Quick pick
Start with the Bambino for a manual wand and a 3-second heat-up. Want the milk done for you? Check the Dedica Maestro Plus on Amazon. Want to spend less? Stilosa, with a basic manual steam wand. Our $300 limit covers the machine; grinder, beans, and scale are extra.
Three picks
Start here
Breville Bambino BES450BSS
Manual steam wand and a 3-second heat-up, under our $300 limit.
Choose another if: You want automatic milk. That’s the Dedica Maestro Plus.
Check price on Amazon
Automatic milk
De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M
Automatic steam wand that steams the milk for you. Often over our $300 limit, so check the current price.
Choose another if: You want a machine under $300 today with a manual wand and a 3-second heat-up. That’s the Bambino.
Check price on Amazon
Slim and simple
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK
A basic manual steam wand for less. You steam the milk yourself.
Choose another if: You want the automatic steam wand. That is the Maestro Plus.
Check price on AmazonBuy the Bambino. The $300 limit is the machine only. A burr grinder, beans, and a scale are extra.
The Maestro Plus runs over our $300 limit at full price.
Compare the three
Swipe to compare
| Breville Bambino BES450BSS | De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M | De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk system | Manual steam wand | Automatic steam wand | Basic manual steam wand |
| Footprint | 11.9 in W × 6.1 in D × 13.5 in H | 8.15 in W × 13.62 in D × 12.9 in H | 8.07 in W × 13.5 in D × 11.22 in H |
| Grinder included | No | No | No |
| Buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
What else you buy
The machine is only part of it. You'll also want a burr grinder (or pre-ground coffee to start), fresh beans, and a small scale. We don't pick those yet.
If you are still choosing
Get the most from it
- Fresh grind is the biggest upgrade. Beans ground right before you brew do more for your shot than any spec on the box.
- Budget for a grinder. None of our picks comes with one, and our $300 limit covers the machine only.
- Read "15 bar" as a pump rating. It tells you how strong the pump is, not the pressure your coffee actually brews at, so don't choose on that number alone.
- How we picked. We chose these on specs and features, not taste tests, so we don't rank the shots. It's a short list of machines worth owning under $300, not a best-of list.