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There are two Lavazza espresso machines to easily choose from on the United States site: the Classy Mini and the LB 2317.
If you already know you want the Lavazza brand, your decision won’t be too daunting. Both are wonderful machines, but choosing the best Lavazza espresso machine for your personal needs will boil down to your budget and how many people you need to serve—or shots of espresso the machine will need to make–per day, as well as whether you want the Lavazza machines to froth the milk for you.
If you’re on a budget and don’t need to serve drinks to a crowd or a stream of people throughout the day, this is an excellent option.
Main Differences Between Classy Mini vs LB 2317
The main differences between the Classy Mini vs LB 2317 are:
- Classy Mini is meant for individual use, whereas LB 2317 is designed for more frequent use in restaurants
- Classy Mini costs around $199, whereas LB 2317 costs around $399 making it more expensive.
- Classy Mini weighs 7.7 pounds, whereas LB 2317 weighs 13.23 pounds.
Classy Mini
The Classy Mini is the more limited of the two Lavazza coffee machines in terms of what it can do and how many it’s intended to serve in a day. However, if you’re on a budget and don’t need to serve drinks to a crowd or a stream of people throughout the day, this is an excellent option.
You can still do quite a bit with the limited drink options (espresso and lungo only) if you’re willing to heat and froth the milk separately. You’ll save money and counter space by choosing this one instead of the LB 2317, but you’ll have to be more involved in the drink-making process if you want something fancy.
If you’re on a budget and don’t need to serve drinks to a crowd or a stream of people throughout the day, this is an excellent option.
LB 2317
The LB 2317 is the more expensive option with additional features and a more robust range of drink options. However, to get all the benefits from the machine (especially in an office setting), you’ll need to have a lot more room available to accommodate an optional milk fridge, which doesn’t come with it and is not included in the dimensions of the machine below.
If you’re buying this for home use or for a very low-traffic area, you may also find that it’s not worth it because of additional pieces you’ll need to keep clean (like the tube that runs from the milk to the espresso machine).
The drink fridge would probably be necessary if you were interested in purchasing this machine for an office setting, but if you’re only using it at home, you could pour milk into a small pitcher each time you want to make a drink or two and let it pull from there.
The LB 2317 might be an expensive option but it comes with additional features and a more robust range of drink options.
Let’s compare the Lavazza machines side-by-side:
| Classy Mini | LB 2317 | |
| Price | Under $150.00 | About $800.00 on Lavazza’s website, though much lower prices may be found if you shop around |
| Size and weight | 5.3”W x 13.4” D x 10.2” H, 7.7 lbs | 11” W x 18.9” D x 15” H, 19.8 lbs |
| Tank size | .7L | 4L |
| Intended use | Home, hotel rooms, small offices | Any environment, including restaurants, breakfast rooms, larger offices, self-service areas |
| Drinks you can make | Lungo and espresso shots | Cappuccino, espresso, espresso doppio, café crema, macchiato, latte, tea, hot water, hot chocolate |
| Special features | Automatic, programmable, .7L water tank, startup time of 28 seconds, adjustable cup rack height, room for 5 used capsules | Mobile coffee spout, hot water spout, larger drawer for pod collection and water drainage, adjustable height for cups, lets you know when it’s time to wash it, one-touch recipe selector, removable and washable milk foam dispenser, smart USB |
| Ease of use | Straightforward, easy to clean, capsules keep things simple, no milk frother to learn how to use | One-touch drink-making, easy to clean, capsules keep things simple, will require more frequent cleaning if you make specialty drinks with milk |
| Pros | Won’t require a lot of daily maintenance since there’s no milk container or tubes to keep clean, compact design | A lot of storage space for used and unused capsules, tank won’t need to be refilled often, no extra effort to make specialty drinks once everything is set up |
| Cons | It takes extra work to make specialty drinks and will require a separate way to froth milk, you can’t use just any espresso you’d like, and capsules could get expensive over time | Without heavy use, the milk in the tube between the refrigerated section and the machine itself could sit for too long and go bad. It’s quite large, especially with a milk fridge (which you would need to buy separately), you can’t use any espresso you’d like, and capsules may get expensive over time. |
Other Lavazza Espresso Machines
If you live outside of the United States, there are a couple of other noteworthy models from Lavazza worth considering, based on price, size, and functionality:
Jolie
This Lavazza coffee machine is, at its core, pretty similar to the Classy Mini because it’s small (smaller than the Classy Mini), light, and you can make an espresso or caffé lungo with it.
