The best espresso machine for latte drinks depends on the milk system, and the $599 Ninja Luxe Café Premier is the pick for hands-free milk, including cold foam for iced lattes. Its frothing makes good foam, though not enough for latte art beyond a basic heart, according to Lifestyle Lab, a YouTube channel that reviews kitchen gear.
For latte art, the $699.95 Breville Barista Express has a manual steam wand. The $485 Bambino Plus automates steaming, and the $229 De’Longhi Classic Signature is the budget pick (Amazon listings, Oct 16, 2026).
A latte is about 2 oz of espresso to 10 oz of milk, as Roasty Coffee, a coffee YouTube channel, shows in its demo.
Espresso machine for latte: Quick Picks
Prices checked on Amazon Oct 16, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Espresso machine | Price (Amazon, Oct 16, 2026) | Why it fits | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Luxe Café Premier (ES601) | $599.00 | Best hands-free milk, plus cold foam for iced lattes | Check price |
| Breville Bambino Plus (BES500BSS) | $485.00 | Automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture | Check price |
| Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) | $699.95 | Best for learning latte art with a manual wand | Check price |
| De’Longhi Classic Signature | $229.00 | Budget pick: 2-setting wand; remove the tip for silkier milk | Check price |
Ninja Luxe Café Premier (ES601)
Best hands-free milk, plus cold foam for iced lattes. Check the price on Amazon.
- 3-in-1: double or quad espresso, 3 drip styles and 2 cold brew styles
- 25-setting conical burr grinder with weight-based dosing
- Barista Assist suggests grind changes after each shot
- Assisted tamper
- Dual Froth System with 4 presets, including cold foam
- Built-in accessory storage
Breville Bambino Plus (BES500BSS)
Automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture. Check the price on Amazon.
- Automatic steam wand with adjustable milk temperature and texture
- ThermoJet 3-second heat-up and PID
- 54 mm portafilter with a 19 g dose
- 7.7 in wide
Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)
Best for learning latte art with a manual wand. Check the price on Amazon.
- Integrated conical burr grinder grinds straight into the portafilter
- Grind-size dial for adjusting to different beans
- Digital temperature control (PID)
- Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Manual steam wand for hand-textured microfoam
De’Longhi Classic Signature
Budget pick: 2-setting wand; remove the tip for silkier milk. Check the price on Amazon.
- 15-bar pump
- Thermoblock heating
- Adjustable 2-setting steam wand (steamed milk or microfoam)
- Customizable single and double espresso presets
- Compact stainless-steel design
How to Make a Latte at Home
- Pull a double shot
- Steam milk with the tip just below the surface to add air early, then sink it to swirl
- Stop when the pitcher is too hot to hold
- Tap and swirl, then pour from high, finishing close to the cup
My Planned Test
Planned test: I plan to make the same 12 oz latte on each pick and time the milk step. I will add my results and my Home Smart video here when they are done. Until then, nothing on this page is a hands-on claim from me.
What YouTube Reviewers Found About Milk Drinks
These findings are paraphrased from the video transcripts and credited to each creator. They are the creators’ own test results and opinions, not mine.
- The YouTube channel Roasty Coffee: a latte is espresso plus a lot of steamed milk (about 2 oz espresso to 10 oz milk in their demo), steamed hot so it stays warm while you sip.
- The YouTube channel America’s Test Kitchen: their steaming tip is to start with the wand tip in the milk, add air early, then let the vortex fold the bubbles in until the pitcher is too hot to touch. Tap and swirl for glossy milk before pouring.
- The YouTube channel Lifestyle Lab: the whisk-plus-steam frothing makes good foam and cold foam, but it is not integrated enough for latte art beyond a basic heart; you can steam manually instead. Full-size Luxe-basket drinks were often under-extracted and watery.
- The YouTube channel Tom’s Coffee Corner (De’Longhi EM450): the machine has a pressure gauge, a large water tank and a panarello steam wand. The panarello makes bubbly foam; removing it and steaming manually gave silky milk good enough for simple latte art with practice.
- More George (4 years with a Barista Express): 4 to 6 coffees a day for four years without it skipping a beat. Downsides were weak, slow steam pressure and a single boiler, so you can’t brew and steam at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best espresso machine for latte drinks?
For hands-free lattes, the Ninja Luxe Café or Bambino Plus. For latte art practice, a manual wand like the Barista Express.
Can I make a latte without a steam wand?
You can heat and froth milk separately, but a steam wand gives the texture lattes are known for.
How much milk goes in a latte?
Roasty Coffee’s demo used about 2 oz of espresso and 10 oz of milk.
Sources
- Amazon “Customers say” review summaries on each listing (AI-generated by Amazon from customer reviews), checked October 16, 2026
- Amazon product listings for the espresso machines linked above, checked October 16, 2026
- Amazon search results for “espresso machine” (snapshot October 16, 2026)
- Roasty Coffee: “How To Make A Latte At Home With An Espresso Machine”
- Lifestyle Lab: “Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Review | Is Breville Worried?”
- America’s Test Kitchen: “Best Espresso Machines (Beginner to Advanced) | Gear Heads”
- Tom’s Coffee Corner: “Delonghi Linea Classic EM450 Review and Test”
Related: Ninja Luxe Café Premier Review | Breville Barista Express Review | Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
Notes and disclosure
Note: Prices, ratings and “bought in past month” badges come from Amazon listings and Amazon search results on October 16, 2026. Prices change often, so check the current listing. Test results quoted below come from the YouTube reviewers credited in each section. My own hands-on results will be added after my planned test.
Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase an item through the links on this page, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel.