A lot of people who love specialty coffee drinks sooner or later* pay for an espresso maker. With a good one, you are able to make all your favourite drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen and try out a few new recipes. Since this can be a costly purchase, you should spend some time learning about these machines previous to purchasing. Learn about the features available and analyze your needs to find the best model to suit you.
Common Types of Espresso Makers
Manual Espresso Machines
With manual espresso machines you will have to do everything. You will have to measure and grind the beans, tamp the grounds and brew the coffee. These are the least inexpensive ones.
Semi Automatic Machines
With Semi automatic machines, you will have to do some things like adjust the water temperature and pressure, grind the beans and the machine will do the rest. These espresso makers are more expensive than a manual one, but still less expensive than a fully automatic one.
Automatic Machines
Automatic machines do everything and require almost no effort from you. All you have to do is add the water and the beans. With the magic push of only one button, you will have a great cup of your favourite coffee in no time.
Super Automatic Machines
Super automatic espresso makers come with some extra benefits that the other machines don’t have. They do the whole job from grinding and tamping the beans to the finished product. They pre infuse the coffee beans with water for to bring out the flavour . The entire job is much quicker than with regular automatics. The super automatic machines are often found in restaurants and coffee bars and are more expensive.
Common Espresso Maker Features
The features you find will vary from model to model. When comparing two models, consider the features included with each to determine which will suit your needs better.
Bean Grinder
Higher end models often have a built in grinder and grind the beans for each individualsingle cup. This produces more flavour in the final product.
Milk Frother
For cappuccino or latte drinks, you will need a frother. This will usually be a frothing wand or a separate milk chamber.
Pod Compatible
Pods are small packets that consist of ground beans inside a filter element. The pods are pre measured for a single cup. Just put the pod in the machine and brew your coffee. Most people either love the pods or hate them.
Water Filter
Some espresso makers have a built in water filter to reduce contaminants from the water prior to brewing. These are usually carbon filters. If your tap water is chlorinated, you will notice the difference with a built in filter.
Cup Warmer
A cup warmer keeps the cup warm before brewing. This results in a hotter drink.
Hot Water Dispenser
Some models have a valve for dispensing hot water. This comes in great for making tea or hot chocolate.
Some Other Things to Consider
Steel or brass machines are recognized to be best. Some people insist to detect an aftertaste with aluminium machines.
Check the pump pressure on espresso makers. Stronger pumps work will with finer grounds. You should have a minimum of 14 bars or more for pump pressure.
Try to get an espresso maker with a removable water tank. This is easier for cleaning or emptying and will keep any water from collecting at the bottom of the tank.
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