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How to Choose an Espresso Coffee Machine Home With a high-quality espresso maker, you can take your coffee-making experience at home to a new level. What are the best ways to choose the best machine? There's a lot to consider—from measuring and grinding your own beans, to tamping and pressing properly to get the perfect espresso. A lot of the work can be automated with semi-automatic or in some cases fully automatic machines. Manual You'll need some quality equipment to make the finest espresso at home. The most crucial component of the system is an espresso maker with a good design that can 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 pretty decent shots. We've tried a few of them and discovered the Lelit Bambino Plus to be one of the very best in its field. It's not cheap but you're getting a piece of coffee equipment that will last for a long time and comes with 35 years of Lelit support and service to back it. It's a bit heavy, but that's expected considering its construction. It also has a beautiful retro-futuristic design that's sure to be a conversation piece. Another worthy candidate is the Breville Smart Grinder EK835. It's not inexpensive but it's an excellent grinder that allows you to grind your own coffee beans. It's bigger than the other grinders we looked at, but that's due to the fact that it has an incredibly large burr set and it can handle more than the average burr set could. It's easier to use than some of the models we reviewed and comes with a dependable warranty. There are four types that are available: Manual/Lever (also called Automatic), Semi-Automatic (also known as Volumetric), and Super-Automatic. Manual levers are the oldest and offer the most familiar design but they are the hardest to learn how to use and require more experience to dial in and pull shots. Semi-automatics allow you to do the grinding and tamping yourself but they also have an electric pump that can provide constant flow and pressure. You can adjust the amount of espresso that you put into your cup by stopping the brewing process, and the majority of semi-automatics include steam wands that let you to create froth. Super-automatics offer the highest level of convenience, featuring built-in grinders and tampers as well as brew cycles. Semi-Automatic The difference between semi-automatic machines and fully automatic machines is how much control you want over the coffee making process. Manual espresso machines require the baristas to apply pressure and pull the shot which can be tiring and requires a lot of practice. Fully automated machines can make professional-quality espresso at the touch of a button. However, this convenience comes at cost and the machines can be expensive to purchase or rent. A semi-automatic machine is a great option for those who wish to control their coffee brewing but don't have the time or skill level to be a barista. This kind of machine takes the guesswork out of brewing a shot by grinding the beans, compressing them into an hockey puck shape, and then forcing hot water through them at just the right amount of pressure to create an espresso. This kind of espresso maker also allows you to steam milk and create the latte art. These types of espresso machines can be expensive and need a higher level of maintenance than fully automated machines. However for those who don't have the budget to purchase or rent a fully automatic espresso machine, a semi-automatic espresso maker is an affordable option. Fully automated espresso machines guarantee a consistent cup every time, with minimum effort. They can handle all the steps required to make espresso, from grinding the beans to pulling a shot and steaming milk, and do it all by pressing an button. This is a popular option for cafes who need to be able to serve multiple customers in a short amount of time and want ease of use. However they can be very expensive and are not an option for all cafes. If you're looking to purchase a fully-automatic espresso machine for your cafe, think about purchasing or renting two. One for the peak times, and another one to manage slower times. Pods With pod coffee machines, you can create espresso drinks with the push of the button. The capsules contain pre-ground coffee and powdered milk that is used to brew the beverage. The best espresso pods are sleek, quick and provide very consistently good results. Each shot comes out with a creamy layer of crema, which is the signature of a high-quality espresso. While pod machines won't provide the same level of control that bean-to-cup models do however they are a great option for those who prefer to skip grinding and tamping their own beans, and who prefer convenience over quality. Although they don't provide the same taste as freshly ground beans from a quality coffee grinder, advances in pod technology and a wide selection of coffee varieties make these machines better than ever. The machines make use of a variety of coffee pods, but they all share the same basic design and shape. Most are small, covered in paper, they are similar to tea bags that can be put into a portafilter to make brewing. Some are specifically designed to be used with drip coffee machines, while others are specifically made for espresso machines. They are also known as soft pods, and the latter, Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E) pods. It is essential to look through a manufacturer's list of compatible pods before purchasing a pod-based machine. These machines are available in a variety of flavors and brands which means you can try them out before deciding on your favorite. Some brands sell refillable pods to people who wish to reuse their old ones. No matter what type of coffee machine you choose it is important to think about cleaning and maintenance requirements. While many bean-to cup machines require manual cleaning, rinsing the brewing mechanism and grinder and regularly descaling them Some pod-based espresso machines have built-in self-cleaning features that make it easier to clean. Water Espresso machines are a powerful tool that makes use of high pressure to force coffee that has been finely ground into an extremely tightly packed container. The result is a concentrated shot of espresso that is ideal to make lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. This was discovered by Europeans in the late 1800s, specifically the Italians. They made use of this technique to create a new variety of coffee drinks. There are many different methods to make a cup of espresso, but the fundamental 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 creates a strongly flavored, dense cup of espresso in under 2 minutes. All espresso machines function similarly, but the details of each differ slightly. Certain machines utilize piston-style designs, which requires the user to press a lever to generate the pressure required (8 to 10 bars (116 to 150 psi)). Other machines use an electric pump to create the required pressure. Some, including the home-based machines that aren't expensive, simply rely on heated water and high temperatures to create the similar effect. espresso machines home how your espresso machine performs the quality of your ingredients is crucial to a great cup of espresso. Start with a good-quality, dark roast espresso bean. Then experiment with different grinds and tamping methods to find the perfect recipe for your home espresso machine. Make sure you use the correct water for your espresso maker. Ideally you should choose tap water with moderate levels of mineral content. The minerals in the water help extract a smooth, balanced cup of coffee as well as preventing scale buildup. La Marzocco has downloadable guidelines for coffee water that will assist you in determining the mineral content of your local water supply. As you become more comfortable with your espresso maker at home, it's a good idea to purchase other accessories, such as an espresso portafilter or a stainless steel tamper. These accessories will aid in improving your coffee making skills, while also fostering a a sense of pride in the top-quality coffee you can now produce at home.