Quick Answer
With a budget of about $100, the choice between a good French press and an entry-level espresso machine comes down to three questions:
- Do you want milk drinks like lattes and cappuccinos? A steam wand textures milk. A French press makes brewed coffee and has no way to steam milk.
- Will you buy or already own a grinder? Espresso machines are designed around freshly ground coffee, though some include baskets meant for pre-ground coffee. We did not obtain manufacturer grind guidance for French presses.
- What fits your counter and outlets? A French press needs no outlet or counter spot of its own. An espresso machine needs both.
If you mostly drink black coffee and want to stay close to that budget, a French press is the simpler path. If milk drinks are the reason you're buying, an espresso machine with a steam wand is the option that makes them, but check current prices, because a machine (and possibly a grinder) may not fit a budget of about $100.
This is a tradeoff guide, not a ranking.
Evidence in this guide: Manufacturer-researched (Breville's product pages and BES450 instruction book) and forum discussion (Reddit r/espresso and r/Coffee). Apartment Barista did not test these products. French press specifications: not obtained.
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 Beginners Are Asking (Forum Discussion)
On September 4, 2025, an r/espresso member asked: "As a noob, should I go for a high quality french press or low quality espresso machine? My budget is $100 for espresso and I'm not considering grinding in it. Steam wand would obviously be a plus in espresso machine." They added: "I'm wondering if spending more on a french press could bring in more value or not." (Reddit, r/espresso post, September 4, 2025)
On October 6, 2026, an r/Coffee post was titled "French press or Breville Bambino Espresso." Only the post title is available; the post's text was removed. (Reddit, "French press or Breville Bambino Espresso")
On September 11, 2026, another r/Coffee post was titled "moka pot vs french press vs espresso machine?" Its text was also removed, so only the title is quoted here. (Reddit, "moka pot vs french press vs espresso machine?")
These are individual posts, not search data. They show the same question coming up: brewed coffee from a press, or an espresso machine with a steam wand.
Side-by-Side: What Each Path Involves
| Question | French press | Entry-level espresso machine (Breville Bambino as the example) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk drinks | No steam wand; makes brewed coffee | Manual steam wand, per Breville |
| Power | No outlet needed | Needs an outlet |
| Counter space | Can be stored in a cabinet | Breville lists 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 in (W x D x H) |
| Grinder | Manufacturer grind guidance: not obtained | Breville says to use Dual Wall baskets for pre-ground coffee and Single Wall baskets for freshly ground beans |
| Heat-up | Uses water you heat separately | Breville says its ThermoJet system reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds |
| Specs | Capacity and materials: not obtained | Breville product page and manual (linked below) |
If You Mostly Drink Black Coffee
A French press is a non-electric brewer: you add coffee and hot water, wait, and press. It has no pump and does not make espresso. For a reader who drinks brewed coffee black, it avoids the counter space, outlet, and learning curve of an espresso machine.
We did not obtain manufacturer specifications for French presses (capacity, materials, or filter design) for this guide, so we don't compare specific models or recommend one here.
If You Want Lattes or Cappuccinos
Milk drinks are where the two paths split. Breville describes the Bambino's steam wand as "Manual hand-crafted microfoam" and says its steam wands "are designed to quickly turn milk into smooth microfoam." A French press has no way to steam milk.
If you'd rather not steam milk by hand, Breville describes the Bambino Plus as having "a powerful hands-free automatic steam wand" with "3 adjustable milk temperatures and 3 levels of texture." For the full comparison, see Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Which One Fits a Small Kitchen?
If you want lattes without a full machine, see How to Make a Latte at Home Without a Big Machine.
Do You Also Need a Grinder?
The first forum post above mentions not wanting to grind. Here is what Breville's BES450 instruction book says about baskets:
"Use Single Wall filter baskets if grinding fresh whole coffee beans."
"Use Dual Wall filter baskets if using pre-ground coffee."
So the Bambino can be used with pre-ground coffee in the Dual Wall basket, and a grinder becomes part of the setup if you want to grind fresh beans. Whether that is worth it, and how to split the money, is covered in Is a Burr Grinder Necessary for Espresso? and Espresso Machine vs Grinder: How to Split a Beginner Budget. For grinder options, see Best Burr Grinders for Beginner Espresso.
We did not obtain manufacturer grind guidance for French presses for this guide.
Counter, Outlets, and Renting
Breville lists the Bambino at 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 in and the Bambino Plus at 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 in (W x D x H). Measure your counter with the Espresso Machine Size Guide. For setting up an espresso machine without plumbing or drilling, see Renter-Friendly Espresso Setup Without Plumbing or Drilling.
Other Options
If you're weighing other brewers too, these have their own guides:
- Moka pot: Moka Pot vs Espresso Machine for Small-Apartment Lattes
- Capsule machine: Nespresso or a Compact Espresso Machine for Your First Small-Apartment Setup? Footprint, Milk Drinks, Waste, and Learning Curve
- AeroPress, manual lever, or holding off on buying: Espresso Machine Alternatives for a Small Apartment: Moka Pot, AeroPress, Manual Lever, or Wait?
Machines in This Guide
The Breville Bambino (BES450) is the main example: a compact machine with a manual steam wand, a 54mm portafilter, and Single Wall and Dual Wall baskets, per Breville. See Breville Bambino for Apartments.
The Breville Bambino Plus (BES500) adds an automatic steam wand, per Breville. See Breville Bambino Plus for Apartments.
This guide doesn't link a specific French press, because we did not obtain manufacturer specifications for one.
Bottom Line
With a budget of about $100, start from what you drink. For black brewed coffee with no outlet or counter commitment, a French press is the simpler path. For lattes and cappuccinos, you need a steam wand, so an espresso machine is the path that makes them; check current prices and decide whether you'll use pre-ground coffee or add a grinder.
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.