double) so that the machine automatically stops the brew cycle at the correct time.
- Soft Infusion System: Nuova Simonelli's pre-infusion system optimizes extraction and minimizes the risk of issues arising from improper tamping technique.
- Steam Power: Nuova Simonelli is known for giving its models incredible steam power—make velvety, perfectly frothed milk in seconds.
- Push Pull Steam: Flip a switch instead of turning a valve to activate steaming. Quick and simple.
- Insulated Copper Boiler: Insulation increases the machine's energy efficiency while the antimicrobial copper material boosts sanitation.
- Reverse Mirror: See the espresso extracting from all angles to monitor quality.
Learn More: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II Review
With a high-capacity dual boiler system, the La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi II brews and steams like a dream.
As a volumetric model, it makes espresso brewing approachable for beginners. Just press the button for a single or double shot and let the machine do the rest.
The built-in diagnostics are helpful if problems come up. Unlike other machines, this one will let alert you.
For latte and cappuccino lovers, this machine is a best-in-class home or office model. With its customizable settings, you'll get the exact results you want.
- Machine Type: Automatic (volumetric dosing)
- Majesty Coffee Price: $2,575
- Boiler: Dual boiler (0.45 liter coffee boiler and 2.5 liter steam boiler)
- Plumbing: Direct-connect (hooks up to a water line for a continuous supply)
- Steam Arm: Articulating with 0.9 mm four-hole steam tip
- Volumetric Dosing: This machine can be programmed for single and double shots by volume for greater consistency and accuracy.
- Programmable Passive Pre-Infusion: Experiment with different coffee profiles and program pre-infusion to last anywhere from one to eight seconds.
- Touch Pad Temperature Control: Adjust the group temperature easily through the touch pad.
- Dual Manometer: This is a two-in-one gauge for the pump and boiler pressures, helping you navigate machine operation.
- Built-In Diagnostics: Sensing issues as they occur, the S1 Vivaldi II will alert you so that you can fix them right away.
Learn More: La Spaziale Vivaldi II Review
Why Buy a Milk Steamer Espresso Machine?
It may sound a little obvious, but the reason you'd get an espresso machine with a milk steamer is to make lattes, cappuccinos, and other milk-based drinks on one machine.
A better way to put it may be this way:
Who shouldn't buy an espresso machine with a milk steamer?
If you're a strict espresso sipper or Americano drinker, there's really no reason to invest in a machine that steams milk. Unless you have your eye on a particular model that just so happens to come with a steam wand.
But if you like to switch up your espresso drinks and make macchiatos, cortados, and mocha lattes from time to time, it's a good idea to make sure you get a machine that can do it all.
Otherwise, you'll be stuck trying to heat milk on the stove (you'll never get real microfoam that way, anyway).
What to Look for in an Ideal Machine
Boiler Type
First, we should clarify that any espresso machine built with a milk steamer can make you a latte.
That said, how you go about making that latte varies based on boiler type.
There are three major kinds:
- Single boilers
- Double boilers
- Heat exchange boilers
What does each type do?
It basically comes down to how many things you can do at once.
Which type of boiler is best for lattes and cappuccinos?
One is not necessarily better than the other, so consider your personal preferences when deciding.
Single Boilers
A single-boiler machine has one boiler for everything—brewing and steaming. This means that it can't brew and steam at the same time.
Brewing and steaming take completely different temperatures. Espresso would be burned at the temperature needed for steam.
Single-boiler machines are the slowest to operate because you'll need to wait in between functions for the boiler temperature to adjust. We recommend steaming milk first so that the espresso is as fresh as possible when you're ready to construct your latte.
Double Boilers
On to double boilers.
With these systems, there are individual boilers for brewing and steaming, keeping temperatures separate and allowing you to brew and steam together.
These systems are frequently the most powerful and offer the greatest amount of temperature stability. However, they can take a while to warm up.
Heat Exchange Boilers
Heat exchange boilers are essentially single boilers modified with tubes running through them. The tubes draw water to the group head, heating it to brewing temperature so that the boiler can provide the correct steaming temperature at the same time.
Heat exchange boilers can brew and steam together. They're more energy-efficient and need a shorter warm-up time.
However, they do require more group head flushing before pulling an espresso shot to get the optimal temperature.
Boiler Size
The size of the boiler has a lot to do with how much steam power the machine has.
Dual boilers are usually considered the strongest for steaming, but this is not always true. If you've got a dual boiler machine with a .5 liter steam boiler next to a heat exchanger machine with a 3 liter boiler, there's no competition. The heat exchange boiler wins.
For most home users, any size boiler that comes with your espresso machine is going to work out perfectly. This is because home baristas don't usually need to make back-to-back espresso drinks without a rest.
An office, on the other hand, may need a machine that can make several cappuccinos in a row without stopping. This is usually the dual boiler's strength.
For an office, boiler size becomes a little more important to consider, but it depends on how large the staff is (how many drinks are being made).
Steam Wand Design
Besides froth milk, what do you want the steam wand to do?
Do you want a steam wand that can reach down into deeper milk pitchers, or is a steam wand you can move around in any direction more important?
If you're not sure, let's go over your basic options for steam arm designs.
If making large lattes is your goal, a larger steam pitcher may be in order. In this case, a longer steam wand may be nice to have. It will ensure that the heat distribution is even and that you're aerating the milk properly.
An articulating steam wand is excellent if you want flexibility with positioning the milk pitcher. You can rotate the steam wand in any direction and achieve the best steaming angle for barista championship quality microfoam.
There are even steam wands that stay cool to the touch so that you won't burn yourself accidentally bumping into them.
Getting into the steam wand design is something of a luxury for some. It may not even really matter if you just want a straightforward cappuccino maker.
But if it's important to you, make sure you read up on the steam wand design of each individual espresso machine you come across before you make your decision.