What’s the future for home espresso machines?

Investment in coffee education reached an all-time high during the pandemic, as more people sought to replicate café-quality drinks at home.

Consumer knowledge has continued to increase in the years since, further bolstering innovation in the at-home coffee market. According to the US’ National Coffee Association, 71% of past-day consumption occurred at home in early 2025, up from 63% in 2020.

This rapid market growth also gave rise to prosumers – highly skilled and educated consumers who invest in premium equipment. In response, machine manufacturers began incorporating more professional-grade features, such as PID dual boilers, commercial pumps, and integrated grinders, into home espresso machines.

Meanwhile, in recent years, accessibility and ease of use have become just as important to consumers as high-end performance. To learn how this is reshaping the future of home espresso machines, I spoke with Dennis Chen and Li (Levy) Zong Wei at Meraki.

You may also like our article on the future of espresso machine technology.

The growing demand for high-performing home espresso machines

Over the past five years, consumers have become increasingly educated about specialty coffee, particularly during 2020, when lockdowns forced most cafés to temporarily close. In response, many people began investing in their equipment setups and high-quality coffee to prepare their favourite drinks at home.

This shift sparked a growing demand for better coffee machines that could deliver café-quality results at home.

“For those seeking to brew coffee of the same quality that baristas prepare in coffee shops, a semi-automatic espresso machine became an essential choice,” says Levy, the product design manager at Meraki, an award-winning home espresso machine manufacturer. 

Although more costly than manual brewers and filter coffee machines, espresso machines enabled people to recreate high-quality milk-based drinks, which remain popular among many consumers.

Those most willing and able to invest in these machines, most commonly known as “prosumers”, blur the line between industry professionals and home baristas. By combining their expertise with premium equipment, prosumers can express their keen interest and passion for making specialty coffee.

In turn, more manufacturers began designing home machines that rival commercial models in both performance and features. 

“The pursuit of café-quality results within a home environment necessitates that manufacturers innovate, integrate advanced features, and continually refine the overall quality and user experience of home espresso machines,” says Dennis Chen, the founder of Meraki.

How prosumers are driving technological innovation

The burgeoning prosumer market has been a major driving force behind innovation in both professional and home coffee machines.

“Prosumers actively seek functionalities previously exclusive to commercial-grade equipment, thereby compelling manufacturers to integrate these into home models,” explains Dennis. “The demand for these features reflects a desire for even extraction and a professional user experience.” 

Prosumers are heavily involved with the equipment they use, which often includes semi-professional and complex machines with features intended for a primarily professional context. Their involvement in the industry extends beyond consumption; prosumers are becoming increasingly involved with and helping reshape product development.

For example, Meraki’s PID dual boiler system ensures temperature stability for optimal extraction and allows for simultaneous brewing and milk steaming. The machine’s rotary pump also delivers 9-bar pressure, helping home baristas to enhance the flavour and body of their coffee.

Pre-infusion features, once exclusive to commercial machines, are now increasingly found in home models.

“The inclusion of pre-infusion allows for the gentle saturation of coffee grounds prior to full extraction, contributing to a more uniform and nuanced brew,” Dennis says.

Traditionally, prosumers had to invest in separate grinders and espresso machines to achieve the level of quality and performance they desired, adding to the costs of their home brewing setup. Now, more home espresso machines feature integrated professional-grade grinders.

Meraki’s machine, for instance, features a built-in stepless conical burr grinder co-engineered with Timemore, another premium coffee equipment manufacturer.

“Timemore has studied the in-depth relationship between the grinder and the extraction process,” says Levy. “The company manufactures high-precision equipment and implements rigorous testing, which has been the cornerstone of our collaboration.”

Accessibility is becoming even more important for consumers

With the growing demand for convenience in home coffee equipment, accessibility and usability have become equally important to consumers as performance.

Most self-taught home baristas don’t have the same skill level as professional baristas who train for weeks and months. However, they still want high-quality equipment that produces excellent coffee at home, without requiring significant time or resources to learn how to use it.

Until recently, many home coffee machines didn’t prioritise the user experience. Their complex technical details and steep learning curve posed a high barrier to many consumers.

“While everyone believes that the technological development of semi-automatic espresso machines is to create more fun and customisable machines for coffee enthusiasts, we aspire to be the disruptor, making it easier for everyone to enjoy high-quality coffee,” Levy says.

The Meraki’s Smart-Auto Mode automates grinding, extraction, and milk foaming, allowing users to prepare a range of espresso and milk-based drinks.

