How to Choose an Espresso Coffee Machine Home
With a top-quality espresso maker, you can take your home-brewed coffee to a new level. How do you select the right machine?
There's a lot to consider--from measuring and grinding your own beans to pressing and tamping properly to get the perfect shot of espresso. Many of the tasks can be automated using semi-automatic and in some cases fully automatic machines.
Manual
If you'd like to be able to make the finest espresso you can make at home, you'll have to invest in high-quality equipment. The most crucial component of the system is a well-designed and high-quality espresso maker that is able to handle pressure. Some manufacturers have stripped down the system to a minimum, making machines that don't use boilers at all, and rely instead on hand-pressure for some decent shots.
We've tried a few of these and found the Lelit Bambino Plus to be one of the top at what it does. It's not cheap, but you're getting a piece of coffee machinery that will last for a long time, and has 35 years of Lelit service and support to back it. It's a little heavier than average, but that's expected due to its build. It also has a beautiful retro-futuristic design that's sure be a conversation-starter.
Breville Smart Grinder EK835 is another good choice. It's not inexpensive, but it's very effective at what it does, and you'll be able to grind your own beans. It's bigger than the other grinders that we've reviewed and it's due to its larger burrs as well as the fact that it's able to handle more than a standard burr set. It's a bit easier to use than the other models we looked at and is backed by a solid warranty.
There are four types of espresso machines: Manual/Lever Semi-Automatic Volumetric (sometimes referred to as Automatic) and Super-Automatic. Manual levers are the most traditional and offer a more familiar design, however, they are the most difficult to learn how to use and require more skill to dial in and pull shots.
Semi-automatics allow you to do the grinding and tamping by yourself, but they also have an electric pump which provides consistent pressure and flow. You can alter the amount of espresso that you put into your cup by stopping the brewing process and most semi-automatics have steam wands that allow you to make foam. There are also super-automatics that do all the work for you and have built-in grinders, tampers and Brew cycles, and much more.
Semi-Automatic
The main difference between semi-automatic espresso machines (semi-automatic) and fully automatic machines is how much control you would like over the coffee making process. Manual espresso machines require the baristas to push the button and pull the shot, which can be tiring and requires a lot of practice. Fully automated machines do everything for you, making professional-quality espresso with the click of an button. However this convenience comes with cost and the machines can be expensive to rent or purchase.
Semi-automatic machines are a great option for those who like to control some aspects of their coffee brewing, but do not have the time or the skills to become a professional barista. This kind of machine takes the guesswork from brewing shots. It grinds the beans into a hockey-puck shape, compresses them and then pushes hot water through the puck with the right amount of pressure. This espresso maker also allows you to steam milk and create latte art.
These machines are more costly and require more maintenance than fully automated machines. However, for those who don't have the money to purchase or rent a fully automatic espresso machine, semi-automatic espresso makers are an affordable solution.
Fully automatic espresso machines are the newest innovation in the world of espresso makers. They promise a consistent cup of coffee every time with minimal work. The machines can do all the steps of making espresso with just one touch of a button from grinding the coffee beans, to pulling the shot and steaming the milk. This is a popular choice for cafes that have to serve a lot of customers in a short time period and require convenience. These machines are expensive and not suitable for all cafes. If you're interested in an espresso machine that is fully automated for your business, think about buying or renting two, one to cover most busy times and the second to cover the slower times.
Pods
With pod coffee machines, you can create espresso drinks with the push of the button. The capsules are pre-ground coffee and powdered milk that are used to brew the beverage. The best espresso pod machines offer consistently good results, are neat and quick, and produce shots that are topped with crema.
The pod machines might not provide the same level of control as bean-to-cup models, but they are an excellent option for those who prefer convenience over quality and wish to avoid grinding and tamping beans themselves. While they won't produce the same flavor as freshly ground beans from a good coffee grinder, the advancements in pod technology and an increasing selection of coffee varieties have made these machines better than ever.
These machines utilize a variety of coffee pods, however all have the same basic design and shape. Coffeee of them are small disks that have paper coverings that look like tea bags. They can be placed into a portafilter for brewing. Some are specifically designed to work with drip coffee makers, while others are made specifically for espresso machines. Soft pods are the former and Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E.) pods are the latter.
When shopping for a pod-based espresso machine it is important to check the recommended list of compatible pods. The machines are available in a wide range of flavors and brands and you can try them out before deciding on the one you like best. Some brands also sell refillable pods for people who want to reuse their old pods.
It is crucial to think about the maintenance and cleaning requirements of your coffee machine, regardless of the design. Many bean-to-cup machines require manual cleaning as well as regular descaling of the brewing mechanism as well as grinder. However certain pod-based espresso machines have built-in self-cleaning functions that ease the burden.
Water
The espresso machine is a powerful instrument that uses high pressure to push water through a tightly packed, finely ground coffee. The espresso shot is a concentrated and is the perfect ingredient for cappuccinos. This was discovered by Europeans in the latter part of the 1800s, particularly the Italians. They used this to create a brand new range of café drinks.
There are several different methods to make a cup espresso, but the basic idea is to heat water to just below the point of boiling, then press it through tightly packed grounds in a portafilter that is then transferred to a container below the group head. This method produces a dense and highly flavorful espresso cup in less than two minutes.
All espresso machines function like this, however the specifics of each differ slightly. Some machines employ piston-style designs which requires the user to press a lever to create the required pressure (8 to 10 bars or 116 to 150 psi). Certain machines utilize an electric pump to create pressure. Other machines, especially the less expensive at-home models, rely on water and heated temperatures to achieve the same effect.
The quality of the ingredients is important regardless of how your espresso machine performs. Start with a good quality, dark roast espresso bean. You can then experiment with different grinds and tamping techniques to discover the perfect recipe for your espresso machine at home.
Also, make sure you are using the correct water in your espresso machine. Ideally you should choose tap water with a moderate level of minerality. Minerals in water can assist you to get a smooth and balanced cup of espresso, while helping to prevent the growth of scale. La Marzocco has downloadable guidelines for coffee water that can aid you in determining the mineral content of the water you drink locally.
As you become more comfortable with using your espresso machine at home It's recommended to purchase additional accessories, like the portafilter and a stainless tamper. These accessories will help improve the brewing process and give you a sense pride in the coffee you can now make at home.