Learning manual espresso
De'LonghiStilosa EC260BK
Manual espresso machineStainless steel boiler
Worth knowing Milk texture takes practice
Check price at Amazon Read the detailsThe QuietlyGuide collection
Espresso machines
Compare machines for different coffee routines and budgets.
Our shop links earn us nothing today: we have not joined an affiliate programme yet. When that changes, it still will not change which products we recommend. How this will work
Meet the shortlist.
Choose what fits your everyday.Easier milk texturing
BrevilleBambino Plus BES500BSS
Semi-automaticThermoJet; manufacturer quotes 3-second heat-up
Worth knowing Budget for a separate grinder if using whole beans
Check price at Amazon Read the detailsGrinding and brewing in one appliance
BrevilleBarista Express BES870XL
Semi-automatic with built-in grinderThermocoil with PID temperature control
Worth knowing Grinding, dosing and steaming require practice
Feature-based comparison; independent performance not established.
Check price at Amazon Read the detailsA hands-on espresso routine
GaggiaClassic Pro E24
Single-boiler espresso machineBrass; brew and steam sequentially
Worth knowing Brewing and steaming use the same boiler in sequence
Feature-based comparison; independent performance not established.
Check price at Gaggia Read the detailsThe details, together
Compare at a glance.
Comparing all 4 products. “Not listed” means the guide does not provide that specification.
Scroll across to compare products
| What matters to you | De'LonghiStilosa EC260BK | BrevilleBambino Plus BES500BSS | BrevilleBarista Express BES870XL | GaggiaClassic Pro E24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Consider for learning manual espresso | Consider for easier milk texturing | Consider for grinding and brewing in one appliance | Consider for a hands-on espresso routine |
| A useful strength | Pressurised baskets can simplify an initial espresso routine | Automatic milk texturing with selectable settings | Built-in grinder reduces the number of separate appliances | 58 mm portafilter |
| A trade-off to consider | Milk texture takes practice | Budget for a separate grinder if using whole beans | Grinding, dosing and steaming require practice | Brewing and steaming use the same boiler in sequence |
| Specifications | ||||
| Type | Manual espresso machine | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic with built-in grinder | Single-boiler espresso machine |
| Heating | Stainless steel boiler | ThermoJet; manufacturer quotes 3-second heat-up | Thermocoil with PID temperature control | Not listed |
| Pump | 15 bar | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Water tank | 33.8 fl oz | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Power | 1,100 W | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Weight | 8.6 lb | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dimensions | 13.5 × 8.07 × 11.22 in | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Portafilter | Not listed | 54 mm stainless steel | 54 mm stainless steel | 58 mm |
| Milk | Not listed | Automatic steam wand | Not listed | Not listed |
| Grinder | Not listed | Not listed | Conical burr, 16 settings | Not listed |
| Boiler | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Brass; brew and steam sequentially |
| Controls | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Manual rocker switches |
| Evidence and availability | ||||
| Evidence | 2 linked sources | 2 linked sources | 1 linked sources; limitations noted below | 1 linked sources; limitations noted below |
| Customer opinion | None yet | 2 first-hand reports | 3 first-hand reports | None yet |
| Can you still buy it | Still sold, checked 27 September 2026 | Still sold, checked 27 September 2026 | Not confirmed, checked 4 October 2026 | Listed by maker, checked 4 October 2026 |
Specifications come from the sources listed under each product. Check the retailer for the exact model, package and current details.
Consider for learning manual espresso
De'LonghiStilosa EC260BK
Still sold
Checked 27 September 2026 against De'Longhi's own product page for EC260BK.
A starting point if you want to learn dosing and steaming with a separate grinder. Include a milk pitcher and suitable grinder in your budget; the machine price is only part of the setup.
What published sources say
2 linked sourcesHome Grounds tested the EC260BK and found it a useful entry into manual espresso, particularly with medium or dark roasts. Its review describes more difficulty with light roasts and a learning curve for milk steaming. Allow warm-up time before starting your routine.
