We can see that coffee is a seemingly complex drink; making a café quality cappuccino would seem a daunting prospect. But there is a massive array of non-commercial espresso machines on the market, which genuinely allow the user to recreate the perfect espresso, latte or cappuccino in the comfort of their own home.

These machines can be broken down into roughly four different groups; manual, semi-automatic, fully automatic (bean to cup), and pod machines.

For each of these groups you can find a breakdown of the various merits of each different machine offered at Coffee, Tea and Toast below. By considering the different options available from these machines the user can find the perfect machine to match their daily requirements.

Though these machines all work in different ways, the user requirements and considerations when buying are basically the same:

Pressure
Probably the most important aspect of an espresso machine; without a basic bar pressure of ten, a crema cannot be produced. And, as we know, no crema means no espresso. All the machines sold by Coffee,Tea and Toast have a basic bar pressure of fifteen, some going up to nineteen. A pump provides the pressure in a good quality espresso maker. Don’t be tempted by cheaper machines that offer pressure via steam. These cheaper machines only offer a bar pressure of four to five, and of course are not capable of creating a crema.

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Wattage
The wattage of an espresso machine tells you how quickly the machine will take to heat up. Cheaper machines usually have wattage of about 750, whereas more expensive machines are about the 1400 mark. The wattage won’t really make a difference to the finished article, merely how long it takes to get there.

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Casing
The body of espresso machines can vary from plastic to fully cast metal. Most people are swayed simply by the aesthetics of the body, though there are advantages to be had from certain materials. Plastic bodied machines are obviously cheaper, and often mean that the machine is a bit lighter as opposed to a metal-bodied machine. This can sometimes cause the machine to rumble a bit in use, due to the workings of the pressurised pump. Metal-bodied machines are heavier, and there tends to be less movement during use. A metal-bodied machine does not imply greater longevity.

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Boiler
As mentioned earlier, the wattage of the machine has an effect on the speed of the boiler, but there are some other features it may be important for the buyer to consider. A standard single boiler is similar to a kettle; a container with an element inside which heats up water. A thermoblock boiler is a set of thin tubes which are wrapped around heating elements. This boiler allows the water to heat much more quickly, and also reduces the possibility of lime scale deposits building up within the machine. Thermoblock boilers often provide a more consistent water temperature. The two boilers just mentioned are single boilers, and create a delay in the espresso making process. The water required to create steam for cappuccino is obviously higher than that required to extract espresso, therefore there is a waiting period between using the two functions. An espresso machine with a twin boiler overcomes this problem. Twin boilers features two separate tanks which can be heated independently of each other. This means that unlike in machines with one boiler, there is no waiting period between the drawing of the espresso and the steaming of the milk.

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Group/Filter Holder
Understandably, cheaper machines have cheaper components, and this is evidenced not only by the body, but also by the quality of the components used. On cheaper manual and semi-automatic machines, the coffee filter holder is often aluminium, which though an excellent conductor of heat, is lightweight and lacks durability. More expensive machines have chromed brass filter holders, still a good conductor of heat but a more long lasting material.

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Solenoid Valve
Again, a feature of more expensive manual and semi-automatic machines, a solenoid valve will add approximately £50 to the price of a machine. A solenoid valve exerts a greater control on the flow of water as it leaves the machine and contacts the coffee grounds. On a machine without a solenoid valve, once the coffee has been drawn, the grounds left in the filter holder have a ‘soupy’ quality, meaning that for cleaning between coffees, the filter basket needs to be washed out. A solenoid valve controls the water flow at the point of extraction, meaning that the ground in the filter holder directly after extraction forms a neat tablet and can be tapped out. A solenoid valve makes cleaning of the machine much easier, and is a must for those who wish to make more than two espressos at a time, relying on a manual or semi-automatic machine.

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Please note - though often mentioned as a selling point, the tank size of an espresso machine, be it large or small, is not important unless you are purchasing for a commercial premises. To get the best out of your coffee, only fresh water should be used, meaning the tank should be regularly cleaned, and should be filled with fresh water before every use.

