Beginners Guide To Home Espresso Machines
Replicating that special taste and aroma of a fine restaurant-style espresso can indeed be done right in the comfort of your own home.
If youre in the market to purchase an espresso coffee machine, its a good idea to learn the basics when it comes to the types of machines out there on the market. After all, youll want the espresso machine to be durable enough to last a long time and be able to accommodate all the different tastes in your household. Finding the right model for you will depend on the level of interest in the actual art of brewing espresso, the number of people who will be using it, and how often these people will be indulging in a fresh-brewed cup.
Manual Espresso Machines
There are four types of espresso machines. The first is the manual machine, otherwise known as the piston-driven machine, which gives the owner control of when he or she can pull their shot for optimal taste. The most primitive of the machines, this model requires strong arms to make the espresso. The piston-driven machine uses a lever that is pumped by the operator to force pressure onto hot water, driving it through the coffee grinds. This pulling down of the handle is how the term 'pulling a shot' came into being.
You may want to consider purchasing a manual espresso machine if youre intrigued by the romanticism and art of espresso making; however, this process might be frustrating for some as it can take many times to get the hang of it. The manual spring piston lever machines like the Elektra Micro Casa a Leva include an internal spring that is used to push water through a bed of ground coffee at a specific and declining pressure. Youre still manually pulling the lever here for your shot of espresso, but the internal spring helps you along in the process.
The other kind of manual espresso machine is the direct lever machine, where youre solely acting as the pump, by applying pressure to the water to brew a shot. A good example of whats available on the market is the La Pavoni Professional Machine. This model also gives you manual control over your espresso, but baristas-in-training beware! This machine requires a lot of patience and practice to get a great shot.
Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
The next type of espresso maker is a semi automatic machine, like the Isomac Zaffiro Machine. Semi automatics do all the things you want an espresso maker to do, without as much effort. They maintain a good brewing temperature by automatically turning on the heating element inside whenever the machine detects a certain drop in the boiler temperature. Semi automatics also regulate and maintain the pump pressure, which means consistent pressure on the bed of coffee.
While manual machines require you (or a spring) to push water through the coffee, leading to a wide variety of results in the cup, semi-automatics allow you to control the water flow for every espresso shot you make. This appeals to many consumers because theres a smaller margin of error.
Automatic Espresso Machines
A newer category of home espresso machine is the automatic. This machine may appeal to those consumers who dont necessarily have the time to labor over the perfect cup of espresso. The ideal user of the automatic espresso machines is simply looking to get the job done fast and efficiently, while preserving that great European-style espresso flavor. Models such as the Vibiemme Domobar Super and the Bodum Granos are convenient for those in a rush and their consistent reliability might also appeal to commercial environments like restaurants..
With an automatic brewer, you press a button and the machine delivers a predetermined volume of water, more or less the same amount every time. (If you grind finer or pack more coffee into the basket, the overall extraction will be less.) So you load up your portafilter with coffee, tamp it, lock it into your machine, press a button, and youre finished. The machine will stop brewing once its internal volumeter hits the preprogrammed amount.
Super-Automatic Espresso Machines
The latest addition to the lineup are super automatic machines or, in other words, the instant-brew espresso machines. If youd prefer that the machine do all the work for you, then the super automatic machine is a perfect match. These espresso machines typically boast professional level pressure systems (15-bar or higher) to ensure full and consistent extraction for a perfectly rich and frothy cup each time. They also use airtight, single-serve capsules just like standard one-cup coffee machines for a no mess, no fuss process. This is about as hands off as you can get while still enjoying the great taste of a freshly brewed espresso. Models such as the Comobar and NESCAF Dolce Gusto do it all with the press of a button and may appeal to the single person or the couple on the run. Theyre also very affordably priced when compared to the more traditional espresso makers.
At the end of the day, each person should make their own, educated decision when purchasing a home espresso machine. Remember to keep longevity in mind, how many people will be using the machine on a daily basis, and know your lifestyle. If youre an on-the-go or the impatient type, then choosing something between a semi- and a super-automatic is probably more your speed. On the other hand, if you want to take the time to indulge and practice the art of espresso making, the manual machine will create the classic caf experience that youre after. Whatever you choose, enjoy the process and your espresso!
About R.L. Fielding
R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Where can i find cheap dolce gusto coffee pods?
I recently bought a dolce gusto machine and i wondered if anyone knew where i could find some cheap coffee pods even if they arent nescafe?-
ANSWER:
If you register at www.dolce-gusto.co.uk they will send you a voucher for a free box of dolce-gusto coffee pods worth £2.99. you don't need your machine number to recieve the voucher .Also most supermarkets sell them and there are loads of online sites with offers.
