Espresso Maker – Read It Before Purchase
Espresso Coffee Makers
When you have decided to purchase The Best Espresso Maker, may these requirements as your consideration; temperature control, extraction time and pressure. From there requirement you can look at other functions that will add to your enjoyment of the machine, and help you identify the best espresso maker for your needs.
If the Espresso Maker can’t produce a minimum of 9 bar pressure, can’t extract in about 25 seconds, or can’t maintain a water temperature of about 95 (C) cross it off your list.
Do you know stove top espresso makers? This machine does not make espresso though. This machine makes a wonderful cup of Italian style coffee, but the name is misleading. Also may you know automatic, semi-automatic and super-automatic. These are not the type of Coffee Machines. But these design describe the features of the machine. They are all pump controlled machines.
There are three types of Espresso Maker available in the market:
- Manual Espresso Machine
- Steam Espresso Machine
- Pump Espresso Machine
MANUAL ESPRESSO MACHINES
This Coffee Maker has a pump lever attached to the machine, the operator forces the water through the ground coffee and is in complete control of the extraction. Lever machines either operate with a direct lever where the operator must also control the pressure, or with an internal spring piston that takes care of pressure regulation.
The operator has direct control over the outcome in both cases because he is responsible for both the amount of water used and the infusion time. Count on the most consistently authentic espresso from these machines, but only after you’ve had plenty of practice and have mastered the technique.
STEAM ESPRESSO MACHINES
The heating chamber produces steam which forces the water through the machine. It is more difficult to control the brewing process with steam machines and they usually empty the extraction into a small pot rather than directly into your cup. You will not be able to develop a decent cream with steam espresso makers because almost all operate under the requisite 9 bar pressure requirement. The cost is quite a bit lower than pump or lever driven machines, so if you are on a tight budget and you plan to use it for mostly milk based drinks like cappuccino this might be an acceptable choice.
PUMP ESPRESSO MACHINES
On these machines, the water is pushed through the machine by pressure created by an electric pump. There are both single and double boiler versions, which is important to understand if you plan to make a lot of espresso drinks containing milk, like cappuccino. Milk is steamed using the same water source as is used for making the espresso on single boiler models. There are two thermostats to control temperature because the steam used for the milk requires a higher temperature. Therefore, when you are brewing, you can’t steam. You can steam and brew at the same time with a double boiler model because these have 2 water compartments and each has its own dedicated thermostat.
To get an idea of a machine’s functionality and features, look for the designation of semi-automatic, automatic, or super-automatic. Naturally, more features come at a higher cost. The main difference between semi-automatic and automatic machines is in the extraction time. The user manipulates a knob to manage brew time on a semi-automatic machine. The user simply presses a button to indicate the volume of espresso to brew on an automatic machine. Both machines require that the operator grind, tamp and dose the espresso. Push a button on a super-automatic and the machine pretty much takes over from there. You simply load the hopper with whole beans and fill the water chamber. The machine grinds, tamps, brews and creates excellent espresso.