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Types of Espresso Machine

Manual Espresso Machines
Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
Fully Automatic (Bean to Cup) Machines
Pod/Capsule Espresso Machines
Commercial Machines

Manual Espresso Machines

The manual machine, as the name suggests is the most 'hands on' of the machines available.

Having purchased espresso ground coffee, or having ground it fresh from the bean, the user must select their size of filter (one or two cup), based on how many espresso shots are required. Next this filter is filled, the ground coffee tamped (pressure must be applied to the ground coffee in the filter holder - this increases the pressure at point of extraction) and the coffee extraction started (at the press of a button).

Once the required amount of espresso is extracted, the machine must also be manually stopped (again, at the touch of a button).

Nearly all these machines come with a steam wand to enable the user to froth and steam milk - having extracted the espresso shot the user can add the relevant quantities of steamed milk to create a home-made cappuccino or latte.

Though more labour intensive than some machines, the manual espresso maker allows the user direct control over most stages of the espresso making process. With a little practise, they are also relatively straightforward to use, and can produce consistent results. Suitable for light to medium use.

Some of the Manual Machines available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	Pressure	Wattage	Casing	Boiler	Group/Filter Holder	Solenoid Valve?
Gaggia Baby Black / Ivory	15 Bar	1300	Plastic	Standard	Chromed brass	Yes
Gaggia Baby Class	15 Bar	1300	Metal	Standard	Chromed brass	Yes
Gaggia Classic	15 Bar	1300	Metal	Standard	Chromed brass	Yes
Gaggia Black / Red	15 Bar	1300	Plastic & metal	Standard	Chromed brass	No
Gaggia Cubika	15 Bar	700	Metal	Standard	Aluminium alloy	No
Ascaso Dream Various Colours	16 Bar	1000	Cast metal	Thermoblock	Chromed brass	Only on Aluminium Model
Krups XP4020	15 Bar	1200	Plastic	Thermoblock	Aluminium alloy	No

Semi-automatic Espresso Machines

In many ways the same as the machines described above, semi-automatic machines have in addition a programmable dosing function.
These machines still require the user to fill the coffee filter, and tamp, but have a function whereby the volume of coffee extracted can be programmed. This means that when the user presses one of the cup size buttons (there is usually a large and small option), the coffee extraction starts, but then stops automatically once the requisite amount has been extracted. This is a handy feature, as espresso extraction should take 20-30 seconds, and a lack of attention can result in an overflowing cup!

Semi-Automatic Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	Pressure	Wattage	Casing	Boiler	Group/Filter Holder	Solenoid Valve?
Gaggia Baby D Red / Silver	15 Bar	1300	Plastic	Standard	Chromed brass	Yes
Gaggia Baby Class D	15 Bar	1300	Metal	Standard	Chromed Brass	Yes
Gaggia Baby Twin	15 Bar	1300	Metal	Twin Boiler	Chromed Brass	Yes
Krups XP4050	15 Bar	1200	Plastic	Thermoblock	Aluminium	No

Fully Automatic (Bean to Cup) Machines

As the name suggests, these machines deal with the espresso making process, from the bean, to the cup. The price of these machines starts about £400 and can pass the £1000 mark, but for any consumer who wants great coffee at the touch of a button, this is the machine.

In the most basic models, these machines will grind the beans, measure the correct dose, commence extraction of coffee, and automatically stop when finished. When compared to manual espresso machines, the process the coffee undergoes is exactly the same (assuming the manual machine owner has a coffee grinder) - the only difference is that you can walk away and let the machine do the work for you.

Most machines will also offer you a level of programmability to allow you to tailor the coffee to your personal taste, programming the strength of the coffee and the amount extracted. Milk frothing and steaming can be made easier with the addition of special attachments, (auto cappuccino attachments, professional cappuccino attachments) which take in cold milk, and eject frothed or steamed milk. Using these features, the user can have a degree of individuality in their coffee, which would demand a level of skill to gain from a manual espresso machine

Bean to cup machines also have self-cleaning cycles, making easy work of the descaling process, and the more expensive the machine, the more comprehensive the cleaning function. As the price of the machine increases, so do the features and aesthetics of the machine. Taking the Jura range of machines as a top end example, these stunning machines can be programmed in a variety of ways, some can even be connected to your computer to access in depth diagnostic and programming functions.