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QUESTION:
I want a single-serve coffee machine but it(& the cups/pods that go with it)is so expensive! Is it worth it?
I want to buy the Cuisinart SS700 Single Serve Brewing System, the one that uses the Keurig K-Cups. But the cheapest I could find it was 5 on Amazon! Plus about 24 pods (1pod=1cup of coffee/tea) is ! So expensive!But, I *hate* messing with the grinds and filter and everything in the morning, and I want variety in my coffees and teas- I'm over the same taste every day. My aunt and neighbor both have this single serve coffee/tea maker and love it and it's really convenient and I'm only heard great things about it... but it's so expensive!
What do you think? Is it worth it?
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ANSWER:
I don't think they're worth it, besides they make too much landfill trash. But they may be your only choice if doing any work in the morning is too much effort.Personally I'd use a small french press or moka pot since they make delicious coffee without waste, but you'll have to clean them after each use (2-3 minutes extra). You could buy a variety of coffees (regular & flavored) in small batches so they don't go too stale & pick a different one every morning to get your variety.
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QUESTION:
Coffee gurus needed! Best espresso machine for a college kid on a budget?
I am a college student, and I work as a barista to help pay for school. I'm entertaining the idea of buying my own small espresso machine, but I don't really know what kind to get. I've only ever used restaurant-grade machines before, and I don't know what to look for in a small machine. I want it to have a wand, and I want to be able to use ground coffee (no pods).I see stuff about steam powered vs. pump-powered machines, and shamefully, even though I work in 2 coffeeshops, I don't know what that means. It sounds to me like pump machines are more powerful than steam-powered ones, but I don't know if that's correct.
Also, I need the machine to be cheap...because minimum wage really doesn't go all that far. So far I like the look of the DeLonghi EC155, which looks like it usually goes for around . Here it is:
http://www.consumersearch.com/espresso-machines/delonghi-ec155Anyway, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts, since I don't really know what I'm doing.
Thanks a lot!
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ANSWER:
The EC155 is a good choice. My friend owns one and it works great. I'm not sure how much he bought his for but it wasn't too expensive. He's also a college student living on minimum wage. I found some reviews on it at my favorite review site and they seem pretty positive. Here's a link to them.http://www.viewpoints.com/DeLonghi-DeLonghi-EC155-Espresso-Maker-reviews
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QUESTION:
Coffee beans for my Espresso machine?
Hi, I bought a nice espresso machine which was around 0 (early X-mas present). Anyways, while it is on its plane ride to my house, i'm buying my accessories. I have espresso cups (2oz) cappacino cups (6 oz) and latte cups (8oz). I have a milk pitcher, thermometer, and espresso shot cups. So I think I have all the proper equipment to make an awesome coffee. I have only one problem tho , the espresso beans. I don't have enough money to buy a nice coffee grinder. I don't like to cut corners on cheap stuff, so I'll wait to have at least enough money to buy a nice grinder. My question is, should I buy pods to use for my espresso, or ground espresso beans at a coffee shop and use the ground beans for a couple weeks. I know that it is best to grind the beans just before your about to make the espresso, but that isn't an option at the moment.Thanks!-
ANSWER:
Pre-ground espresso is fine, I would buy several small packages, and try them, there is not alot of different in there flavours, grind is the biggest difference, some do an extra fine one, I like the Italian brand Gioia, Lavannza, Medalia D' Or and Excelsior. Keep the ground coffee cool I have a small glass snap top jar, and keep mine in the frig, I do not have a machine but the old fashion stove top 6 cup Crema machines, but have found they make just a nice as the machines do, coffee like wine is a preference liking moment, so try a few until you find one your happy with, a grinder is nice, but your not going to have the consistency of a pre-ground product.
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QUESTION:
Looking for a versatile coffee maker, please help!?
I'm looking for a machine that does the following things:
-make coffee (2-4 cups is fine, doesn't need to be big)
-steam milk
-make espresso (not really necessary but usually a milk steaming option also means espresso!)
-use pod coffee OR loose grinds (not just one or the other)If anyone could help me find a model that does all of these things it would be very much appreciated! Cheaper is better, thanks!
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ANSWER:
Ascaso Dream Versatile coffee maker ( check retrevo dot com for more info) just search for Ascaso Dream Versatile coffee maker and you will see type of versatile coffee makers.)
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