| If you want to make homemade espresso and save | | | | beans are manually added. |
| tons of money from signature coffee, then you | | | | Super-automatic: Every function is automatic and |
| need to have an espresso machine at home. | | | | they come with a waste box for collecting the beans. |
| Espresso machines are efficient and convenient for | | | | However, the quality of the brews are inferior |
| making espresso by forcing almost-boiling water | | | | compared to semi-automatic and manual ones. |
| through coffee beans that are finely ground. They | | | | Manual lever: They require more skill with the hand |
| are made up of a boiler, water tank, a pump, and a | | | | lever for pushing the water through coffee beans. |
| brew head. | | | | But they eliminate the sour taste from |
| Parts of the espresso machine | | | | steam-powered models. |
| The tank has hot water and the boiler heats it up. | | | | Full automatic: Similar to semi-automatic but they |
| The brew head has the portafilter where the coffee | | | | have more controls to stop or start the brewing |
| is tamped or pressed before brewing. Then, the | | | | according to preset times. They are ideal for those |
| pump extracts the shot that is usually in a preheated | | | | who like convenience and speed over high-quality |
| shot glass or demitasse. Most espresso machines can | | | | brews. |
| produce 30mL (single shot) to 60mL (double shots) | | | | Pick your machine |
| servings. | | | | When shopping for espresso machines, check on the |
| Your choices | | | | bar pressure and the material of the boiler. Choose |
| Steam-powered: They use steam to force water | | | | one with 9 pressure bars. There are also those with |
| through ground coffee beans, resulting in dark, | | | | 15 to 18 bars for highly specialized brews. Meanwhile, |
| strong, and mildly sour coffee. | | | | boilers are available in brass, copper, stainless steel, or |
| Semi-automatic: There is more control over water | | | | aluminium. |
| flow to allow the boiler reservoir for refilling and | | | | |