Quick Answer
An all-in-one espresso machine, with a grinder built in, can fit under your cabinets and still be awkward to use. The body is only part of the space you need. Before you buy, check three things the spec sheet may or may not tell you:
- The manufacturer's listed dimensions, copied exactly, including whether the maker says which figure is the height.
- Any clearance the manufacturer asks for above the machine and at the sides and back.
- Which way the water tank and grounds container come out: up and out of the back, or forward.
The height you need to open a bean hopper lid is not obtained for any machine in this guide. We didn't find it in the manufacturer materials we checked, so measure it yourself before you buy. This is a fit check, not a ranking.
Evidence in this guide: Manufacturer-researched (Breville, De'Longhi, and Philips product pages, spec sheets, and manuals) and forum discussion (Reddit). Apartment Barista did not test or measure these machines.
Apartment Barista uses Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability can change at any time and should be checked on Amazon before buying.
What Owners and Shoppers Ask (Forum Discussion)
On September 20, 2023, an r/superautomatic member wrote about a machine that "is 15" tall but 19" is needed to fully open the water tank lid. My cabinets are 18" above the counter." (Reddit, "Gaggia Accademia - hard to access water tank under cabinet")
On July 6, 2025, another member, comparing their cabinets with a machine's listed depth, asked: "would it fit and be practical given the need to reach the hopper on top, as well as the coarseness regulator and the pre-ground coffee funnel?" (Reddit, "De'Longhi Eletta Explore with Cold Brew--Counter Space")
On December 12, 2025, a third wrote: "I have 17.5” of height so I know the unit will fit but I don't believe I'll be able to access the bean hopper with this height?" (Reddit, "Kitchenaid KF8 Under Cabinet Use")
And on April 27, 2023, a Barista Express owner in r/espresso wrote: "we have a small kitchen that's full to the brim, and sacrificing more counter or cabinet space isn't really feasible for us." (Reddit, "Are there any better combo machines than a Barista Express?")
These are individual posts. The inch figures in them are the posters' own numbers about their own kitchens and machines, not our measurements. The machines they name appear only as part of their questions, not as recommendations.
Manufacturer Dimensions Side by Side
| Machine | Dimensions as the manufacturer lists them | Which figure is height? |
|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Express (BES870XL), built-in grinder | Breville's current US product page lists 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in | Breville's older US page and Amazon both treat 15.9 in as the height |
| Philips 3200 Series LatteGo (EP3241/54), fully automatic | Philips's spec sheet lists "Product dimensions: 246x371x433 mm" | The spec sheet does not label the figures |
| De'Longhi Magnifica Evo (ECAM29084SB), fully automatic | Not obtained (the current US product page lists figures without units) | Not obtained |
| Breville Bambino (BES450), compact machine with no grinder, for comparison | 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 in, under Breville's "Dimensions (WxDxH)" label | Per Breville's label, 13.5 in |
How to read this table:
- Barista Express: Breville's current US page lists 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in. Breville's older US page and Amazon both treat 15.9 in as the height, so measure under your wall cabinets for about 15.9 in of height. That figure doesn't include room to lift the hopper lid.
- Philips 3200: the spec sheet gives three figures in millimeters but doesn't say which is width, depth, or height. Check the current listing before you measure. Philips's US product page for this model showed it as no longer available when we checked.
- Magnifica Evo: we didn't obtain dimensions we could cite with units, so we don't list any.
Space Above: Hopper Lids and Stated Clearance
On machines with a built-in grinder, the beans go in from the top. Breville's Barista Express manual says: "Do not operate the grinder without the hopper lid in position." It also says: "Do not place anything other than cups for warming on top of the espresso machine."
De'Longhi's Magnifica Evo manual (ECAM29X series) is the only source in this guide that states a clearance:
"leave a space of at least 1.18 in / 3 cm between the surfaces of the appliance and the side and rear walls and at least 5.9 in / 15 cm above the coffee maker."
That is a spacing requirement for this De'Longhi series. It is not the height needed to open the lid, and it doesn't apply to other brands. We did not obtain whether the manual covers every US variant. For the Barista Express and the Philips 3200, we did not obtain a stated clearance above the machine.
To check your own space: measure from the counter to the underside of your cabinets. Subtract the machine's height and any clearance the manufacturer states. Then check that you can open the hopper lid and pour in beans with what's left. For the method, see How Much Cabinet Height Does an Espresso Grinder Need?
Space Behind and at the Sides: Where the Tank Comes Out
- Barista Express: Breville's manual says: "Remove the water tank located at the back of the machine by lifting the water tank handle." So you need to reach the back of the machine, with room above it to lift the tank out.
- Magnifica Evo: the manual asks for at least 1.18 in / 3 cm at the sides and back (quoted above). We did not obtain which way its tank comes out.
Space in Front: Frontal Access
Philips's spec sheet for the 3200 lists "Water tank: Frontal access" and "Waste container: Frontal access." A machine with front access needs clear space in front of it to pull those parts out. Philips doesn't state how far they come out, so we don't estimate it.
Already Covered Elsewhere
- All-in-one or separate grinder: see Built-In Grinder vs Separate Grinder for a Small Apartment Espresso Setup.
- How to measure width, depth, and height: see the Espresso Machine Size Guide.
- The whole work zone, not just the machine: see How Much Counter Space Do You Need for an Espresso Setup?
- Filling a machine that sits under cabinets: see How to Fill an Espresso Machine Under Cabinets.
- Machines for low cabinet clearance: see Best Espresso Machines for Low Cabinet Clearance.
Fit Checklist Before You Buy
- Manufacturer dimensions copied exactly, and which figure is height confirmed
- Counter-to-cabinet height measured
- Any manufacturer-stated clearance above, at the sides, and behind subtracted
- Room to open the hopper lid and pour beans checked in your own kitchen
- Water tank direction known: lifted out at the back, or pulled forward
- Space in front for drip trays and grounds containers
Machines in This Guide
The Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) is the all-in-one example. Its manual places the water tank at the back and the bean hopper on top.
The Breville Bambino (BES450) is a compact machine without a grinder, included for comparison. See Breville Bambino for Apartments.
These are examples, not a ranking.
Bottom Line
An all-in-one machine isn't automatically too big for a small kitchen, but the listed dimensions aren't the whole answer. Copy the manufacturer's figures exactly and confirm which one is the height. Add any clearance the maker states, check room for the hopper lid yourself, and know which way the tank and grounds container come out before you buy.
Apartment Barista uses Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability can change at any time and should be checked on Amazon before buying.