Best Espresso Machines for Americano Drinkers

Disclosure: TheCoffeeGearReport is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The short answer

If you mostly drink Americanos, buy an espresso machine with a dedicated hot water outlet so you are not filling the cup from a kettle or the steam wand. The Breville Barista Pro is the best pick for most people: it heats up in about three seconds, has a built-in grinder and a separate hot water spout. For push-button Americanos, the Philips 3200 LatteGo has an Americano drink on its menu. If you also want full pots of regular coffee, the Ninja Luxe Café brews both espresso and drip-style coffee in one machine.

We compared specs, owner reviews and published reviews to pick machines that make good espresso and handle the “add hot water” part well.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Model	Type	Hot water	Grinder	Best for	Amazon
Best overall	Breville Barista Pro	Semi-automatic	Dedicated outlet	Built-in conical burr	Fast, hands-on Americanos	Check price
Best value	Breville Barista Express	Semi-automatic	Dedicated outlet	Built-in conical burr	Learning espresso on a budget	Check price
Best push-button	Philips 3200 LatteGo	Super-automatic	Americano and hot water drinks	Ceramic burr, 12 settings	One-touch Americanos	Check price
Best premium	Breville Oracle Jet	Automatic semi-auto	Americano preset	Built-in, auto dose and tamp	Café-level, low effort	Check price
Best espresso + coffee	Ninja Luxe Café	Hybrid	Espresso, drip-style coffee and cold brew	Built-in conical burr	Households with mixed tastes	Check price

What an Americano drinker should look for

• A separate hot water outlet. Drawing hot water through the group head pulls it through the coffee path, and using the steam wand is slow and sputters. A dedicated spout is the cleanest solution.
• Good espresso, not just big volume. An Americano is espresso plus water, so a sour or bitter shot stays sour or bitter. A capable grinder matters more than cup size.
• Cup clearance. Make sure a 12–16 oz mug fits under the spout, or plan to pull the shot into a small pitcher.
• Water tank size. Americanos use far more water than straight espresso. A 2 L tank means fewer refills.
• Shot order. Pour hot water first and espresso on top to keep the crema; the reverse order (a long black versus an Americano) changes the texture.

1. Breville Barista Pro — Best overall

The Barista Pro is the Barista Express’s faster, more refined sibling. Its ThermoJet heating system is ready in about three seconds, so a weekday Americano takes very little time. It has an integrated conical burr grinder with 30 settings, PID temperature control, an LCD that shows grind and shot time, a steam wand, and a dedicated hot water outlet.

Who it’s for: people who want to make good espresso by hand and drink several Americanos a day without waiting for a boiler.

Good to know: you still dial in grind, dose and tamp yourself. The built-in grinder is fine for medium and dark roasts but less precise with very light roasts.

Check the Breville Barista Pro on Amazon →

2. Breville Barista Express — Best value

The Barista Express has the same idea in a slightly older package: an integrated conical burr grinder, a 15-bar pump, a steam wand and a separate hot water spout. It takes longer to heat up than the Pro and uses an analog pressure gauge instead of a screen, but it is one of the most popular home espresso machines for a reason.

Who it’s for: first-time espresso buyers who want a complete setup at a lower price.

Good to know: warm-up time is longer, so it is less suited to a rushed single morning coffee than the Pro.

Check the Breville Barista Express on Amazon →

3. Philips 3200 LatteGo — Best push-button

If you do not want to learn espresso technique, a super-automatic does it all. The Philips 3200 grinds, tamps and brews, and its menu includes americano, espresso, coffee and hot water, as well as milk drinks via the easy-clean LatteGo carafe. It has a ceramic grinder with 12 settings and a 1.8 L tank.

Who it’s for: Americano drinkers who want one button and a quick rinse.

Good to know: super-automatic espresso is softer and less intense than a well-made semi-automatic shot; for many Americano drinkers that is a fine trade-off.

Check the Philips 3200 LatteGo on Amazon →

4. Breville Oracle Jet — Best premium

The Oracle Jet automates the hard parts of espresso: it grinds, doses and tamps into a 58 mm portafilter, and its menu includes an Americano preset you can edit and save. It also has automatic milk texturing, a large touchscreen and Wi-Fi for firmware updates.

Who it’s for: buyers who want café-quality Americanos with minimal effort and are comfortable with a high-end price.

Good to know: it is large and expensive. If you only drink black coffee, much of what you pay for (automatic milk) goes unused.

Check the Breville Oracle Jet on Amazon →

5. Ninja Luxe Café — Best espresso plus coffee

The Luxe Café is a hybrid: it pulls espresso, brews drip-style coffee and makes cold brew, with a built-in conical burr grinder and guided settings. If your household includes people who want an Americano and people who want a regular cup of coffee, one machine covers both.

Who it’s for: mixed households and anyone not sure whether they will stick with espresso.

Good to know: enthusiasts will find less fine control than on a dedicated espresso machine.

Check the Ninja Luxe Café on Amazon →

How to make a great Americano at home

• Pull a double shot (roughly 36–40 g of espresso from 18–20 g of coffee is a common starting point).
• Heat 4–8 oz of water to around 190–200°F. Most machines’ hot water outlets are in that range.
• Pour the water into the cup first, then add the espresso on top to preserve the crema.
• Adjust the water to taste: less for a stronger, fuller cup; more for something closer to drip coffee.

Buying checklist

• Dedicated hot water spout, or an Americano button on a super-automatic
• A grinder good enough for the beans you buy (built-in or separate)
• Water tank of at least about 1.8 L
• Cup clearance for your favorite mug
• Filtered water to protect the machine and improve taste

FAQ

Do I need an espresso machine to make an Americano?

A true Americano is espresso diluted with hot water, so yes, you need an espresso machine. A moka pot or AeroPress with added water makes a similar strong-coffee drink.

What espresso machine has a hot water dispenser?

The Breville Barista Express and Barista Pro both have a dedicated hot water outlet. Many super-automatics, like the Philips 3200, include hot water and Americano options on the menu.

Should you add water or espresso first for an Americano?

Water first, then espresso, keeps the crema on top. Adding water to espresso is traditional for an Americano but breaks up the crema.

Is an Americano stronger than drip coffee?

It depends on the water you add. A double shot in 6 oz of water usually tastes more intense than drip coffee but has a similar or slightly lower amount of caffeine than a large mug of drip.