Espresso Coffee Machine Buying Guide
Which Type of Espresso Machine? Super Automatic versus Semi Automatic
The first thing to decide when buying an espresso machine for home or office is whether to buy a super automatic or a semi automatic. A super automatic will grind the coffee, extract the espresso and even froth the milk with the touch of a button. Popular brands include Saeco, Miele and De Longhi. A semi automatic is the type used by baristas in coffee shops. When using a semi automatic, the "barista" must grind the coffee using a separate coffee grinder then prepare the portafilter with the freshly gound coffee, extract the espresso using the semi automatic espresso machine and finally texture the milk with the espresso machine. Obviously the super automatic is much easier, cleaner and will take up less bench space. But here's the catch:
If the semi automatic espresso machine and coffee grinder combination is used by a barista who has undertaken some basic coffee training (for example Jetblack's Home Barista Group Course) the resultant coffee will be superior to the beverage prepared by the super automatic coffee machine.
Think about it this way: If the super automatic coffee machines made coffee as good as semi automatic machines, coffee shops wouldn't need to hire baristas and wouldn't need those shiny Italian semi automatic espresso machines!
If you value ease of use over coffee flavour choose super automatic. However, if you are the type of person who enjoys the process and values the outcome - choose semi automatic.
How important is a Coffee Grinder?
Let's put it this way, if I had to choose between either having a coffee grinder or having an espresso machine but not both, I would choose the coffee grinder! With a coffee grinder I could still enjoy freshly brewed plunger coffee. But with an espresso machine and no grinder, I would be forced to use pre-ground coffee which is unavoidably stale. There would be a lack of crema and the flavour would be flat and dull. Sound familiar? Perhaps you've had this type of coffee at cafe's that pre-grind their coffee and then leave it in their coffee grinder dosers to go stale. Here is something you need to understand about coffee:
Ground coffee is stale within minutes! You can't make great espresso at home - or anywhere for that matter - without a quality burr coffee grinder.
If you don't already have a quality burr coffee grinder, have a look at the Coffee Grinder Buying Guide.
Volumetric or Manual?
A volumetric machine will deliver a pre-programmed volume of water through the coffee grounds. With the touch of a button, the machine will start brewing and then stop automatically when enough espresso has been brewed. To brew an espresso on a manual machine the barista must start the brewing process and stop it when enough espresso has been brewed. In practice, this is a reasonably simple process.
Single Boiler, Heat Exchanger or Twin Boiler?
An espresso machine has two main functions: 1. To create Espresso and 2. To steam milk. Heat exchanger and twin boiler machines can extract espresso and steam milk simultaneously. A single boiler machine can do one or the other and then must be switched to the other function - which usually takes about a minute. If the machine is only required to make one or two coffees at a time or only ever black coffees a single boiler machine will be adequate. However, to make several milk coffees in quick succession, a heat exchanger or twin boiler machine will be required.
A heat exchanger and twin boiler machine are both able to make espresso and steam milk simultaneously. The choice of heat exchanger versus twin boiler usually comes down to personal preference. Some prefer heat exchanger machines because the water used for brewing does not make direct contact with the boiler element and does not sit in the boiler for an extended amount of time. Others prefer the twin boiler configuration because the temperature of the brew water can be more precisely controlled.
The best way to choose which machine is right for you is to have a demonstration. As they say "The proof is in the cup!"
Espresso Coffee Machine Summary Table
This is a comparison guide of popular home espresso machines.
Which Machine?
This is where there really is a choice to make. The answer will depend on your preferences, bench space available, decor to some extent and budget. Browse our shop as a starting point. But then talk to one of our Espresso Machine experts for great advice with no obligation - contact us now.