What you Need To Know About Coffee Espresso Machines

Like any avid, high strung coffee lover, I am always looking to enjoy my coffee with a kick by putting it through an espresso machine. Because there are so many choices, it can quickly become overwhelming when it comes time to purchase one. Here are the basics of choosing and purchasing an espresso machine.

You can break up an espresso machine into 3 basic categories. The first is the fully automatic machines. These machines will do everything for you except drink the espresso. You basically load the coffee into the machine, along with the water and filter, push the button, and walk away. These obviously are the most expensive and usually don’t have the highest quality brew.

Next we have the partially automatic machines. There actually is a hidden benefit to getting one of these that often goes overlooked. When making espresso, you can control the quality of the coffee extraction. This will give you an espresso the way you like it.

Last we have the most common type of espresso machine: the manual maker. Some avid fans need to have full control over their brewing and because of this, all they need is the machine with a handle press and they’ll make a perfect cup of joe.

There are certain qualities that you have to look for when choosing an espresso machine. First, and most important, is the quality of the brand of the maker. There are certain companies that make espresso machines that can run into the thousands of dollars. While they do make a good espresso, there are many that are comparable at a small fraction of the price.

The features that all espresso machines should always have is an integrated burr grinder, a bean hopper, preferably high capacity, a heater, a pump, and an automatic cleaning cycle. You should always look to buy a model made from stainless steel because of its durability.

The bottom line is that if you stick to the major brands of Krups, Bosch, and Capresso, you cannot go wrong.

From: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-to-defend-your-coffee-habit.html