There’s coffee, and then there’s espresso. People who aren’t experts may not appreciate the difference, but for people who are passionate about coffee and tea, there is no comparison.
When you create espresso, you use a higher grade of coffee beans and go through a process that yields a more powerful taste compared to a regular cup of American coffee. A perfect shot of espresso is topped with a luscious layer of crema and can be consumed plain, or be part of a variety of classic espresso-based drinks.
If you own an espresso machine, any one of these can be made in your own kitchen for less money, as long as you have the proper ingredients and a little time to spend on them:
Espresso Shot (or Double Shot):
This is the fluid directly from the machine. A lot of those who have a taste for espresso enjoy it just the way it is, which is similar to a black coffee, only slightly darker.
Macchiato:
Adding a small amount of steamed milk to your espresso shot will bring out extra foam and soften the strong taste.
Cappuccino:
Like a macchiato, but with extra milk. A cappuccino is a favorite espresso beverage, which is easy to make in the comfort of your own home if you have an espresso maker.
Latte:
It’s like a cappuccino, but with a higher amount of milk and only a small amount of froth on top.
Mocha:
Like a cappuccino, but with chocolate added in.
You can customize the ingredients of your beverage according to your likings, such as adding whipped cream, different flavorings like hazelnut, caramel, or peppermint, or even substituting the regular milk with a dairy-free alternative (although, for example, soy milk doesn’t create much foam).
Having your own espresso maker at home can let you express yourself by making delicious drinks that taste even better than the beverages from the cafe due to them being tailor-made to your own tastes.
What You Can Make With An Espresso Machine
It’s possible you’re an espresso lover without realizing it. If you’re the type of person who often orders drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, or mochas, then it would be wise to think about buying an espresso machine. Those are some of the favorite drinks to get at coffee shops, so having the machine might come in handy.
4 Types of Espresso Machines
The principal divergence distinguishing the espresso makers that can be purchased is how user-friendly they are.
1. Manual Espresso Maker
Those who don’t mind expending effort in order to create espresso prefer manual espresso machines. If you put in the extra effort it can be worth it as manual espresso machines let you control every step of the brewing process. If everything is done properly, you could eventually have yourself the ideal shot of espresso. You can mess up the espresso if you’re not careful, and it may take a while to master.
The standout feature that can be seen on these machines is the lever – there are some with a spring piston lever arrangement, while others have a direct lever, with the latter being somewhat more laborious. Manual espresso machines can have an eye-catching appeal, almost as much as they are designed to be used. Expensive, yet, if someone is a major coffee lover and dedicated to taking the effort to learn, they can brew superb espressos.
Benefits:
- This type of espresso machine produces high-quality and great tasting espresso.
- You have more control over the process.
- An attractive appliance to have on your countertops.
- These espresso makers have a reputation for lasting a long time.
To Keep in Mind:
- These units tend to be expensive.
- May be difficult to use (and easy to mess up).
- Only recommended for experienced baristas and connoisseurs.
2. Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
Semi-automatic espresso machines have electric pumps, making them much simpler to work with compared to manual models. They provide an amalgamation of the degree of authority which manual machines grant (though not to the same extent) and the user friendliness that is inserted into the diverse sorts of automatic products. They are the number one choice of espresso machine available today.
Somemodels you can purchase are more affordable ($200-$400), yet a lot of the higher quality semi-automatic models are usually quite expensive (over one thousand dollars).
Benefits:
- This type of espresso machine is easier to use than its manual counterpart.
- You still have a high-level of control.
- Can make high-quality and tasty shots of espresso.
- There are many affordable models available from reputable brands.
To Keep in Mind:
- Some models can be very expensive.
- This type of espresso maker is not as easy to use as the other automatic types of espresso makers.
3. Fully Automatic Espresso Maker
Apart from possessing an electronic pump, completely computerized espresso makers also oversee the volume of water and how it is released in the espresso production procedure.
Consequently, these machines are even simpler to employ than semi-automatic models, yet they take away some of your power to decide how your espresso is made – which could be a distress if you are exceedingly choosy about your coffee.
This type of espresso machine can have a broad price range, similar to semi-automatic machines. There are models available for purchase ranging in cost from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
Benefits:
- These units are very easy to use.
- You can find affordable models.
To Keep in Mind:
- More electronics means more parts may be prone to breaking.
- Some models can be very expensive.
- You have less control over the particular flavor of your espresso.
4. Super Automatic Espresso Machine
Super automatic espresso makers bring usage to an ultimate level of comfort.
The concept of this machine is to simplify the brewing of an espresso, so that all you need to do is add the grounds and press a button. That’s it. Quick and simple with no mess to clean up.
This type of espresso machine is ideal for those who don’t want to put in a lot of effort and aren’t terribly focused on nuanced flavor, but rather seek just a quick cup. If you consume a large quantity of espresso throughout the day, this might be the ideal product for you.
Benefits:
- The easiest type of espresso maker to use.
- Have lots of special features available, such as built-in grinders and programmable settings.
- Essentially an “All-in-One” system with many special features built-in.
To Keep in Mind:
- They take most of the control out of your hands and do all the work for you.
- They tend to be more expensive than other types of espresso machines, although you can still find some smaller models in the couple hundred dollar range.