It’s easy to use, quiet, and available in four colors. On average, it costs less than the Classy Mini too. If you want something that does more or offers more options, you can purchase the Jolie Plus (the Jolie, but with two buttons for selecting espresso or lungo, plus a chrome finish option), or the Jolie & Milk (Jolie’s features plus the ability to froth fresh milk, albeit in a separate area on the machine so it’s not a one-touch specialty drink option).
Deséa
This Lavazza machine costs more (it’s listed on the Australian site at $299.99 AU) but if you love milky, frothy drinks and don’t love the extra steps you’ll have to go through to get that with other machines designed for home use, you’ll want this one (in most cases, it’s a better choice than the Jolie & Milk).
It comes with a giant glass mug that’s marked to let you know how much milk to pour. Once you put the lid back on, slide it into place, and press a button, it froths the milk and then starts the coffee on top. It makes five different milk drinks and four coffee sizes. Because the milk frothing happens in the cup, it’s still a compact machine.
FAQs About Lavazza Espresso Machines
Which Lavazza espresso machine is the best?
That will largely depend on where you live and where you’ll use it. If you’re in the United States and looking for a machine to use at home, the Classy Mini will be your best bet. If you’d like something that can easily make drinks for several people and stay busy all day, it’s the LB 2317. Outside of the United States, look to the Jolie or Deséa.
Do Lavazza espresso machines froth milk?
If you purchase extra equipment, you can froth milk and make milky specialty drinks with the LB2317, but the Classy Mini does not froth milk. If you live outside of the United States, you could go with the Jolie & Milk (which froths milk in a separate container) or the Deséa (which froths milk right in the large mug it comes with).
How do I make a cappuccino or latte with the Lavazza Classy Mini?
You’ll need to purchase a separate frother, but you can choose any kind you like because you’ll be operating that separately.
Are Lavazza espresso machines worth the price?
Definitely shop around for the best prices because you may be able to find them for less than the price listed on the Lavazza website. Other than that, it really boils down to how important certain features are to you and how much getting that feature adds to the price when compared to a simpler model. The smaller machines, like the Jolie, Tiny, and Classic Mini are definitely reasonable. In most cases, yes, they are worth the price.
Do the Lavazza espresso machines take up a lot of counter space?
Not usually. There are several that are incredibly compact. Others, like the LB2317 and Jolie & Milk will take up a little more room.
Are Lavazza capsules and pods compostable?
Not usually. There are several that are incredibly compact. Others, like the LB2317 and Jolie & Milk will take up a little more room.
Question: Are Lavazza capsules and pods compostable?
Answer: Yes, they are. Lavazza made their capsules compostable in 2019.
Other Espresso Machines to Consider
Because there are so few Lavazza espresso machines on the market in the United States, it’s wise to compare them to a few others just to make sure you’re getting the best espresso machine for your needs. If you’re already set on a Lavazza coffee machine, you may want to skip this section and go straight to the store to buy your Classy Mini or LB 2317.
Breville Inissia Espresso Machine (Compare to Classy Mini)
This one costs about the same and comes in a few different colors. Make yourself a single cup of coffee (lungo, 5 oz.) or espresso (1.35 oz). The water heats up quickly and the machine shuts off after it’s been unused for nine minutes.
It’s programmable and uses capsules, much like the Classy Mini. Its dimensions are 4.7” x 9” x 12.6” and it weighs 5.29 lbs, so there’s not a huge difference in size.
This machine has a good price tag, and comes in a few different colors. The water heats up quickly and the machine shuts off after it’s been unused for nine minutes.
Nespresso Essenza Plus (Compare to Classy Mini)
This one costs just over $200.00 and there’s an option to get a set that includes an Aeroccino3 milk frother for about $50.00 more. This one comes in black, white, and cherry red and has four cup sizes (espresso, lungo, Americano, and Americano XL), a hot water option, and an adjustable water tank.