“The machine intelligently stops grinding and extraction once the pre-set weight is reached,” Dennis says. “By automating these precise measurements and timings, Smart-Auto Mode mitigates the potential for user error, leading to more consistent and high-quality coffee.”

Automation is simplifying the brewing process

Meraki also partnered with roasters to offer coffee bags embedded with NFC chips. Using the machine’s CoffeeSense Technology, users scan the bag, automatically programming the machine with bean-specific grinding and extraction settings. 

“For novice users, Smart-Auto Mode and CoffeeSense Technology offer an accessible entry point to brewing excellent coffee by automating variables and providing expert-validated settings,” Dennis says. “Conversely, experienced users retain the ability to exercise control through adjustable grind settings, customisable temperatures, and real-time weight monitoring, allowing for manual adjustments and experimentation.”

The machine’s adjustable steam wand also has an integrated milk temperature sensor, which assists users in achieving their desired level of microfoam.

“This ensures that the milk is heated to the ideal temperature range for optimal sweetness and texture, while also preventing scalding,” Dennis tells me.

The push for innovation amid consolidation

In recent years, there has been significant consolidation in the home espresso machine market as more major brands have invested heavily in this growing category.

In 2024, De’Longhi S.p.A acquired a majority 41% stake in coffee equipment brand La Marzocco, capitalising on its cult status in specialty coffee. Similarly, in 2022, Breville Group acquired LELIT, an Italian prosumer specialty coffee group, following its 2020 acquisition of grinder manufacturer Baratza.

As the market consolidates and larger brands position themselves as equipment powerhouses, a push for brand differentiation, catering to changing consumer expectations, and market disruption become more important.

Innovation offers a unique selling proposition in a market with fewer players, enabling manufacturers to inspire brand loyalty among consumers seeking specific features and experiences. Today’s home baristas are also becoming increasingly knowledgeable and have higher expectations for their equipment. 

“Innovation enables manufacturers to meet these expectations by integrating advanced features and smart technologies that elevate the brewing experience and the final product,” explains Dennis. “While consolidation can lead to established giants, truly groundbreaking innovation can challenge the status quo, and potentially reshape the competitive landscape.”

Meraki’s Kickstarter campaign raised US $1.8 million, proof of the growing appeal of accessible, high-performing machines.

The future of home espresso machine technology

Experts predict that the next wave of home espresso machine technology will focus on a few key areas: improved usability, increased automation without losing manual customisation, and more space-saving, sleek designs.

“We can expect continued innovation in grinder burr design and motor control, leading to even more consistent and accurate particle size distribution,” Dennis says. 

Future models may also feature built-in sensors to analyse water quality and automatically adjust brewing parameters according to the water used.

“A good user experience has long been a neglected issue,” Levy says. “Enabling more people to enjoy high-quality coffee more easily will undoubtedly be the direction of development for home espresso machines.”

Upgrades to the user interface could include more intuitive and responsive touchscreens, haptic feedback, and streamlined maintenance procedures. But even with the rise of automation and growing demand for convenience, many don’t expect home espresso machines to go fully automated anytime soon.

“Instead, I anticipate a continued coexistence of automated and manual options, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of home coffee enthusiasts,” explains Dennis.

But users still want control

Prosumers comprise a significant segment of the home equipment market, and these users actively seek a high degree of manual control over brewing parameters. The ritual of espresso preparation and the ability to experiment are integral for them.

“Full automation would inherently remove these elements of engagement and control, which are highly valued by this influential market segment that often drives innovation,” Dennis notes. “While sensors and algorithms can assist, the human palate and the ability to make subtle, real-time adjustments based on sensory input remain crucial for dialing in a perfect shot.”

Beyond precision and control, future home coffee machines are expected to have a much smaller footprint. Today’s consumers are also increasingly seeking sleek, modern machines that not only perform well but also look visually appealing. 

Dennis predicts that manufacturers will focus on designing aesthetically pleasing machines for smaller spaces, without sacrificing performance or functionality. 

“The concept of modular components could also gain traction, allowing for greater customisation, easier repairs, and the potential for future upgrades,” he adds.

Home espresso machines have evolved dramatically over the past five years, thanks to a more educated consumer base. Prosumers have exerted significant influence over this sector, inspiring more advanced features in home coffee equipment.

Experts predict this trend will only continue. Looking ahead, we can expect more innovation that helps bring the professional brewing experience to users’ homes.

The future of home espresso machines promises a more refined, accessible, and customisable experience, putting café-quality coffee within the reach of more people.

Enjoyed this? Then read our article on how super-automatics could help coffee become more accessible.

Photo credits: Meraki

Perfect Daily Grind

Please note: Meraki is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.

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