OlaCafe

Tips in Choosing an Espresso Coffee Machine for your Home

Brewing an espresso coffee is different compared to most other coffee types. Consequently, the rise in the popularity of espresso coffee over the last 20 years or so has been very significant. Marketers noticed and banked on the saleability of espresso machines, competing with more features and designs.

With so many choices in espresso coffee machines and their multitude of types, brands, designs and sizes: “Which espresso machine is right for your needs?”

Espresso machines, no matter the brand will have the same basic purpose. Espresso machines pump out steam through a finely packed holder of powdered coffee beans for about 25 seconds and produces a drink that is slightly thick and deep brown in color with a crema (froth) on top.

Espresso machines may have a combination of, or may have all of the following components:

• Reservoir
• Pump
• Heating Chamber
• Steam Wand
• Control Panel

Espresso machines though have four basic types. Each one has its own positive features and each has its own vulnerabilities:

The pump type espresso machine

These types of espresso machines are of the larger variety and use a power pump to provide the correct amount of pressure in the water. They are quite large and can be noisy. These machines are suitable for commercial establishments as theyy can produce more espresso coffee with various settings. The machine is also the most expensive type but produces the best cups of espresso. The downside is that water deposits, which will necessitate regular and more vigorous maintenance, can clog the pump type espresso machine.

The Lever type Espresso Machines

This machine is operated by manipulating the lever arm so that pressure is created that will pump the steam through the coffee grinds. Compared to the pump type espresso machine, this espresso machine type is quiet although it could be quite hard on the hands. Because this machine is manually operated, the quality of the espresso coffee that is produced can vary. Compared to the pump type however, lever types have few parts and require not as much maintenance.

Steam Powered Espresso Machines

The steam that is coming from the heated water provides the pressure for this espresso machine type. Because the pressure could be inconsistent and may not always be sufficiently strong enough, the espresso produced by this type of machine may not always be consistently up to standard wanted. The steam type espresso machine though is easy to use, due in part, to its compact design.

The Moka Pot

The moka pot is the simplest if not the most ingenious way of creating espressos. You place the moka pot on top of your stove and then turn on the heat. As the water boils at the bottom half of this espresso machine, a steam is forced trough the upper half of the pot. Because the moka pot is not a mechanized espresso machine, the pressure that is produced is weaker than its counterparts. The main feature of this espresso maker is its simplicity. But then it also does not have attachments for foaming. The moka pot is the least expensive of all espresso making gadgets. For small quantity only.

The sales of espresso coffee machines have been on the rise for the domestic market though designs are less bulky. The features mentioned above should be enough to judge the kind of an espresso machine that will suit your needs.