In one look
Expert rating
Benefits
- Compact design
- Produces a variety of flavorful coffees
- Competitive price
The inconvenients
- Touch controls sometimes finicky
- Build not as striking as its rivals
Our opinion
The Salter Espirista coffee machine doesn’t take up space or eat into your budget, but it produces an excellent range of espresso drinks.
Having your own espresso machine doesn’t have to be a huge investment, as Salter’s Espirista coffee machine proves. Salter is a British brand, best known for its high quality kitchen scales and other small household appliances, including this compact and economical espresso machine.
As well as being handy for a great shot of coffee, the Espirista can also be used for more sophisticated coffees such as lattes, cappuccinos and mochas thanks to the inclusion of an integrated milk wand. Could this be the coffee machine for you? I’ve been making drinks with it for a while now and here’s what I think.
Design and build
- Black and silver color options
- 15 bar pressure
- Touch controls
One of the biggest advantages of the Salter Espirista coffee machine is its compact and lightweight construction. It measures 32.8 x 15.8 x 32 cm and weighs 414 g, so it can easily fit among other devices.
It is an Italian-style 15 bar pressure machine. Bar is short for barometric pressure and is basically the number of atmospheres of pressure exerted on the coffee grounds. While professional barista machines are typically 9 bar, 15 bar is widely considered the norm for cheaper home brewers, as they need a bit more punch to achieve a similar result.
It’s easy to use, even for those who aren’t very tech-savvy
It doesn’t quite have the same striking look as some rivals, but the matte black finish with silver accents is likely to complement most kitchens. It is also available in a silver option, if you prefer. The plastic materials aren’t the most luxurious either, but that’s to be expected from a machine at this price point.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
The curved body features LED touch controls on the front, as well as the portafilter, which comes with 1- and 2-shot filter baskets and easily locks into the machine with a quick twist.
The baskets are pressurized, which is what you would expect from an entry-level machine. They’ll help create a much more consistent brew, but that’s a sign that this isn’t a machine for hardcore espresso lovers, who want to fine-tune their settings. Instead, baskets will help ensure great coffee, every time.
The cup holder is removable, so you can easily clean the drip tray of any excess liquids.
On the right side there is a nozzle to change the steam strength of the milk wand, which is located below. You can adjust the wand according to the position of your pitcher/mug for steaming (remember that a pitcher is not included with the machine). The wand’s metal tube can also be removed for cleaning.
The transparent 1.4L water tank clips onto the back of the machine, along with a removable lid to prevent liquid contamination. On the drip tray there is space for a large cup or two espresso cups.
One of the biggest advantages of the Salter Espirista coffee machine is its compact and lightweight construction.
The buttons on the front are very simple – there’s one for a single shot of coffee, one for a double shot and one for preparing the milk wand. However, they are sometimes a bit slow to respond to presses.
It comes with a combination shovel and tamper to measure and level your land.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Make an espresso
- One-shot and two-shot options
- Easy to use
- Ground coffee only
If you are using the Salter Espirista for the first time, you will need to clean all the accessories and wash the inside of the machine by running it without ground coffee. Once that’s done, you should be good to go.
Salter has a manual that explains the controls and explains how to brew a cup of coffee. That said, some of the brand’s video tutorials would have been a nice addition for visual learners.
When you turn on the machine, the LED lights will flash continuously until the water is fully heated. Then you can choose to use the single-use or double-use cup, and the coffee will start dispensing. It’s easy to use, even for those who aren’t very tech-savvy.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
And the results? Full-bodied, rich black coffee with a powerful aroma. It’s also a decent temperature, being drinkable immediately rather than too hot.
I spoke with a barista about getting the best taste from a machine like this, and she recommended I buy coffee beans with a coarser grind to get the most flavor (if you go to a specialty store, they may be able to grind them for you). It will cost more, but you will get much better strength and taste than a bag bought from the supermarket.
The results? Full-bodied, rich black coffee with a powerful aroma
You can also grind your own beans each time for an even sharper, fresher flavor – although you’ll have to invest in a grinder separately. Salter does not include any equipment in the box for this.
Although there is a bit of noise from the Espirista during the brewing process, it’s not bothersome like I’ve found with other machines.
As it’s a simple device, there’s no temperature control – so you can’t cold brew coffee. Of course, you can always add a shot of espresso to ice and milk for an ice cold drink.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Use the milk nozzle
- Integrated milk wand
- No pitcher included
Once you have finished dispensing your coffee, you can use the milk frothing wand. Again, this will take a bit of time to get ready before you can then turn the dial to adjust the steam level. I recommend doing this for ten seconds first to clean cold water before the flux is hot and ready – in a jug or mug will do.
Then bring your milk jug and insert the wand into it and adjust the dial to how hot/frothy you want your milk to be. YouTube videos recommend holding your pitcher at an angle to achieve that swirl effect.
The process is quick, simple and comes with minimal mess. You’ll need to wipe down the wand after each use, and provided you’re gentle, there shouldn’t be a lot of milk splatter.
If you want to make multiple lattes (or any drink that uses the milk frothing wand, for that matter), the machine may get too hot when you try to brew another coffee right after steaming. To fix this, simply open the steamer while holding a jug to catch the excess water, and the machine should cool fairly quickly.
Too bad Salter doesn’t include a jug with the Espirista. That said, these are available on sites such as Amazon from a high five.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Price and availability
The Salter Espirista coffee machine costs £99.99. You can buy it directly from Salter or through third-party retailers such as Amazon, Currys, Robert Dyas and Boots. At the time of writing, the silver version is discounted.
Unfortunately, you cannot get this machine in the United States.
It’s one of the cheapest espresso machines we’ve tested. For a similar price, you can also consider the Swan Retro Espresso Machine. While the Swan model has a much more distinctive design, its brewing process is complicated in comparison.
You can find more high-end options in our recommendations for the best espresso machines and find other alternatives, including bean-to-cup and pod machines, in our roundup of the best coffee machines around. all.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Verdict
It’s hard to fault the Salter Espirista coffee machine as a starter espresso machine, considering its extremely reasonable price. It’s simple to use and brews delicious espresso – the included milk frothing wand means you can even replicate your local coffee order at home.
The touch controls can be a little stubborn and the plastic build isn’t overly inspirational, but it’s compact and neat, and easy to clean and maintain. Best of all, it makes great coffee – and at this price, it’s hard to beat.
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