Espresso Machines - A Buyers Guide

• What to Look For in an Espresso Machine
  • Pressure
  • Wattage
  • Casing
  • Boiler
  • Group/Filter Holder
  • Solenoid Valve
  
   
• Types of Espresso Machine
  • Manual Espresso Machines
  • Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
  • Fully Automatic (Bean to Cup) Machines
  • Capsule Espresso Machines
  
   
• A Consumer's Guide to Espresso Machine Brands
  • Gaggia
  • Krups
  • Jura
  
   

What to Look For in an Espresso Machine:

1. 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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2. 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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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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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Types of Espresso Machine

1. Manual Espresso Machines
   
2. Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
   
3. Fully Automatic (Bean to Cup) Machines
   
4. Capsule Espresso Machines
   

Manual Espresso Machines

Fully Automatic (Bean to Cup) Machines

Jura coffee machines Basic features include:

Capsule Espresso Machines

These coffee machines utilise small plastic or foil capsules, which contain one dose of espresso, rather than the user being required to dose the ground coffee into a filter holder. 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, with capsules produced by Nestle. 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 their Nespresso Club mail order service. 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 capsule containing 8g of ground coffee. The Caffitaly capsule is ideally structured to ensure the full irrigation of each grain of coffee, ensuring a consistently excellent cup of coffee. Capsule 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:

Magimix Nespresso Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

Other Nespresso Machines Available at Coffee, Tea & Toast:

View all Capsule Coffee Machines.
 

A Consumer's Guide to Espresso Machine Brands