How to Choose an Espresso Coffee Machine Home
With a high-end espresso maker, you can take your coffee-making experience at home to a new level. How do you select the best machine?
There are a myriad of things to think about including measuring and grinding your beans to pressing and tamping your beans correctly to pulling an espresso shot that is perfect. Many of the tasks can be automated using semi-automatic and in some cases fully automated machines.
Manual
You'll need some quality equipment if you want to make the best possible espresso at home. The most important component of the system is a well-designed and high-quality espresso maker that is able to handle pressure. This is where a few manufactures have really stripped it down, making machines that don't even have boilers but instead rely on hand-pressure to create decent shots.
We've tried a few and have concluded that the Lelit Bambino Plus is one of the top. It's not cheap, but you're getting a piece of coffee machinery that will last for decades, and has 35 years of Lelit support and service to back it. It's a little on the heavy side but that's to be expected due to its build. It's got a retro-futuristic design that is sure to stir conversations.
Breville Smart Grinder EK835 is another worthy candidate. It's not inexpensive, but it's very effective in what it does, and you'll have the ability to grind your own beans. It's bigger than the other grinders we examined, but that's due to the fact that it has the largest burr set and can handle more than the average burr set could. It's a lot easier to use than some of the models we reviewed and comes with a solid warranty.
There are four kinds of espresso machines: Manual/Lever, Semi-Automatic Volumetric (sometimes referred to as Automatic) and Super-Automatic. Manual levers are more traditional design and are more easy to use, but require more skill and understanding to dial in and pull shots.
Semi-automatics let you do the grinding and tamping by yourself but they have an electric pump that provides constant flow and pressure. You can alter the amount of espresso in your cup by stopping the brewing process, and most semi-automatics have steam wands that allow you to create foam. Super-automatics offer the highest level of convenience, featuring built-in grinders and tampers as well as brew cycles.
Semi-Automatic
The difference between semiautomatic espresso machines (semi-automatic) and fully automatic machines is the degree of control you want over the brewing process. Manual espresso machines depend on the barista to create pressure and pull the shot. This can be exhausting and requires a lot of practice. Fully automated machines can make professional-quality espresso with the push of a button. However, this convenience comes at cost and these machines can be costly to rent or purchase.
A semi-automatic machine is the ideal alternative for those looking to have some control over their coffee making but don't have the time or skill level to be barista. This type of machine removes the guesswork from brewing shots. It grinds the beans into a hockey-puck shape, then compresses them and then pushes hot water through the puck at the right pressure. This type of espresso machine can also allow you to steam milk, and then make Latte art.
These machines are more expensive and require more maintenance than fully automatic machines. Semi-automatic espresso machines are an excellent option for those without the funds to purchase or lease an espresso machine that is fully automated.
Fully automatic espresso machines are the newest technology in espresso makers. They promise a consistent cup of coffee each time with minimal work. They can handle all the steps involved in making espresso from grinding the beans to pulling a shot and steaming the milk and all of it by pressing a button. This is a popular option for cafes that need to serve many customers in a short time period and require convenience. These machines are expensive and are not suitable for all cafes. If you're interested in a fully-automatic espresso machine for your cafe, consider hiring or purchasing two. One for peak times, and the other one to manage slower times.
Pods
Pod coffee machines allow you to make espresso-based drinks with the press of a button. The capsules are pre-ground coffee and powdered milk that is used to make the beverage. The top espresso pods provide consistently good results, are neat and fast, and can produce shots that have a layer of crema.
While pod machines may not provide the same level of control that bean-to-cup models do but they're an excellent option for those who wish to skip grinding and tamping their own beans, and who prioritize convenience over quality. Although they don't produce the same taste as freshly ground beans made from a high-quality coffee grinder, advances in pod technology and an expanding variety of coffees make these models better than ever.
The machines make use of a variety of coffee pods, but they all have the same basic design and shape. Most are small, covered in paper, they resemble tea bags and can be inserted into a portafilter for brewing. commercial espresso machine are specifically designed to be used with drip coffee machines while others are made specifically for espresso machines. Soft pods are the former, and Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E.) pods are the latter.
If you are shopping for an espresso machine that uses pods, it is essential to look over the list of recommended by the manufacturer of compatible pods. They are available in a variety of flavors and brands, so you can test them out before deciding on the one you like best. Some brands offer refillable pods to those who want to reuse their old pods.
It's important to consider the cleaning and maintenance needs of your coffee machine regardless of the model. While many bean-to-cup machines require manual cleaning, rinsing the grinder and brewing mechanisms, and descaling regularly some pod-based espresso machines have built-in self-cleaning functions that reduce the hassle.
Water
The espresso machine is a powerful tool that makes use of high pressure to force water through finely packed, tightly ground coffee. The espresso shot is concentrated and is perfect for making cappuccinos. The Europeans, specifically the Italians discovered this in the latter part of 1800 and used it to open an entirely new world of cafe drinks.
There are many different ways to make a cup of espresso, but the main principle is to heat water to just below boiling, and then press it through tightly packed grounds in a portafilter which is then poured into a container below the group head. This produces a richly delicious, rich cup of espresso in under 2 minutes.
All espresso machines operate in the same way, but their specifications differ slightly. Some machines employ a piston-style design that requires the user to press a lever in order to create the required pressure (8 to 10 bars (116 to 150 psi)). Certain machines utilize an electric pump to produce pressure. Other machines, especially the less expensive at-home machines rely on water and heated temperatures to achieve the same result.
No matter how your espresso machine works the quality of the ingredients you use is essential to making a good cup of espresso. Begin with a high-quality dark roast espresso bean. You can then experiment with different grinds and tamping methods to find the ideal recipe for your home espresso machine.
Also, make sure you are using the correct water in your espresso machine. Ideally you should choose tap water that has moderate mineral content. The minerals in water can help get a smooth and balanced cup of coffee while also preventing the formation of scale. You can find out more about your local water supply's mineral content by looking up La Marzocco's coffee water download guidelines.
As you get more comfortable with the espresso machine at home It's a good idea to purchase other accessories, such as the portafilter and a stainless tamper. These accessories will help you improve your brewing skills while developing an appreciation for the high-quality coffee that you can now produce at home.