Please know that you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy authentic, delicious espresso, cappuccino and latte drinks at home. More important is the quality of the espresso beans and coffee grinder (to ensure proper fineness grind consistency). With that said, it’s also important to know that you can’t brew true espresso with the commonly found, cheap department store “espresso” machines (steam-powered, no brewing pump),

Semi-automatic espresso machines are the most common type, featuring an electric brewing pump which is manually turned on and off by the user. These machines are relatively simple to operate, but (along with lever style machines) do require the most manual intervention.

The above process is pretty straightforward and with a little practice, you can create rich, authentic espresso as good or better than any coffee house. Some experimentation is required to achieve a perfect espresso; however, the primary variables are mostly limited to espresso bean quality, grind fineness and tamp pressure.

Super-automatic espresso makers are sophisticated machines that go from bean to cup at the touch of a button. They utilize a built-in coffee grinder and brewing mechanisms that automatically grind the coffee, fill and tamp the filter basket, brew a pre-determined volume of espresso then dump the used coffee grounds into an internal waste container. Each cycle typically takes a couple of minutes to complete; at which time it can easily be repeated to brew another shot. These machines can also froth milk for preparing cappuccino or latte using either a steam wand or automatic milk frothing system depending on the model.

However, they do require the highest degree of skill to master and are only recommended for the hands-on espresso purist who is willing to invest some time and experiment. Pulling a perfect espresso shot from a lever espresso machine is a truly rewarding experience. You actually become part of the brewing process; with practice and determination eventually mastering your technique similar to learning a musical instrument.

The above process is relatively straightforward, but it can take quite a bit of practice and experimentation to achieve the perfect espresso shot. Brewing variables include espresso bean quality, grind fineness, tamp pressure and manipulation of the brew lever (rate and timing).

Capsule espresso machines are the ultimate in convenience and ideally suited for offices, Simply insert a capsule which is pre-filled with ground coffee into the machine and press a button to produce a rich, thick authentic espresso. but please check the model as a few are designed to brew espresso only.

The temptation to buy a low-cost steam-powered espresso machine like those typically found in department stores should be disregarded, as they are unlikely to create the proper temperature and brewing pressure required to prepare an authentic espresso. Rather, the results are closer to an overly strong, often slightly burnt, drip coffee. or carry this type of steam-powered espresso machine but rather carry some entry-level pump-driven semi-auto espresso machines that can produce a true espresso while still being economical.

Coffee lovers start out innocently enough with drip filters, French presses, milk frothers, and stovetop espresso makers; but then next thing you know, they’re browsing Amazon for full-on espresso machines with all the bells and whistles. If you’ve reached that stage of coffee addiction, don’t worry, we’re here for you.

We’ve researched everything you need to know about buying a shiny new espresso machine for your home and we’ve combed through the details and reviews for dozens of machines so you don’t have to. let’s take a look at all the key terms and information that you need to know to make an informed purchase.