Espresso Machines Guide

Whether you have crisscrossed Italy seeking the perfect espresso shot or simply want to enjoy a consistently superb cappuccino in the comfort of your home, EssentialEspresso is committed to find the right espresso machine for you.

(Any questions? Call 1-800-798-5744 or send an email to help@EssentialEspresso.com.)

What is espresso?

To understand what an espresso maker must do, let’s start by explaining just what espresso is.

"Espresso" comes from the Italian word for "express." Why? Because espresso should be served immediately after it is prepared. This is when the espresso’s flavor is the fullest.

If you want to get technical, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA)defines espresso as a beverage of 45ml (1.5 oz) prepared from 7-9 grams of coffee through which clean water of 192-198 degrees F (88 – 92 degrees C) is forced at 9-10 atmospheres of pressure, where the grind of the coffee has made the brewing "flow" time approximately 22-28 seconds. While brewing, the flow of espresso should appear to have the viscosity of warm honey and the resulting beverage will exhibit a thick dark gold cream foam ("crema") topping.

If you didn’t get all that, don’t worry. EssentialEspresso carries a wide selection of machines that meet these specifications. They fall into three basic categories:

1. Super Automatic
2. Automatic (Semi and Full)
3. Manual (Piston)

Super Automatic Machines

It might be an exaggeration to say that super automatic machines do everything except pick the coffee beans and milk the cow, but the reality isn’t too far off. At the touch of a button super autos make your favorite espresso drinks. They also make café.

What sets super automatics apart from other machines is that they have an automated internal brewing system and high-quality burr coffee grinder built in.

Coffee beans are stored internally

Super Automatics grind coffee beans stored inside the machine, tamp the grounds, and extract the espresso. Basically all you have to do is make sure the machine has coffee beans and water.

Computer keeps flavor consistent

This technological magic is controlled by an internal computer that oversees the production of consistently superb espresso. In contrast, semi-automatic and fully automatic machines need a little help from you. We’ll discuss these machines a bit later on.

Automatic milk frothing system

If you want to enjoy an espresso beverage that includes milk, such as a cappuccino or café latte, you should consider a super automatic with an automatic milk frothing system. Most “supers” feature automated milk frothing devices in which a milk container easily stored in the refrigerator is inserted into the machine when you need it. All you do is put the container into the machine, press a button, and wait for your beverage.

No mess to clean up

There is no mess to clean up after brewing because the machine automatically disposes of leftover grounds into a collection container. (Of course, you will have to empty this container on occasion.)

Control your dose of coffee

Many super autos allow you to adjust the amount of coffee used to make the espresso. This “dosing” feature allows you to make stronger or weaker espresso (or cup of coffee) without changing the amount of water.

Some machines also come with a bypass doser. This is a small chute usually on top of the super automatic that accepts pre-ground coffee, rather than the coffee beans stored inside the machine. This allows you to switch to a different blend without having to empty out all the beans in the internal hopper.

Cup warmer

Temperature is a crucial to good espresso. Because espresso should be enjoyed while hot, and not exposed to dramatic temperature changes, the cups in which it is served should be pre-warmed. For this reason, many super automatics have space on top of the machine where you can store cups to keep them warm. Usually this area is heated by residual heat from the machine’s boiler.

Water Filtration

Some super automatic machines include built-in water filtration machines that remove chlorine, lead, aluminum and copper. Clean water is essential to brewing good espresso. Water used to make espresso should be free of impurities and additives, such as chlorine, because their taste can be amplified by the brewing process and make it impossible for your machine to make the high quality of espresso you expect and deserve. To remove carbon, a special organic additive is used.

In addition to maintaining the taste of your espresso, a water filter also eliminates the need for periodic descaling typically required of other machines. Although machines work without a filtration system, for the reasons above we recommend that you use one.

Fully Automatics and Semi-Automatics

Fully automatic and semi-automatic machines are discussed together because they are so similar. These machines are easy to use and their affordability makes them a popular home machine.

They differ from super automatics in that you, not the machine, must grind, dose and tamp the coffee in the portafilter (that handle attached to a metal cup you’ve probably seen in cafes) used to brew the espresso.

A brief history of semi-automatics

For the historians out there, semi-automatics were first introduced by Gaggia in the 1940s. These machines were a step up from the manual piston machines in use at the time. The advantage these new machines had was an electric pump to produce the pressure required to make espresso. Manual machines required a person to pull a lever and produce this pressure, but this pressure can be inconsistent and affect the quality of the espresso.

Consistent pressure = better espresso

Both fully and semi-automatic machines are automatic in the sense that an electric pump system delivers the water through the coffee grounds. The pump draws water stored in an internal reservoir into the boiler where it is heated then forces the water through the portafilter at the necessary pressure to make espresso.

So why is the pump so important? Because it delivers consistent pressure. This prevents the slight variations that can profoundly affect the final product.

You control the flow of espresso

The difference between the fully and semi automatic machines can be found in the user’s control over the pump and what is called brew volume. This refers to the amount of water that flows through the coffee grounds.

With fully automatic machines, you activate the extraction process by pressing a button or touchpad and it ends automatically. The machine has a flowmeter that turns off the pump and releases the brew pressure automatically when the programmed amount of water has flown through.

With semi-automatic machines, you flip a switch on to activate the pump and flip it off when you decide enough water has passed through the espresso grounds. In this sense you have greater control over the amount of water flowing through the ground coffee.

Frothing milk

Unlike super automatic machines that froth milk for your espresso drinks, semi and full versions require you to use the attached steamwand to froth the milk yourself. Note that some machines offer different accessories for frothing milk.

Manual (“Piston”) Machines

Manual or “piston” machines were the first real espresso machines developed. While they require the steady hand of an experienced barista, they can be beautiful to look at, and some people choose them as a decorative piece for the home or office.

Manual machines consist of large boiler that holds and heats all the water necessary for brewing and steaming or frothing milk. When the boiler reaches the correct temperature for brewing espresso, as indicated by a gauge, the barista simply lifts the lever. This raises a piston that forces the water in the boiler through the coffee grounds in the portafilter. The espresso then begins to drip from the spouts into your cup.

It is the lifting of the lever that creates the pressure required to produce espresso, but note that this requires some degree of arm strength and the consistency of the pull is central to extracting a good shot of espresso.

Generally speaking, manual machines have good milk frothers suitable for home use. Some even come with an automatic milk frother.

Cleaning and maintenance is fairly standard as compared to other types of machines, but because the exterior often has a brass, chrome or copper finish that twill show wear, tarnish and fingerprints they need to kept clean for appearance sake.