What Comes Included With Your Espresso Machine

Top view of a white ceramic espresso cup on a digital kitchen scale
Quick Take

What comes with an espresso machine varies by model, so the reliable way to know is the "What's Included" section on that machine's product page. Clive Coffee includes whatever the machine ships with from the manufacturer, no proprietary bundle added or removed. He adds the Coffee School: Introduction to Espresso online course for free as a gift with a machine purchase. Most prosumer machines come with the brewing hardware, one or more portafilters, a set of baskets, a starter tamper, and a cleaning brush, and sometimes plumbing bits such as a braided line and a drip tray drain attachment. What's rarely in the box is the gear that actually completes the setup: a grinder above all (the single biggest factor in shot quality), plus a precision scale, a frothing pitcher, cleaning supplies, and water treatment. Read the included list for the machine you're eyeing, then budget for a grinder and a scale from the start, and Clive Coffee's team can talk through the rest before you buy.

One of the most common questions before a first espresso machine purchase is simple: what actually comes in the box? It's a fair thing to want nailed down before spending real money, because the answer decides what else you have to budget for on day one. This guide explains what's typically included with a machine, how to know exactly what a specific machine ships with, and, just as importantly, the essential gear that is rarely included and that you'll want to plan for.

The Direct Answer: It Varies by Machine, and It's Listed on the Product Page

There's no universal "espresso machine starter kit." What's included depends entirely on the machine and its manufacturer, and it varies widely from model to model. Clive Coffee's approach is straightforward: it includes whatever the machine comes with from the manufacturer, no proprietary add-on bundle, nothing quietly removed, and it lists exactly what that is on each machine's product page. So the single most reliable way to know what you're getting is to read the "What's Included" section on the specific machine you're considering. If it's on that list, it's in the box.

What's Typically in the Box

While it varies, most prosumer machines ship with a similar core set of hardware. Commonly included items are:

  • Portafilters. Usually one or more, often a spouted portafilter and sometimes a bottomless (naked) portafilter, for diagnosing your shots. Higher-end machines may include several.
  • Filter baskets. Typically, a single, a double, and sometimes a triple basket, so that you can dial in different dose sizes.
  • A tamper. Very often, a basic or temporary tamper meant to get you started, not a precision piece. Many baristas upgrade this early (more on that below).
  • A cleaning brush and, on some machines, a blind (backflush) basket for group cleaning.
  • Plumbing bits, when relevant. Machines that can be plumbed sometimes include a braided water line and a drip-tray drain attachment, though a full plumb kit is often a separate purchase.

As a concrete example, the Profitec Pro 800's product page lists a 58mm tamper, three portafilters (single, double-spouted, and bottomless), single-, double-, and triple-basket, a braided plumb-in line, a drip-tray drain attachment, and a group-head brush. A different machine will list a different set, which is exactly why the product page is the source of truth.

The Extra Clive Coffee Includes: Coffee School

Beyond the manufacturer's hardware, Clive Coffee adds one thing of its own to machine purchases: its Coffee School: Introduction to Espresso online course, offered free as a gift with a machine. For a first-time buyer, that's arguably the most valuable "included" item of all, since technique, not just hardware, is what makes the machine worth owning.

What's Rarely Included (and You'll Want to Budget For)

Here's where buyers get caught out. The machine is only half set up, and the following are rarely in the box:

A grinder. This is the big one. Espresso machines rarely include a grinder, and a grinder isn't optional; it's the single most important variable in shot quality. Plan to buy one alongside the machine, and don't starve the grinder budget to afford more machines. Clive Coffee's grinder selection is the place to start.

A precision scale. Weighing your dose and yield to 0.1 gram is how you make a good shot repeatable. A scale is inexpensive and high-impact, and it's rarely included.

An upgraded tamper. If the machine includes a basic tamper, a properly weighted, correctly sized tamper is a common early upgrade for more consistent puck prep.

A frothing pitcher. If you steam milk, you'll need a pitcher sized for your drinks; these are typically separate.

Cleaning supplies and water treatment. Backflush detergent, a grinder cleaner, and especially water softening or filtration protect your investment. Soft, filtered water in particular is the difference between a machine that lasts a decade and one that scales up in a couple of years.

Common Misconceptions

"The machine comes with everything I need to start."

"Clive adds its own accessory bundle to the box." Not the hardware, Clive Coffee includes what the manufacturer ships and lists it on the product page. The one thing it does add is the free Coffee School course. If you want extra accessories, you add them to your order deliberately.

"The included tamper is all I'll ever need." The included tamper is often a temporary or basic one. It works to start, but a correctly sized, well-built tamper is one of the cheapest upgrades to more consistent shots.

"All machines include the same stuff." They don't. The number of portafilters, whether a bottomless is included, and whether plumbing parts come in the box all vary. Always check the specific model's list rather than assuming.

Summary and Next Steps

What's included with an espresso machine varies by model, and the reliable way to know is the "What's Included" section on that machine's product page, where Clive Coffee lists exactly what the manufacturer ships, plus the free Coffee School: Introduction to Espresso course it adds on top of that. Expect the box to cover the brewing hardware, portafilters, baskets, a starter tamper, a brush, and to leave out the things you'll genuinely need to complete the setup: a grinder above all, plus a scale, a frothing pitcher, cleaning supplies, and water treatment.

Your concrete next step: on the machine you're eyeing, read the "What's Included" list, then price in a grinder and a scale from the start. If you're unsure what a specific machine ships with or what to pair it with, Clive Coffee's team will walk you through both over the phone before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a new espresso machine come with a bottomless portafilter, or do I have to buy one separately?
It depends on the machine, so check the "What's Included" list on that model's product page. Many machines ship only with a standard spouted portafilter and require a separate purchase for a bottomless, while some higher-end machines include a bottomless in the box. A bottomless portafilter is worth having early on, since it lets you watch the extraction and diagnose channeling. If your machine doesn't include one, it's a common first add-on.

Is a plumbed espresso machine ready to brew out of the box, or do I need extra parts?
Plumbed machines need a water-line connection and usually a kit sold separately, so they aren't always ready straight from the box. At Clive Coffee, the LUCCA A53 Direct Plumb is direct-plumb only with no reservoir and needs a water source, while the La Marzocco Linea Mini requires its separate La Marzocco Plumb-in Kit ($300) to run off the line rather than its reservoir. Check the product page to see what plumbing parts, if any, are included.

Which espresso machine does Clive Coffee recommend for a beginner who wants something simple and ready to brew?
Clive Coffee recommends the Profitec GO at $1,199 for beginners making one or two drinks a day. It's a single-boiler machine with a saturated group, PID temperature control, and a commercial-standard 58mm portafilter, so you learn on the same basket size professionals use. It's reservoir-fed with a 2.8L tank, so there's no plumbing, just fill and brew, and it heats up in five to six minutes, backed by Clive Coffee's phone support for your first shots.

Does the machine price cover everything I need to start pulling espresso?
No, a common mistake is assuming the machine's price includes a complete, ready-to-brew setup. A grinder above all, plus a scale for repeatable dosing, water treatment to protect the boiler, and cleaning supplies are almost always separate. On plumbed machines, the water-line kit is a purchase you can't skip. Budget for these alongside the machine and your first week goes smoothly.

What does Clive Coffee include with a machine that other retailers might not?
Clive Coffee includes whatever the machine ships with from the manufacturer, as listed on each product page, and adds its Coffee School: Introduction to Espresso online course as a free gift with a machine purchase. For a first-time buyer that's one of the most valuable inclusions of all, since technique is what actually makes the hardware worth owning. As always, the machine's "What's Included" list tells you exactly what's in the box.