Clawblog

Photography by: castagneto

Tired of spending $3-5 on espresso drinks at the coffee shops?  Perhaps it’s time to invest in a quality unit for home use that will provide years of reliable service.  With so many types of machines on the market, which one is right for you?

Having been exposed to the intracacies of fine coffee during my college years, I have always put forth the effort to prepare coffee the right way.  This is true for both brewed coffee, as well as your conventional cafe variety beverages: cafe latte, cafe au lait, cafe mocha, espresso, cappuccino, etc.  At one point I was so obsessed that I bought my coffee beans “green”, and roasted them myself!

Over the years I have used every type of espresso machine.  This experience has given me a clear understanding of the functionalities and benefits of these units, as well as some insight as to which one is suitable for the varying consumer types.  In this article I will share the 3 major types of espresso machines and the key points one should regard prior to purchase.

In the world of consumer household espresso machines there are three distinct types: Manual, Semi-automatic, and Super-automatic.

Manual - Manual, also known as hand-pulled machines, create the pressure required for creating a quality espresso by manually pulling the arm down to bring the water to the brew group, then releasing the handle upward where it will slowly pressure brew the espresso.  Key Points - coffee must be ground to proper fineness; grounds must be tamped consistently within the filter holder; water is heated in electric boiler; milk is heated and frothed via attached steam wand; steam available immediately; truly a machine for the coffee purist; price ranges from anywhere ~$400-$1,500.

Semi-automatic - With these machines you add the ground coffee to the filter holder and it does the rest with the push of a button.  Milk is heated and frothed on the side either before or after the espresso is brewed.  Key Points - coffee must be ground to proper fineness; grounds must be tamped consistently within the filter holder; large water reservoir; milk is heated and frothed via attached steam wand; quality of espresso will depend on the consistency of the grind and tamp; price ranges from around $50-$3,000.

Super-automatic - These machines do it all, and, as you might imagine, are on the expensive end of the spectrum.  With these units you add the whole coffee beans to the bean hopper, fill the reservoir with water, and push a button.  Within seconds the unit will grind the beans, tamp the grounds, brew the espresso, and discard the used coffee, then be ready for more!  Milk is heated and frothed on the side either before or after the espresso is brewed.  Some units even have a feature where they will automatically heat and froth the milk into your cup.  Key points - extremely user friendly, easy to use; coffee and grinding take place automatically; consistent quality espresso; capable of delivering pressure brewed coffee (Americano); brews anywhere from 1.0 oz. to 16 oz. at one time; steam is typically available more quickly than in a semi-automatic; machine typically notifies user when water needs to be added, coffee beans are low, used coffee grounds need to be emptied, machine needs to be cleaned; prices will range anywhere from $500-$4,000.

Summary
It is important to note that even the less expensive espresso machines are capable of making very good quality espresso, albeit with a bit more fuss.  In addition to available features, consistency in quality improves as you move up in price. 

chris@clawblog.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Similar Posts

• Best Cup of Coffee: Pressure Brewed “Crema Coffee”
• 10 Essential Pieces of Cookware, Types and Brands