Tips for Buying the Right Espresso Machine
The espresso machine seems to be like the Ferrari of the coffee world. It’s revered, it’s beautiful, it’s sometimes hard to handle, it’s not always the cheapest, but it will always give great results when in the right hands. Finding the right espresso machine can be a real head-scratcher as you want to know that your money is going to the right coffee making appliance.
There are plenty of brands, models, versions, and accessories you can find when it comes to espresso machines, but before you start getting into the specifics, you need to know the basics. Figuring out which machine is right for you comes down to some factors you need to consider, and they are as follows.
Purpose of the Machine
First off, what reason are you buying this machine? Are you a cafe owner or aspiring cafe owner or are you looking for an at-home machine? If the answer is yes to the cafe owner, you’re going to want to look for the heavy-duty, not-your-average espresso machine which is bigger, more expensive, and more versatile. If you’re a home consumer, then the rest of what you’ll read is going to help more than if you were looking at a real powerhouse machine.
Versatility of Brews
How much can your espresso machine do is a question you really need to ask yourself. Of course, you want it to make espresso, but you would also like it to do more too. The best espresso machine is one that can make a good macchiato, or give you a barista-level latte. A lot of this comes down to your own experience of making different types of coffee, but a good espresso machine, or the best, is one that gives you plenty of frothing options and other main features.
Ease of Use
Going back to that Ferrari analogy, are you someone who will be comfortable with the manual, or are you looking for a more automatic experience? If you answered yes to either, you’re in luck because there are plenty of espresso makers with varying levels of control. You can even get semi-automatic machines. This depends on your skill level and desire to learn. If you really want to get proficient at making espresso and other coffees, go for manual or semi-automatic, but if you just want the coffee made fast, automatics are fine too.
Ease of Cleaning
How easy is it to clean an espresso machine? It all depends on how easily it lets you get into the nooks, crannies, and allows you to use steam to clear out the pipes. A good espresso machine shouldn’t be an all-day job to clean, even if it can get quite messy. Check for the ease of taking parts off or out to get in and wipe things down because an unclean machine will result in a less-than-stellar tasting brew and that’s obviously not what you intended to spend your money on.
How Much it Costs
Inevitably the conversation was going to shift to this topic. Cost is always a factor when discussing any kind of appliance, with no exception for an espresso machine. Price isn’t a fixed value when it comes to your espresso machine. You could buy a cheap one for $50, or buy one at $400, it all depends on the level of quality and features you’re looking for. The brand name will also come with some price markup as expected. Don’t expect to be able to sit on your wallet, as quality does come with a cost in this instance.
Level of Durability
Knowing your machine is going to be used day in and day out without much to worry about in the way of malfunction or lackluster performance is a good peace of mind to have. You should always clean your espresso machine when you can, but it’s also good to know that if you don’t touch it for a while or get your miles out of it, it’ll still be standing. Look for quality build materials and assembly and check reviews and customer support quality to see how well it’ll hold up and how easily it could be to get replacement parts or a full-machine replacement.
Unless you’re already an espresso master, which begs the question of why you’re even reading this, you might need some help in choosing the right machine. Looking at these factors, you can see that finding an espresso machine takes some dedicated research, but if you apply what you’ve learned, you can be sure to make the right decision.