Making the perfect morning pick-me-up at home starts with an espresso machine.

Over 150 million people drink coffee every single day in the United States alone. I’ll be the first to say that I’m part of that not-so-exclusive group that can’t go a day without getting my coffee. Shoot, I’m barely functional at my desk if I haven’t had at least one cup.

But sometimes you just need a quick influx of caffeine with a bolder flavor than normal coffee. That’s where espressos come in. You could go to the local coffee shop and pay $4 or $5 for a shot of espresso, or you could make your own at home and save money in the long run. So we’ve come up with everything you need to make delicious espressos without leaving the house.

To make sure we’re giving you high-quality product recommendations, I spoke to Angie Koopman, an experienced barista who spent over three years in the role at Starbucks. She provided recommendations of her own and chimed in on what you really need to make espressos at home.

Nespresso VertuoPlus Espresso and Coffee Maker

You'll need to have a trusty espresso machine to get started. If you look on Amazon, you’ll find countless espresso machines ranging from less than $50 to over hundreds of dollars with all sorts of capabilities.

After chatting with Koopman and listening to her recommendations, I actually ended up buying this one myself – the Nespresso VertuoPlus Espresso and Coffee Maker. It works like a Keurig coffee maker with pods/capsules, so it’s much easier to use than one where you have to scoop your own coffee grounds.

“It's a  great, high-quality option that won’t break the bank compared to other choices,” says Koopman.

Plus, it does more than just make basic espressos. With the right capsules, you can get a single shot of espresso, a double shot of espresso, a 5-ounce coffee, or a 7.7-ounce coffee. For the price, I've found it’s versatile and performs incredibly well!

DecoBros Crystal Tempered Glass Capsule Holder

Alright, you’ve gotten the espresso maker. Check. Next thing you need is the capsules (also called pods) that actually have the coffee grounds inside. This is where you have to be somewhat careful with Nespresso machines, because they have multiple product lines. If you opted for the VertuoPlus machine from above, then you’ll need to get VertuoLine Espresso Capsules.

This set from Amazon comes with 40 capsules for 1.35-ounce single shots of espresso. According to Koopman, “this assortment is especially good for those who like a richer, dark roast and bold flavor in their espresso.”

No matter which capsules you get, pick up a convenient capsule drawer like this one for less than $30. It’ll keep them organized and you can set your espresso machine right on top for a seamless look.

Lareina Espresso Cups with Saucers and Metal Stand

If you noticed above, a single shot of espresso is just 1.35 ounces of coffee. While sure, you could technically drink your espresso from any mug or coffee cup, it would look a bit strange drinking such a small amount of coffee from a regular-sized mug. That’s where espresso cups come in.

This set from Lareina includes 6 espresso cups, 6 saucers, 6 spoons, and a metal stand to hold it all in one convenient place. These tiny little cups were made just for drinking espressos, and the cup/saucer combo looks sleek as ever.

“This set is compact but also adds a pop of class to your counter,” says Koopman. “[The cups] give a feeling of sitting in a quaint Parisian café.”

Zulay Original Milk Frother Handheld Foam Maker

To really add some flair to your espresso (or coffee), consider getting a milk frother or a milk frothing pitcher, or both! With a milk frothing pitcher like this affordable one from Amazon, you can pour the frothed milk right on top of your espresso and use the included art pen to make the fancy designs you see in movies.

According to Koopman, to use a milk frothing pitcher like that you'll need a different type of espresso machine with a built-in steamer. Unfortunately, our Nespresso VertuoPlus does not have that feature. But Koopman suggests using a handheld milk frother like this one that’s affordable and gets the job done. 

Just fill the pitcher with milk, use the frother to froth it up, and then you can use the pitcher like normal.

Let me preface this by saying that these particular cleaning capsules will not work with the VertuoPlus machine. But if you opted to go with something like the Original Nespresso Espresso Maker, then these cleaning capsules make it a breeze. At the time of writing, there aren’t any VertuoLine cleaning capsules on the market just yet.

But if these are compatible with your Nespresso machine, cleaning capsules make keeping it clean as easy as brewing an espresso. You just pop these food-safe tablets in where your espresso pod would go and hit brew. The machine will do the rest and it’ll stay sparkling to ensure you have the best coffee flavor every time you make an espresso.