This range of machines is ideal for the consumer who would like a larger degree of controllability over their coffee, but with little effort and consistently excellent results.

Jura coffee machines
Basic features include:

Water filtration

16 Bar Pump Pressure

Thermoblock Boiler

Container for used grounds

Dual system - ground coffee and beans

Automated cleaning cycle

Jura Automatic Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	C5	F50	F70	F90	F9	J5	S9	Z5
Number of Selectable Coffee Strengths	3	3	3	3	3	4	Individual	5
Programmable Aroma Levels	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Programmable Water Quality	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Programmable Brewing Temperature	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Programmable Volume of Hot Water/Steam	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Cup Illumination	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Programmable Coffee Strength	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Professional Cappuccino Frother	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Price	£595-£645	£795	£875	£995	£1195	£950	£1245	£1595

You can view our full range of Jura Coffee Machines and Accessories HERE

Other machines
Basic features include:

15 bar pressure

Adjustable dispensing heads

Self cleaning cycle

Dual-system, ground coffee and beans

Automatic Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	Gaggia Titanium	Gaggia Syncrony Digital	Siemens TK54001	Siemens TK69009
Boiler	Thermoblock	Standard	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Casing	Metal	Plastic	Plastic	Metal
Programmable cup size	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Programmable coffee strength	No	No	No	Yes
Cappuccino device	No	No	No	Yes

Automatic Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast (continued):

	Krups XP7240	Krups XP9000	DeLonghi EAM3500	DeLonghi EAM3200S	DeLonghi ESAM6600
Boiler	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Double	Standard	Thermoblock
Casing	Metal	Plastic	Plastic	Plastic	Metal
Programmable cup Size	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Programmable coffee strength	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Cappuccino Device	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Pod/Capsule Espresso Machines

Pod machines utilise small plastic capsules, (rather than the user being required to dose the ground coffee into a filter holder) which contain one dose of espresso. These capsules are placed in the machine, and after coffee extraction they are neatly removed (usually into an internal container) with little mess.

The most famous of pod machines is the Nespresso range. The unique selling point of the nespresso machines is the brands unerring commitment to an excellent coffee experience. They offer a superb range of high quality, fairly traded coffees, available via mail order. Many different companies put their name to nespresso machines, thought the overall design of the machines are nearly identical, and they tend to all be manufactured in Switzerland. When choosing a nespresso machine, the consumer may be led by the style of machine and the features, as the brand is not of great concern. A nespresso machine will be a quality purchase.

Other pod machines include the Caffitaly range by Gaggia. Similarly, these machines use a vacuum sealed pod containing 8g of ground coffee. The caffitaly pod is ideally structured to ensure the full irrigation of each grain of coffee, ensuring a consistently excellent cup of coffee.

Pod machines sometimes offer a programmable cup size function and do not always have a steam wand. Due to their compact size, straightforward operation and easy clean up, these machines are superb for offices, and those with little space in the kitchen.

Gaggia Capsule Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	Pressure	Wattage	Boiler	Casing	Programme Function?	Additional Features
Gaggia Evolution Caffitaly	15 Bar	1300	Standard	Plastic	No	Modelled on the manual Evolution
Gaggia L'Amante Red / Silver	15 Bar	1200	Standard	Plastic	No	Capsule ejector, adjustable drip tray
Gaggia K-111	15 Bar	900	Standard	Plastic	No
Gaggia K-111D	15 Bar	900	Standard	Plastic	Yes	3 coffee dosing options

Nespresso Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

	Magimix M100	Magimix M200	Magimix M150	Magimix Cube
Pressure	19 Bar	19 Bar	19 Bar	19 Bar
Boiler	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Water Volume Control	Manual	Optional	Manual	Automatic

Nespresso Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast (continued):

	Krups Essenza XN21	Siemens TK50	Siemens TK 70	Siemens TK911
Pressure	19 Bar	19 Bar	19 Bar	19 Bar
Boiler	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Water Volume Control	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic

Commercial Espresso Machines

The commercial coffee machine is something anyone who enters a coffee shop regularly will instantly recognise, and it is aesthetically different to domestic machines. The question is, why are they so different? If it has already been explained that there is an abundance of machines on the domestic market which will make an excellent espresso, why would a consumer need a radically different type of machine?

