Espresso Machines
Have you ever considered the inner workings of an espresso machine? Why is there so much machinery, noise and steam necessary for a little cup of coffee? Espresso machines 
force near-boiling water through densely packed, finely ground coffee at high pressure. This produces the tiny, richly-flavoured cup that you get in a coffee shop or, with one of these gadgets, at home.
Basic Options
Stovetop
- Stovetop machines are an older, more traditional way of making espresso.
- Riddled with problems:
- Hard to maintain temperature, so they can burn the coffee.
- Pressure never gets high enough for proper espresso brewing.
- Nevertheless, stovetop-style machines still have their fans. They may not make a great cup of espresso, but some will make espresso good enough for a cappuccino.
- Price range: usually under £100.
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Manual Pump Lever
- Manual pump machines can make a good espresso.
- The first way of getting pressure high enough to properly extract the coffee.
- Requires considerable finesse to get the timing right (don't want the pull to be too long or too short).
- Once you get it, though, these machines will produce great espresso.
- Price range: These vary widely and can be very expensive despite their low-tech nature. You might pay anywhere from £250 to nearly £1000 for one of these, depending on the style you choose.
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Semi-Automatic and Automatic
- Semi-automatic and automatic machines are fairly similar.
- Use a pump to standardise the pressure through the coffee grounds.
- This standardisation is key to consistent espresso.
- Automatic machines also control how much water is used, virtually guaranteeing flawless espresso every time with very little work on your part.
- Still require you to measure and tamp the grounds.
- Price range: These are your best budget option, since they range from under £100 to about £600.
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Super-Automatic Espresso Machines
- Super-automatics are the foolproof way to make perfect espresso every time.
- Instead of requiring you to measure out a scoopful of grounds, you simply add whole beans to the machine.
- When you want a cup of coffee, the machine will grind exactly the right amount for you.
- All you need to do is keep it full of filtered water and beans, clean out the grounds when the machine is full, and occasionally clean the other parts of the machine.
- These babies are quite expensive. Expect to pay at least £300, but a few models can cost £1000 or more.
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Important Features
- Steamer
- Like cappuccino and other espresso drinks? Better make sure your espresso machine has a steamer attachment for steaming and foaming milk.
- Durable Components
- Metal or heavy plastic is better than light plastic.
- Boiler systems are better than thermal coils.
- Brass portafilters are better than aluminium -- more durable and retain heat longer.
- When a review says "built like a tank," it's usually meant as a compliment.
- Pump-Driven
- Far better than steam driven, which doesn't always hold heat evenly.
- Also better than piston-lever models, which can be hard to use.
- Industry Guidelines
- According to Caffé Nero, " The best machines meet industry guidelines for espresso preparation: 1.5 oz. of water heated to 95 degrees Centigrade, forced through 7 grams of finely ground espresso at no less than 9 atmospheres of pressure (130 PSI) within 20-25 seconds. Typically a pump producing 15 atmospheres of pressure would be required to attain this pressure through the coffee."
- Capacity
- If you're buying a semi-automatic or automatic, get one with the largest water reservoir you can. Eight litres is small; twelve litres is better.
Other Features
- Cup-warming surface
- Detachable reservoir
- Removable drip tray
- Look for features that will assist in easy cleaning, especially removable parts.
Popular Brands
Related Guides and Products
External Links
International Resources
For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Espressomachine Shopgids
