10 Best Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines With PID (Proportional Integral Derivative)

Updated:
17. July 2024

Want to find the best semi-automatic espresso machines with PID? We have compared various models and ranked them all from best to worst.

Top 10 best semi-automatic espresso machines with PID

Based on: 14,154 user reviews

Rank Image Semi-automatic espresso machine Score Verdict Price

You can find all the semi-automatic espresso machines in our comparison here.

About PID

PID is a control system that allows the espresso machine to control the brewing temperature of the water. PID stands for ‘proportional integral derivative’.

The PID controller monitors the water temperature and compares it to your desired temperature. If the temperature of the water is too low, the PID controller will increase the heat to bring the water up to the desired temperature. If the water temperature is too high, the PID controller will decrease the heat to prevent the water from getting too hot.

Using a PID controller allows for more precise temperature control, which is essential to producing high-quality espresso shots.

Advantages

The most common advantages of an espresso machine with PID control are:

  • Improved temperature control: A PID controller allows for more precise temperature control, resulting in a rich cup of coffee. It ensures that the water is at the optimal temperature to extract the most amount of flavour from the coffee grounds.
  • Easier to use: PID controllers allow you to easily set the temperature to your preference. They make the espresso machine more user-friendly and ensure you get the best possible results.
  • Consistent results: PID controllers offer consistent results shot after shot, which is convenient for those who want to recreate their perfect espresso every time.

Disadvantages

The most common disadvantages of an espresso machine with PID control are:

  • Higher cost: PID controllers are typically more expensive than other types of temperature control systems, so they will increase the overall price of the machine.
  • More complex: PID controllers are typically more complex than other types of temperature control systems and may require more maintenance.
  • Not necessary for all users: If you are not interested in precise temperature control, a PID controller is not necessary. Yiu may benefit more from a simpler, less expensive temperature control system.

How much more expensive is a semi-automatic espresso machine with PID?

The average price for a semi-automatic espresso machine with PID is £945, while the average price for all semi-automatic espresso machines is £573. The price distribution is illustrated in the following chart.

Updated February 10, 2025

The cheapest semi-automatic espresso machine with PID is the ‎Sage The Bambino SES450BSS at £320. These are the 5 cheapest semi-automatic espresso machines with PID:

Name Price
£320
£388
£499
£620
£639
Updated February 10, 2025

How many espresso machines are built with PID?

Among the 32 semi-automatic espresso machines in our comparison, 45% are built with PID.

Semi-automatic espresso machines with PID

No (55%)
Yes (45%)
Updated February 10, 2025

Comparison

caret-up caret-down Product information
Sage The Barista Express BES875UK Sage Barista Express Impress SES876
Sage The Barista Pro SES878BSS
Name Sage The Barista Express BES875UK Sage Barista Express Impress SES876 Sage The Barista Pro SES878BSS
Score
93
93
90
Reviews
★★★★★
★★★★★
(4.6)
4625 reviews
★★★★★
★★★★★
(4.6)
345 reviews
★★★★★
★★★★★
(4.4)
2688 reviews
Price £499 £679 £639
caret-up caret-down Technical details
Type
Semi automatic espresso machine Semi automatic espresso machine Semi automatic espresso machine
Power
1850 W 1850 W 1650 W
Water container capacity
2.0 L 2.0 L 2.0 L
Pump pressure
15 bar 15 bar 15 bar
Max. cup height
12.0 cm 10.0 cm 12.0 cm
Housing material
Stainless steel Stainless steel Stainless steel
Portafilter size
54 mm 54 mm 54 mm
Coffee heating system
Thermoblock Thermoblock Thermoblock
Thermometer
Pressure gauge
caret-up caret-down Coffee brewing
Can use capsules
Removable water tank
Adjustable coffee amount
Adjustable brewing temperature
caret-up caret-down Coffee grinder
Integrated coffee grinder
Bean container capacity
250 g 250 g 250 g
Material of the coffee grinder
Stainless steel Stainless steel Stainless steel
No. of grind settings
18 25 18
Type of coffee grinder
Conical grinder Conical grinder Conical grinder
Automatic tamper
Automatic dosing
caret-up caret-down Milk frother
Milk frother
Milk frothing method
Steam wand Steam wand Steam wand
Milk jug
Milk container capacity
0.48 L
caret-up caret-down Functions
App-control
Descaling program
Cleaning program
Auto shut off
Display
Display technology
LCD-Display
2-cups function
Suited for ground coffee
Water filter
PID controller
Cold Brew function
caret-up caret-down Tamping
Manual tamping
Semi-automatic tamping
Automatic tamping
caret-up caret-down Dimensions and weight
Height
40.0 cm 38.0 cm 40.6 cm
Width
33.0 cm 33.0 cm 41.0 cm
Depth
31.0 cm 41.0 cm 35.4 cm
Weight
11.5 kg 11.0 kg 9.08 kg
Series
Barista Barista Barista
en-GB es-ES it-IT

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