My Parents’ Compact Espresso Machine Makes “Unbelievably Delicious,” Café-Quality Brews in Seconds

Nikol Slatinska
Nikol SlatinskaCommerce Shopping Writer
I write home shopping content for Apartment Therapy. My job entails product testing and reviewing, as well as writing serviceable shopping guides for furniture and home decor. I received my undergraduate journalism degree at the University of Missouri and wrote for local publications in my college town.
published Jan 17, 2025
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angled shot of someone in a sweater holding a cup of coffee on a red side table
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Tom Hoerup

I have a really fancy espresso machine at home that I love, but it’s high-maintenance. In that way, it’s kind of symbolic of my life since moving to NYC, where even the simplest tasks become tedious. In between uses, I have to rinse the machine and change its water filter frequently. I have to empty its trays and scrub it down on a biweekly basis; otherwise, grime builds up and makes it smell bad. It’s a lot.

So, when I visit my parents in the Midwest, it’s nice to take a load off, whether that means using my dad’s car for grocery shopping or making a quick cup of coffee with their Keurig. This past December, though, I discovered that they had started using this Gevi espresso machine over their Keurig. The latter was still in their kitchen, so I opted to keep using it until one day my dad finally convinced me to try the Gevi. And I have to say, not only does this slim, budget-friendly Amazon find make exceptional coffee, but it’s also the easiest coffee machine I’ve ever used.

What Is the Gevi Espresso Machine?

My parents have owned this machine for a little over a year, and my dad said that what initially drew him to it (besides the price) was its 20-bar pump. I wasn’t initially sure what this meant, but basically, the more bars of pressure an espresso machine generates, the more flavor it extracts from the coffee.

According to my dad (and based on how good the coffee tastes), the Gevi’s 20-bar pressure is impressive. There’s even a gauge on the front of the machine so you can see how much pressure it’s applying while it works. You’ll also be happy to learn that the Gevi has a built-in automatic milk frother, allowing you to whip up foamy beverages like lattes and cappuccinos. You can additionally customize its brewing volume to your liking.

Credit: Nikol Slatinska

Why I Love the Gevi Espresso Machine

Like I said, over the course of the first few days of my visit, I was using my parents’ old Keurig. My dad kept badgering me to try the “so much better” Gevi, but if I’m being honest, I had never used a manual espresso machine before, and I felt intimidated. But one day, I finally let him walk me through the process, and I was astounded by how fast and easy it was. Seriously, this thing had my coffee ready by the time the Keurig’s water tank had finished heating up!

Not only that, but the coffee was perfectly bold and rich and not bitter at all. There is some maintenance involved in cleaning the portafilter after each use, but that’s nothing compared to the care required by some of the fancier machines you’ll find on the market, like the one in my NYC apartment.

What’s more, the Gevi espresso machine is delightfully compact, measuring 1 foot tall and 5.4 inches across. It also extends back a foot, but its slim silhouette takes up virtually no space compared to most coffee machines. Even if you already have multiple countertop appliances, you can seamlessly slide this machine between them and have counter space to spare. Now that I’m back in the city, I actually miss using the Gevi every morning. But it’s nice to know that every time I go home, I can look forward to using it again.

Buy: Gevi Espresso Machine, 20 Bar, $134.99 (normally $169.99)

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