I'm an ex-barista, and now I'm putting my coffee skills into reviewing espresso machines for a living. I test all of the best espresso machines — and the worst ones, but we don't talk about those — and I'm on a mission to help you spend your money wisely.
If you're even a little bit into coffee, you've definitely heard of Breville and De'Longhi. The espresso machines made by these two companies are some of the best-value home coffee makers, crammed with premium features that'll impress espresso purists and beginners alike. I'm a huge fan of both of these brands' machines, and there's one key reason.
All Breville espresso machines and most De'Longhis have a PID controller — and I would never buy an espresso machine without one. I'll tell you exactly what a PID controller is and why it's such a good feature.
What is a PID controller?
"PID" stands for "Proportional-Integral-Derivative." If that makes your eyes go funny, then, yeah, me too.
A PID controller effectively controls the temperature of water at every stage of the espresso-making process. If the controller detects that the water is too hot or cold, it will instantly adjust boiler power to reach the optimal temperature.
All Breville espresso machines have one. The PID controller in a Breville ensures the water is at 200°F consistently. If the machines didn't have a PID controller, the water might wobble between 198°-212°F and result in a weird-tasting coffee.
Why is a PID controller so important?
Espresso is made up of two things: water and coffee. If you use old coffee, it's not going to taste good, right? So why would you use cold/boiling water?
Coffee should be brewed between 200°F-212°F. A couple of degrees out, and you'll have either weak or burned coffee. That's why a PID controller is so important — these devices ensure accurate water temperature at every point along the brewing process.
Imagine baking a cake. You've made your batter with high-quality flour, eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Then, you bake it in an oven at 450°F rather than 350°F. What's going to happen? It's gonna taste nasty, that's what.
Coffee works exactly the same. You need to brew espresso at the correct temperature; otherwise, it'll be burned or weak. Grind size is the most important aspect, but water temperature is essential too.
Which espresso machines have PID controllers?
I've tested 30 espresso machines in the past 12 months. One thing you need to know is that a PID controller doesn't automatically make a good espresso machine. Super-budget machines like the Gevi Espresso Machine with Grinder and the Casabrews CM5418 Pro both have PID controllers, but I wouldn't recommend either of those for serious baristas due to a low-quality grinder and boiler issues.
I do, however, know which PID-controlled machines are worth your money. They are the Breville Bambino, Breville Bambino Plus, De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo, and the Breville Barista Express.
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