Single Boiler Espresso Machines

Single boiler espresso machines use one boiler for both brewing and steaming. This means you need to wait for the boiler to heat up from brew temperature (~93°C) to steam temperature (~140°C) when switching between pulling shots and steaming milk — a process known as "temperature surfing." While this adds a bit of workflow complexity, single boiler machines are typically the most affordable way into genuine espresso. Many beloved machines like the Rancilio Silvia and Gaggia Classic Pro fall into this category, proving that a single boiler can produce outstanding shots in skilled hands.