The Ultimate Coffee Setup for Small Spaces - Now With Espresso!

Hey Stillwater fam! If you live in a small space, like a condo or apartment, you know counter space is precious. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up great coffee—or even espresso. Today we'll highlight a complete, compact setup that covers everything from filter coffee to full-on lattes—with gear that’s small, smart, and budget-friendly.

Grinder – Small, Quiet, Espresso-Ready

Start with a grinder that does it all—filter and espresso. For tight spaces, go with the Baratza Encore ESP which is pretty enough to sit on your countertop, has great grind consistency, and is easy on the budget. If you're thinking about splurging and are looking for a more pleasing to the eye, the Fellow Opus is a great pick.

• 🌀 Baratza Encore ESP – ~$200 (compact, electric, espresso-ready)

• 🌀 1Zpresso JX-Pro S – ~$150 (manual, precise, drawer-sized)

While a manual grinder like the 1Zpresso JX-Pro S 1Zpresso gives you top-tier results with little noise and stows away nicely, we find it tiring and a little to grind espresso manually in the morning. 

Espresso – Compact Machine, Café Results

Yes, you can make amazing espresso in a condo without a huge machine dominating your countertops. 

The Breville Bambino Plus is your best bet among espresso-lovers. It’s slim, fast, and delivers consistently great shots. It heats in 3 seconds and has automatic milk steaming—perfect for quick lattes without guesswork.

⚡ Breville Bambino Plus – ~$500

It fits comfortably on even the smallest counters, and it looks clean and modern. Paired with a good grinder, you’re all set for espresso at home.

The Hack: An Espresso Machine with a Built-in Grinder

Alternately, consider an espresso machine that includes a grinder. While these machines tend to be a little larger than a small espresso machine, they take up a little less than two appliances. 

Living small doesn’t mean brewing small. With the right gear, you can make coffee that’s better than the café—without giving up your space, your budget, or your sanity.