Sources: Home Grounds — EC260BK review · De’Longhi — EC260BK specifications
Reasons to consider
- Pressurised baskets can simplify an initial espresso routine
- Compact manual machine
Worth knowing
- Milk texture takes practice
- Allow warm-up time; check what accessories are included
All specifications
| Type | Manual espresso machine |
|---|---|
| Heating | Stainless steel boiler |
| Pump | 15 bar |
| Water tank | 33.8 fl oz |
| Power | 1,100 W |
| Weight | 8.6 lb |
| Dimensions | 13.5 × 8.07 × 11.22 in |
Source: De'Longhi product page and Amazon listing, Sept 2026
Customer reviews & price history Not available yet
We have not added customer-review summaries or recorded price history for this product. We searched Coffee Stack Exchange on 23 September 2026 for “Stilosa” and “Delonghi” and found no first-hand report from an owner of this model. The summary above is based on the linked sources. Visit the retailer for current prices and customer reviews.
Consider for easier milk texturing
BrevilleBambino Plus BES500BSS
Still sold
Checked 27 September 2026 against Breville's own product page for BES500.
Consider it if automatic milk steaming matters more than having a grinder inside the machine. Allow room for your grinder and for clearing the drip tray.
What published sources say
2 linked sourcesHome Grounds highlights the Bambino Plus’s automatic milk texturing and compact design. Its review also describes a small drip tray and water from the steam-wand purge. Automatic steaming simplifies part of the routine, but preparing the coffee and cleaning the machine still take attention.
Sources: Home Grounds — Bambino Plus review · Breville — Bambino Plus specifications
Reasons to consider
- Automatic milk texturing with selectable settings
- Compact body without a built-in grinder
Worth knowing
- Budget for a separate grinder if using whole beans
- Small drip tray needs frequent attention
All specifications
| Type | Semi-automatic |
|---|---|
| Heating | ThermoJet; manufacturer quotes 3-second heat-up |
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel |
| Milk | Automatic steam wand |
Source: Breville product page and Amazon listing, Sept 2026
Owner experiences
2 reports · Public coffee forum postsAn owner who switched from Nespresso reported better milk texture and a wider range of flavours, but found dosing and clearing the coffee grounds messy.
A new owner reported difficulty locking the portafilter with the supplied basket installed, even after removing the coffee. The post does not establish the cause.
How to read these 2 reports
Searched Coffee Stack Exchange on 23 September 2026 for “Bambino” and “Breville”. Four posts mention the Bambino Plus: the two owner reports shown here, one question from a shopper who had not yet bought the machine, and one reply giving advice whose writer does not say they own one. We found no post from an owner praising the machine.
Both writers name the Bambino Plus model family. Neither post states the exact US model code (BES500BSS), the voltage or the colour, so we cannot confirm they own the US variant listed here.
- Two self-selected troubleshooting questions. This is not a representative sample of owners.
- This forum is a help site, not a review site, so people write mainly when something goes wrong. Expect these reports to lean towards problems.
- Ownership is stated by the writers; no purchase was independently verified.
- We do not turn these posts into a star rating, a satisfaction percentage or a failure rate, and they do not show how common any problem is.
Summaries condensed and paraphrased by QuietlyGuide with AI assistance, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Attribution does not imply endorsement by the contributors or Stack Exchange.
What is still missing Not available yet
This product has no summaries of retailer customer reviews and no recorded price history. Visit the retailer for current prices and its own customer reviews.
Consider for grinding and brewing in one appliance
BrevilleBarista Express BES870XL
Not confirmed
We would rather say so than guess. Checked 4 October 2026 against Breville BES870 product page. The manufacturer page showed out of stock. Other retailer stock has not been freshly confirmed; this does not establish discontinuation.
About the evidence: Feature-based entry. Current manufacturer stock was unavailable on 4 October 2026; stock at other sellers was not confirmed.
Compare the whole setup with a separate machine and grinder. You can still use an external grinder later, but the built-in grinder occupies space whether you use it or not.
What published sources say
1 linked sourcesBreville specifies a built-in burr grinder with sixteen settings and a manual steam wand for the BES870. This combines grinding and brewing in one appliance. These specifications do not establish shot quality, grinder consistency or reliability; we have not tested the machine.
