espresso machine Reviewed

If you know a self proclaimed coffee connoisseur, they will be the first to explain the differences between a cup of coffee and a shot of espresso. Espresso is a frothy, much stronger and highly concentrated beverage. An espresso coffee maker works by forcing highly pressurized water through small tubes and very finely ground coffee. This pressure is generated by heating water in a very small area by either a pump or steam.

Most of the home espresso coffee makers use steam and most commercial espresso coffee makers use pumps. The commercial grade machines with pumps usually brew a better cup of espresso as they output a more regulated pressure at an optimal temperature.

If you want to brew espresso at home, you will need to get an espresso coffee maker. These will brew espresso quickly and easily. Because most home espresso brewers employ the steam method, they also have a steam release valve that can be used for steaming milk to make a variety of coffee related drinks. For example, you can mix a shot of espresso with six ounces of steamed milk (froth and all) to create a real, authentic cappuccino. This cappuccino, while not the flavored, sugary version found at gas stations, is exactly what the Italians drink in their beautiful coffee shops.

With an espresso maker, any beverage is possible. A macchiato is created by topping a shot of espresso with a couple tablespoons of steamed milk froth. A latte is created in a similar fashion to the cappuccino, except the froth is spooned on top to a depth of one quarter inch. The possibilities really are endless for the wonderful beverages you can make with an espresso coffee maker.

The price range of espresso coffee makers covers a very large range. Some simple home machines can be purchased for twenty dollars when found on sale at a local department store, while high end models that employ a pressure pump can sell for over one thousand dollars. The difference between the low end models and the high end models is the different ways of creating pressure and the extent to which it is created.

The pressure created by an espresso coffee machine is measured in bars which is the equivalent of a kilogram per square centimeter. To create a healthy froth that will maintain throughout the duration of a beverage, an espresso coffee maker must use at least seven bars of pressure. Most high end models are capable of over fifteen bars of pressure!

If you want to enjoy wonderful espresso and steamed milk beverages, you can buy a cheap espresso coffee maker at your local department store.

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