Taking into account an espresso machine?

If you're into 'espresso' and love your cappuccino or latte, you may find that other coffee makers just don't make the grade. You may be considering buying an espresso maker. So what type of machine do you need?

This article looks at some of the popular types of espresso makers, and explains some of the basics you need to know.

What is an Espresso Maker?

Espresso machines consist of a water tank, a pump, boiler and brew head which holds a portafilter for the coffee grounds. The boiler heats the water and keeps it at the right temperature. There are several different kinds of these espresso machines and you can find one to fit your skills and lifestyle for a reasonable price.

Steam Driven Makers

You can get a steam driven machine for under $70. These espresso machines use steam to force water through the grounds but only generate around 3 bars (Ambient) pressure. These are not ideal for discriminating coffee drinkers, as the steam makes the water too hot and scald the coffee. For quality espresso bar you spring for an expensive machine and probably better.

Pump Espresso

Pump machines are the best, which is 10.9 bars of pressure to properly prepare espresso and most of these products 9.18 bar. Larger pump does not mean that bettermachine. Some advertise as many as 18 bars of pressure, which is unnecessary for a good shot of espresso.

Lever Espresso Maker

There is also the Lever espresso maker but this requires quite a bit of skill to operate. In other words, it's probably more suitable for a professional barista or a coffee shop. Unless you want to learn this particular skill, you'd be best to look at more consumer-oriented machines.

What types can I find in the market?

There are four types of espresso machines, commonly used to make espresso, though automation is gradually replacing the manual type.

Manual

A manual espresso machine has a lever that you use to force water through the grounds instead of a pump. It takes practice to operate these because the time it takes to make a "shot" is crucial.

Semi-automatic

Semi-automatic machines are most common for home use. It lets you add the coffee to the filter yourself and the pump is controlled by the brew button. You can vary the timing to get a better brew.

Automatic

Automatics are convenient and don't need skill. Most can be programmed so that you can adjust it to make a ristretto or a lungo. They can be operated as a semi-automatic, too.

Super automatics

Super automatics are expensive. Built-in grinder, add beans and the machine does the rest. It grinds beans, tamps the coffee into the filter and brews to your preset quantity. It even has a waste box into which it dumps the used grounds. Some machines will even prepare the milk.

You'll need to consider which type of machine is suitable for your lifestyle, if you are looking for a new espresso maker,...

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