Sources: Breville — BES870 product specifications
Reasons to consider
- Built-in grinder reduces the number of separate appliances
- Manual steaming and adjustable grinding
Worth knowing
- Grinding, dosing and steaming require practice
- Manufacturer page showed out of stock at our latest check
All specifications
| Type | Semi-automatic with built-in grinder |
|---|---|
| Heating | Thermocoil with PID temperature control |
| Grinder | Conical burr, 16 settings |
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel |
Source: Breville product page and Amazon listing, Sept 2026
Owner experiences
3 reports · Public coffee forum postsAll three owners wrote about the same thing: getting the built-in grinder dialled in. None reported a fault with the machine.
A new owner could not slow the shot down: at grind setting 5 with 17–18 g of coffee the espresso began running after 8–9 seconds, and moving the grind between settings 3 and 8 changed nothing.
Another new owner found the machine's preset double shot pushed about 60 ml of water through 15–18 g of coffee — far weaker than the ratio widely recommended — so reaching the strength they wanted meant overriding the presets by hand each time.
This owner has the Sage-branded version sold outside the United States. It is the same machine under a different brand name.
An owner of a few days reached the pressure reading the guides recommend but still pulled a single shot in about 15 seconds instead of the 20 seconds those guides describe, and was unsure which target to trust.
How to read these 3 reports
Searched Coffee Stack Exchange on 23 September 2026 for “Barista Express”, “Breville” and the model code BES870XL. Three first-hand owner posts qualified; the other results were from people shopping for a machine, or about different Breville models.
One writer names the exact model code BES870XL. The other two name the Barista Express without a code, and one of them owns the Sage-branded version sold outside the United States. None states the voltage or colour.
- Three self-selected questions from owners learning the machine. This is not a representative sample.
- This forum is a help site, not a review site, so people write mainly when something goes wrong. Expect these reports to lean towards problems.
- Ownership is stated by the writers; no purchase was independently verified.
- We do not turn these posts into a star rating, a satisfaction percentage or a failure rate, and they do not show how common any problem is.
Summaries condensed and paraphrased by QuietlyGuide with AI assistance and shared under each post's own licence. Attribution does not imply endorsement by the contributors or Stack Exchange.
What is still missing Not available yet
This product has no summaries of retailer customer reviews and no recorded price history. Visit the retailer for current prices and its own customer reviews.
Consider for a hands-on espresso routine
GaggiaClassic Pro E24
Listed by maker
Checked 4 October 2026 against Gaggia product page. Exact model is listed with a purchase option; delivery and checkout stock may vary.
About the evidence: Specification-based comparison for E24. Older Evo Pro reviews and the ambiguous Amazon offer have been removed; this entry does not claim tested brewing performance.
Choose this type of machine if you want to practise grinding, dosing and milk steaming yourself. Allow for a suitable espresso grinder and preparation tools in your total budget. The linked offer now identifies E24 explicitly.
What published sources say
1 linked sourcesGaggia identifies this revision as the Classic Pro E24, with a brass boiler, a 58 mm portafilter and a manual steam wand. Its single boiler serves brewing and steaming in sequence. This is a feature-based option for learning a hands-on routine; we have not transferred tasting or temperature results from older Classic versions.
Sources: Gaggia — Classic Pro E24 specifications
Reasons to consider
- 58 mm portafilter
- Manual brew and steam controls
- Explicitly identified E24 brass-boiler revision
Worth knowing
- Brewing and steaming use the same boiler in sequence
- Requires manual preparation and milk steaming
- No independent exact-E24 test is included here
All specifications
| Type | Single-boiler espresso machine |
|---|---|
| Boiler | Brass; brew and steam sequentially |
| Portafilter | 58 mm |
| Controls | Manual rocker switches |
Source: https://www.gaggia-na.com/products/gaggia-classic-pro
Customer reviews & price history Not available yet
We have not added customer-review summaries or recorded price history for this product. The summary above is based on the linked sources. Visit the retailer for current prices and customer reviews.
Prices change constantly; check the shop before buying. Summaries are written in our own words from the sources linked on each product. We do not test products in a lab.