I was surfing around the net the other day looking at good deals. That got me thinking. Was there a one fit all espresso machine? An espresso machine that could be used at home or at the office. The best espresso machine in 2016 that produces great tasting coffee and is simplistic, portable and of course wallet friendly.

So here is the result. In looking for a one fit all espresso machine, I anticipated that I’d have to make a tonne of compromises. The first would be that I wouldn’t be able to have a milk frother included in the machine. This was because it’d be more troublesome to maintain a machine that has a milk frother than maintaining one without. Goodbye lovely cappuccinos lattes and mochas.

Next, I realised that a semi-automatic was out of the question. Nobody would have the time to pour fresh beans into an automatic grinder and then wait even longer for the espresso shot to drip out of the nozzle. Well, I guess if that was the case the cafeteria would always be hogged and productivity would be at an all time LOW.

So, the only logical option was to get a super-automatic espresso machine or a pod/capsule espresso machine. Since full fledged super-automatic espresso makers would have cost a bomb, I guess the best solution to the problem is a Nespresso espresso maker.

For quick clean up and ease of use, a Nespresso would be the best espresso machine for the home or office. It was a tie between the Nespresso Insignia, Citiz and the Pixie. If it was up to me, I’d not hesitate to pick the Pixie. It is reasonably priced and has all the necessary features to produce a good and quick afternoon pick me up or a morning cup of coffee.

If you don’t mind making some compromises, the Pixie is a budget friendly option that can work well no matter where you set it up. All you need to get it to work is a power source, a small cup and some nice Nespresso Pods. I really do think it is a perfectly convenient multipurpose espresso maker.

Who needs to wait in line every single morning when you can have perfect single or double shots of espressos at in your very own kitchen. I truly believe that the only time you have to go out to pick up a cup of coffee from a cafe is when your espresso maker or grinder has bit the dust.

You might be wondering what makes a good shot of espresso. Well my dear friends, the answer is a lot more simpler than it seems. A good shot of espresso comes from a good espresso maker. It doesn’t really take skill or training but you’ll certainly need some fresh or pre-ground coffee beans and a decent espresso maker to make a satisfactory shot.

My favourite beans to use in an espresso shot are the Koffee Kult Dark Roast. These beans are just to die for. IT WAS absolutely flavourful and rich. For the price, this 5 pound bag of coffee beans was the perfect way to kick start my day. My morning ritual consists of dragging myself out of bed, getting to the kitchen filling my semi-automatic with these beans and starting my day the right way ~ with a DOUBLE SHOT. Paired with some scrambled eggs and some strips of bacon, I’m all fired up to go out in the world and get S@#$ done right!

It’s really noticeable how different a cup of espresso and a good breakfast makes my day. If I start my day right, the rest of my day seems to fall into place. I’m never cranky or late for work or meetings. This splendid double shot does the job right by keeping me productive all the way. ~untill I have my lunch break to refuel.

So I often wondered if I’d be able to get a reliable and functional espresso maker for under $200. Loving espressos is one thing but spending a truck load of money on it is another. I wanted to be certain that if I was going to be spending that much money on something. It was going to last for a very long time.

Google is your best friend when it comes to these scenarios. You can find almost everything about a product online. Before I buy anything, I usually spend half a day researching the pros and cons of each product. I do try to use my hard earned money well you know. I read reviews, watch Youtube videos and Amazon comments do come in handy. So that’s exactly what you should be doing. It would really be quite pointless paying top dollar for a fancy looking piece of trash.

So there were 2 models in particular that really caught my attention. One of them was a super-automatic espresso machine and the other was a semi. Both these machines came with a sub 200 dollar price tag and a bunch of neat features. They are the best espresso maker under 200 dollars for 2016 to me.

Mr Coffee Cafe Barista

This is a super automatic machine that is really a bargain for the price. It comes with an automatic milk frother that channels milk directly into your cup. It really helps avoid the messy manual milk frothing routines that many other semi-automatic espresso machines have. The trade off is that you’ll be forced to give up quite a bit of manual control.

The one main thing that this espresso maker lacks is a bean grinder. So even though this espresso machine is able to produce coffee at a single touch, you’d still have manually grind your fresh coffee beans in a burr grinder.

The one touch control panel really helps with convenience, if I wanted an espresso machine that looked this good and produced amazing results, the Mr Coffee would be my to-go-to option.

Nespresso Pixie C60

The most wallet friendly super-automatic machine that I’ve found is one I have bought as a wedding gift. I gave this Nespresso machine to my brother some time ago. And , to this day, he and his wife have had no complaints. I use it quite a bit whenever I visit him.

This machine uses refillable pods. These pods give you countless variations of drinks to choose from. It also makes your drink in a jiffy, there is barely any waiting time at all. All you need to buy some nespresso Originalline pods and test out all their flavours.

So if you’re gift shopping or just looking for a new espresso machine, it’ll be worth giving these two options a shot. Cause they really are the best espresso maker under 200 dollars to me.