You can even order more capsules with a touch of a button on the machine.
It doesn’t cost a lot more but if you like the hot water option and need more cup sizes, this could be a better choice than the Classy Mini or the Breville Inissia.
This machine doesn't cost a lot more but if you like the hot water option and need more cup sizes, this could be a great choice.
Magnifica by De’Longhi (compare to LB 2317)
The first major difference between this one and the LB 2317 is the fact that it has a burr grinder built-in (so you won’t need to purchase special capsules, just beans) and it does all the espresso work for you.
You will need to steam the milk yourself, but there’s an attachment on the machine that does it without creating a need for much additional counter space. There’s a hot water option so you can make hot chocolate or tea and you can choose from five coffee strengths and four cup sizes.
It’s easy to use and clean but may not stand up to the demands of a busy office the way the LB 2317 would (plus it’s less intuitive—though not difficult to use—so it may not be the ideal solution for an office or waiting for the area the way the LB 2317 might).
You can expect to pay a bit over $500.00 for this machine.
Even though you will need to steam the milk yourself, there’s a hot water option so you can make hot chocolate or tea and you can choose from five coffee strengths and four cup sizes!
JURA S8 (Compare to LB 2317)
If you have the budget (this one’s about $2500) and want a machine that does it all with as little attention from you as possible, this is the one. Choose one of 15 specialty drinks from a touchscreen, just get hot water for cocoa, or choose hot water at the right temperature for a specific type of tea.
You can program it to create drinks the way you love them; the machine allows for an incredible amount of customization.
You have the option to get a separate refrigerated compartment so your milk is always ready to go, which introduces some of the same issues mentioned above with the LB 2317 in an office setting. However, you could also fill a small container with milk on a drink-by-drink basis to eliminate the need for extra space on the counter or additional expenses.
If you have the budget and want a machine that does it all with as little attention from you as possible, this is for you. With this impressive option, you can choose one of 15 specialty drinks from a touchscreen.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Espresso Machine
What should you consider before buying an espresso machine, whether it’s Lavazza or another brand?
- Your budget (don’t forget to take capsule costs into consideration)
- How much use the machine will get on a daily basis (most will be fine for home use, some may be more than you need)
- Ease of use
- Special features like programmability, automatic shut-off, or light that lets you know it’s time to clean it
- Size of the machine vs. space you have for storage
- Weight (especially if you’ll need to move it often)
- Cost of capsules vs. beans (if beans are a better decision for you, Lavazza espresso machines won’t be the best choice)
- Do you want to be able to froth milk, and are you okay with purchasing and using a separate frother, or do you prefer to have it all in one machine?
Which Lavazza Machine Should You Buy?
If you’re on a budget and don’t need to serve drinks to a crowd or a stream of people throughout the day, this is an excellent option.
Among the Lavazza options in the United States, your best bet for home use and maybe even small office use is the Classy Mini.
The LB 2317 is more than most homes or even small offices will need. You’d probably be best served to skip the milk refrigerator that it works well with unless you’ll be making drinks all day. If budget was never an issue, consider putting the money you’ll save toward extra Lavazza Blue capsules to use in your new machine.
If you are, in fact, shopping for a restaurant or a larger office, the LB 2317 is more equipped to keep up with the demand.
It’s also slightly more intuitive because employees and/or visitors won’t need to know how to froth the milk and combine the espresso for the drinks they want to make with it. In most cases, the best Lavazza espresso machine is the Classy Mini, though. If you’re outside of the United States, you may find yourself with more options.
The Deséa is the best choice overall because it takes out the extra frothing step and, assuming you drink out of the mug you make the drink in, there’s less to clean. You also get more size choices with the Deséa than you do with many of the other Lavazza options. This is the best Lavazza espresso machine on the market for people who love variety.
If you almost never make cappuccinos or lattes and don’t need the additional coffee sizes, save the money and go with a Jolie and a small, inexpensive, handheld milk frother you can keep in a drawer. Now that we have gone over lots of different machines, check out the 6 Best Lavazza Coffee Brand Selections and our Illy vs Lavazza Comparison and make the perfect pair!