How to purchase an espresso machine in eight steps
The boiler dilemma
The espresso maker that we are familiar with is a modern device. It was not until boilers started using heat exchangers (after the war) that espresso developed a flavor similar to what it is known for today.
Heat exchanger based machines are common. They use a steam boiler to circulate hot water through a heat exchanger to generate water at the ideal temperature for brewing coffee. By optimizing the dimensions of the pipes and the flow of the hot water through the unit, it can also be used to create steam for frothing milk.
In more recent times, the single-boiler heat exchanger machine has gone up against machines with two boilers, one for making coffee and the other for creating steam. These multi-boiler machines can precisely control temperature. Some of the disadvantages of multi-boiler machines are they are more complicated and more expensive than other machines, and they don’t use newly drawn water from the mains for brewing, instead using the water that idles in the boiler.
Size matters
Although a massive four-part machine may seem impressive, don’t forget to be practical. This will cost a lot of money to operate and it’s too much for any cafe that isn’t one of the busiest. If you are looking to produce fewer than forty kilograms worth of beverages a week, or approximately two-thousand espresso drinks weekly, then you should be investing in a two-group machine.
If you really want four drinks at one time, think about buying two machines that make two drinks each (if you’ve got enough money). This will give us the capability to adapt should one of the machines not work properly.
You need (temperature) stability in your life
Although many multi-boiler machines seem to be the same on paper, the capacity for them to make coffee water at consistent temperatures can differ greatly.
Most modern multi-boiler coffee making machines feature a PID controller, responsible for maintaining the temperature of the brew boiler. In plain words, PIDs maintain the water temperature in the boilers with a high level of accuracy, in contrast to the conventional thermostats. They also allow users to select an exact temperature for the water used when making coffee.
It’s all in your (group)head
A badly-constructed grouphead will either steal the heat from the brewing water or become too hot and scorch the coffee grounds. So what’s the solution?
Lately, the saturated brew group (along with different versions of it) has been preferred for its remarkable temperature steadiness. This kind of grouphead is firmly attached to the brewing boiler, and hot water is granted to stream through the unbarred neck of the brewing boiler into the group.
A more exact way to fix the problem is to put a heating component into the grouphead itself, giving users the power to manipulate temperatures without having to take into account the temperature of the brew boiler.
Keepin’ it fresh
Multi-boiler machines have boilers that are relatively small in size (usually one for each group). Versions that have been around for a while (as well as some that are still around) provide hot water in its raw form at room temperature straight to the boilers.
Under intensive use, the brewing liquid is composed of hot water and that which has not been heated yet. A decrease in the brewing temperature occurs with repeated shots. In a high-traffic coffee shop, this could potentially cause compatibility troubles.
A potential fix is to pass hot water over a heat exchanger before sending it to the boiler. Many multi-boiler machines have this capability as standard, however many offer it as an optional extra. The extra expense of specifying pre-heaters is definitely worthwhile.
The pre-infusion tango
The coffee machine wetting the grounds before turning up the pressure to its highest level is called pre-infusion. It reduces the likelihood of impeded passage and fines drift that can plug the strainer and hinder pumping out.
High-end machines let the user adjust the pump pressure while the shot is being pulled. This is known as pressure profiling . Some people employ flow profiling; the same results can be achieved by controlling the stream of water for brewing using adjustable obstacles.
Most machines with pre-infusion capabilities have a simpler system. Only the start of the extraction process can be done at a reduced pressure. The size of this may be able to be altered at times, but usually it stays the same.
Defying gravity: weight volume
An automated process for creating shots can increase efficiency without compromising the quality of the shots. If you are interested, there are two choices available: gravimetric machines and volumetric machines.
Machines that use the principles of weight measure the amount of a shot that is being pulled with scales located in the drip trays and linked to a control unit. When the designated amount of coffee and water required has been brewed, the control unit will prevent any more liquid from running.
Managing this process by hand for lots of groups requires a lot of resources and can be complex during periods of high activity, so it would be beneficial to automate it. Sadly, the technology performs optimally in some situations, but performs poorly in others.
A simpler solution is a volumetric machine. A flow meter is included in these items, and it is used to quantify the amount of water that is dispensed and can be programmed to stop at a pre-determined amount by the user. Despite the fact that it is less precise than a gravimetric system on paper, it can still operate adequately in reality. Beware that certain machines may possess better volume control capabilities than others, so make sure to try it out prior to making a purchase.
Looks are important
The final important elements are aesthetics. It’s essential for your espresso machine to reflect the values of your store, so that it serves as a representation of your purpose.
Few buyers will be intrigued by the nitty-gritty aspects of your particular machine. A good number of people will be aware of the kinds of coffee makers used in cafes.
If you plan to have a busy cafe serving espresso all made with the same recipe, then buying a pressure profiling machine would be unnecessary. It would be beneficial to buy a top-of-the-line machine if your main products are high-grade coffees from individual farms and single source espressos.
No matter the brand, putting in an espresso maker will entail considerable financial investment for those starting a new coffee business. Despite this, they are surprisingly economical. Through adequate maintenance and the right type of filter, an efficient piece of machinery can bring in significant revenue over its lifetime. This isn’t too shabby considering it’s only a heater and pump for water.