A kitchen, no matter how fancy or elaborate, is never complete
without a coffee machine in it. If you love coffee and prefer something
fancy and yet easy to make, then consider getting an espresso machine.
Espresso is typically much thicker than regular coffee and is the base
for other coffee types such as latte, cappuccino, macchiato or
Americano. Now shopping for the ideal machine can be intimidating, but
with proper research, one can find the espresso machine that would
create their perfect espresso.
Manual, Semi-Automatic, Fully Auto, Super Automatic
Espresso machines come in four types. The first one is the manual machine which requires one to manually push water through the ground coffee beans to achieve the desired taste and flavor of the coffee grounds. Manual machines come in two sub-classes, which are the "spring piston lever" and the "direct lever". These types of machines are not for beginners, but more for seasoned baristas as one is in charge of how long the pre-infusion, amount of water as well as the right time to pull the shot. A wrong move can destroy the quality of the coffee and leave one with a bitter-tasting beverage.
Semi-automatic and fully automatic machines are the ones that are popularly used in coffee shops. One only needs to grind the beans and put these in the machine to brew the coffee. In a semi-automatic machine, the barista would press the stop button to stop the brewing process, because with an automatic one, the machine stops once the desired brew is achieved. Super automatic, on the other hand, is easy as the grinding and tamping process is done by the machine.
Budget and Maintenance
Once you decide what type of coffee machine you like, the next thing to do is to look for the type of machine you are interested in and would fit your budget. Is the machine large and heavy? Do you have to manually clean it? Is the water tank a good size? What kind of material is it made of? Some machines have a direct plumb that you can connect with your home's pipeline, so you no longer have to manually fill the machine with water. Learn about the boiler setup on the machine as well as the maximum pump pressure capability of the machine.
Grinder
Although not a major component of a coffee machine, one of the things that you have to invest in is a proper grinder to grind your coffee beans. This is necessary as the right kind will ensure that your coffee beans are ground to a particular size to allow perfect extraction of the coffee's flavor. Investing in a grinder will benefit you in the long run as most grinders can last up to 10 to 15 years, depending on the brand and make of the machine.
Manual, Semi-Automatic, Fully Auto, Super Automatic
Espresso machines come in four types. The first one is the manual machine which requires one to manually push water through the ground coffee beans to achieve the desired taste and flavor of the coffee grounds. Manual machines come in two sub-classes, which are the "spring piston lever" and the "direct lever". These types of machines are not for beginners, but more for seasoned baristas as one is in charge of how long the pre-infusion, amount of water as well as the right time to pull the shot. A wrong move can destroy the quality of the coffee and leave one with a bitter-tasting beverage.
Semi-automatic and fully automatic machines are the ones that are popularly used in coffee shops. One only needs to grind the beans and put these in the machine to brew the coffee. In a semi-automatic machine, the barista would press the stop button to stop the brewing process, because with an automatic one, the machine stops once the desired brew is achieved. Super automatic, on the other hand, is easy as the grinding and tamping process is done by the machine.
Budget and Maintenance
Once you decide what type of coffee machine you like, the next thing to do is to look for the type of machine you are interested in and would fit your budget. Is the machine large and heavy? Do you have to manually clean it? Is the water tank a good size? What kind of material is it made of? Some machines have a direct plumb that you can connect with your home's pipeline, so you no longer have to manually fill the machine with water. Learn about the boiler setup on the machine as well as the maximum pump pressure capability of the machine.
Grinder
Although not a major component of a coffee machine, one of the things that you have to invest in is a proper grinder to grind your coffee beans. This is necessary as the right kind will ensure that your coffee beans are ground to a particular size to allow perfect extraction of the coffee's flavor. Investing in a grinder will benefit you in the long run as most grinders can last up to 10 to 15 years, depending on the brand and make of the machine.
