subject: Picking the Right Espresso Machine [print this page] If you're looking to bring the cafe home and are thinking about buying an espresso machine, you're not alone. More and more people have considered the cost of purchasing coffee drinks day in and day out, and it's quite surprising how much money can be saved if you invest in a home espresso machine. Whether you think of yourself as an espresso novice looking to experiment at home, or an espresso snob looking to buy a professional machine, there's an espresso maker for you. Before you start looking to buy a machine, there are a few things to consider.
Different brands and models of espresso machines can offer a variety of features. Some machines are only capable of making a single espresso at a time, while others can make multiple cups at a time. Other machines are able to make other types of drinks such as lattes, caff macchiatos, and cappuccinos. Look for machines that have a steam wand and a milk frother.
One of they identifying features of all espresso machines is the drive method. The majority of home machines are steam-driven which forces water through the coffee using steam pressure. Steam-driven espresso machines are sometimes paired with a standard drip-coffee machine as a low-cost combination coffee maker. Pump-driven machines are usually more expensive than steam-driven espresso machines. Most commercial machines, and some high-end home machines use a pump-driven system. These machines use a motor to force water through the coffee.
Some espresso machines offer varying degrees of automation. The amount of automation a machine has refers to how much direct interaction is needed with the machine to make a drink. Semi-automatic machines simply automate the delivery of water to the coffee so that a manual hand pump isn't necessary. Automatic espresso machines automate water delivery as well as regulate the brew volume, meaning they can be programmed to stop brewing once a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered. Finally, super-automatic machines automate everything. They deliver the water, they regulate the volume of espresso created, and they also grind and tamp the coffee. The operator simply needs to adds coffee beans.