The answer of course, relates to volume. A commercial machine will be required to churn out hundreds of espresso a day, and this requires a much bigger machine, and some different specifications. One of the major differences between commercial coffee machines and domestic appliances is the relative differences in size. Commercial coffee machines will have multiple group heads, and larger tanks. They will also need to be plumbed into the mains water supply to ensure the tanks are constantly filled, and to ensure that waste water drains away.

Another major difference between commercial coffee machines and domestic coffee machines lies in the functioning of the commercial machine's boiler. In a domestic machine (unless it is fitted with a double boiler), there will be a waiting period between espresso extraction and steam extraction; with only one boiler, the domestic coffee machine will have to change the water temperature so that it meets the requirements for extraction of an espresso or production of steam. Obviously in the commercial environment, such waiting times are unacceptable, and the barista must be able to extract espresso and draw steam simultaneously. As mentioned, more expensive domestic machines occasionally use a double boiler to enable simultaneous espresso extraction and steam production.

There is not a profusion of double boiler machines on the domestic market, however, and the same can be said for commercial coffee machines. Commercial machines with a double boiler are very expensive and difficult to come by. As a result, the majority of machines on the market use a single boiler, which is used for steam production, and a device called a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger takes some of the cold water from the tank and mixes it with some of the hot water from the boiler.

This enables the machine to get water of the correct temperature to the brew head quickly. However, the water held in the heat exchanger will eventually exceed 110c, which is too hot for espresso. To solve this problem, a thermosyphon is employed, which circulates the water from the heat exchanger to the group heads of the espresso machine. In effect, this keeps the group heads warm, whilst preventing the water for espresso from overheating.

We can see that despite the price of the commercial coffee machine, if the consumer requires espresso in quantities domestic machines cannot cope with, the commercial machine is a good option. The commercial machine is the technologically superior product, more suited to bulk brewing of espresso, and can steam milk and produce espresso simultaneously (a task which can only be accomplished by the double-boiler machines coffee mentioned previously).

Though the majority of commercial class machines on the market are obviously meant strictly for use on commercial premises, there are some smaller machines which would be suitable for home use. Not all of these machines require to be plumbed in, but most of them feature the extremely robust build quality of a commercial machine, as well as the heat exchange technology.

You can view our full range of Commercial Coffee Machines HERE

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A Consumer's Guide to Espresso Machine Brands

Gaggia
The company that brought espresso to the masses, Gaggia rightfully has a place as one of the oldest and most prestigious coffee machine brands. Achille Gaggia patented the steam free espresso machine in 1938, and by 1977 was producing coffee machines for the home market. From a straightforward manual espresso machine, to a top of the range bean to cup, Gaggia can cater for all.

You can view our full range of Gaggia Machines and Accessories HERE

Krups
A German firm dating back to 1846, Krups dedicated itself to being a brand dedicated to technical perfection and precision. In 1961 the company turned its attention to electric coffee grinders, and from there espresso machines followed. Often excellent value for money, Krups offers the consumer a wide choice, from simple manual machines, to fully automatic bean to cup machines.

You can view our full range of Krups Machines and Accessories HERE

Ascaso
Jesus Ascaso, the founder of the Ascaso brand actually started his career on the production line for Gaggia, making espresso parts for commercial machines. By 1962 he decided to start his own business supplying and distributing spare part, and in the last ten years the brand has diversified to encompass a range of espresso machines. Using high quality components, Ascaso machines are built to an excellent standard, and are aesthetically pleasing.

You can view our full range of Ascaso Machines and Accessories HERE

Jura
Characterised by an amazing attention to detail, and a superb finish, Swiss company Jura is the final word in bean to cup espresso machines. Since 1931 Jura has dedicated itself to producing and developing innovative high-end appliances, and anyone with experience of the bean to cup sector will appreciate how far ahead of their competitors they are.

You can view our full range of Jura Machines and Accessories HERE

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