Espresso machines are a versatile and more advanced coffee-making experience. With an espresso machine, you can create all of your favorite barista creations from your local coffee shop.
An espresso machine is definitely worth the investment if you purchase espresso beverages regularly. This includes lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. These drinks can easily cost you a total of $4.00 or $6.00 apiece each time you visit your coffee shop. An espresso machine is quite an investment. But, in the long run, they will cost you much less since they last for years when maintained correctly.
These machines do require a level of skill and knowledge of the types of beverages and how they are made. It requires that you know how to properly release the pressure of the machine and use it to steam your milk. It can be a learning curve, but you can’t beat the personalization and versatility of these machines.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Espresso Machine?
The benefits of an espresso machine include ease of use, sustainable use, high-quality craft, and more diverse crafts. Espresso machines can create a wide variety of crafted coffee beverages. These can include cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos. You can froth milk and create sweet or strong coffee beverages.
Espresso machines operate by pushing hot pressurized water through very compact and finely ground coffee grinds. This grind is often referred to as “espresso grind”. It looks a lot like a gritty powder and involves pulverizing the coffee beans in a grinder for several seconds.
Just how an espresso machine works will be discussed below. But, the function of how the shot is pulled is one of the greatest benefits of an espresso machine. This process creates a distinct and robust coffee experience.
Espresso machines are less wasteful than disposable single-serve coffee makers. Espresso is a concentrated shot of coffee. If you are looking for a single service experience that is still robust, an espresso machine can satisfy you.
Oftentimes with drip coffee machines, you will experience a watered-down taste in single-serve sizes. This is not the case with espresso machines which will save you valuable coffee grinds for the future.
Espresso machines are very versatile. Once you have mastered the steamer wand, you can make your own barista creations. Since espresso is a concentrated coffee, you only need a single shot to create a strong coffee taste in your frothy beverage. If you try to do the same with drip coffee, you will find you need to add a significant amount of coffee to give it a robust flavor.
How Does an Espresso Machine Work?
As discussed above, coffee grinds are added to an espresso cup with some level of force to make it compact. This compact aspect is what sets espresso apart from ordinary drip coffee.
This coffee is then added to the espresso capsule pod and must be pressed down firmly. This is usually accomplished by using a press device that is included with the machine. But, you can use a spoon as well. Just so long as the coffee is pressed down firmly.
The reason you need to have your coffee grinds pressed down is to create pressurized water going through the grinds. This is what creates the thick and almost creamy sensation you experience with an espresso shot.
Even without cream, an espresso shot is known for being creamy and having a layer of crema on top. Crema is one of the most pleasant parts of the espresso shots. It’s a thin layer of foam that forms on top of the shot when it pulls which is indicative of the quality of the coffee and the machine itself.
How Much Should I Spend on an Espresso Machine?
On average you can expect to pay at least a couple hundred dollars for an espresso machine that is versatile and high quality. These machines can range between $300.00 and $850.00. The price is indicative of the quality of the espresso shot you will create. But, it also says something about what your machine can and cannot do.
A cheap $50.00 espresso machine will not produce the quality you are probably used to. Coffee shot quality (or higher) will take you into the hundreds of dollars zone.
The issue with the chapter machines is they do not create the pressure that is needed for a high-quality shot. Rather, they more or less drizzle hot water through the espresso pod and grind. Essentially, they operate more like a reusable k-cup machine than an espresso machine.
There are also stovetop devices that cost on average between $10-$25 depending on the size. These machines are sometimes marketed as espresso makers. But, in reality, the coffee they produce is stronger than a typical percolator. But, the many components of an espresso shot (the rich velvet texture and crema on top) are not present.
What’s the Difference Between an Espresso Machine and a Coffee Maker?
The biggest distinction between an espresso machine and a regular coffee maker is the way it operates. A traditional coffee maker usually produces coffee through a process known as “drip coffee”. This process creates a mild brew that is usually made into a moderate-sized cup of coffee that users usually add cold milk to and a little sugar. Espresso machines make a thick, small shot through a pressurized process.
Espresso machines have more variety for use. With an espresso machine, you can froth your milk to how you like. You can easily create iced and hot espresso beverages. A drip coffee machine is typically limited to only hot drip coffee.
Some more expensive coffee makers have an “iced” component. This option pulls the hot coffee slower and thus makes it a stronger, more robust flavor. This helps the coffee retain its integrity even when you add ice and the ice melts.
However, this is still a drip coffee. Many do not realize that an iced coffee with milk and sugar is a very different beverage than an iced latte. A latte has significantly more milk and the espresso is more intense than the drip coffee.
Last, drip coffee machines do not usually have the steamer wand component that an espresso machine has. This is because a drip machine does not need to generate steam pressure to brew the coffee. An espresso machine does need to have this steam to add pressurized water through the coffee. This steam is recycled through the steamer wand.
Are Espresso Machines Easy to Use?
Espresso machines require some basic knowledge regarding how to properly compress the coffee in the espresso pod. It also typically requires that you either understand the distinctions on the various types of drinks made with espresso. Last, it may require you to understand the pressure release of the machine, which can be harmful if done incorrectly.
If you were to ask a person if an espresso machine was hard to use, you would get a multitude of responses. This is because the difficulty of an espresso machine depends on the user’s experience and the type of machine they use.
Some machines are pretty much self-performing. These machines have espresso pods that are pre-made. All you need to do is add the water to the back and insert the pod. The machine does everything else, without you needing to regulate the temperatures or the pressurization. But, these machines do not have a steamer wand.
That means you will need to purchase a tabletop frother. These are pretty simple to use and require that you simply add the milk and place the frother on the heater. The frother has a little wand inside of it that foams the milk while it heats up. Once it is done, you just pour the milk over the expresso.
This type of machine is best for someone who just wants a quick shot of high-quality espresso in the morning. But, it does not have the versatility of a more traditional espresso machine. With a traditional machine, you can feel free to explore different types of drinks and different methods. It requires more work, but it is more rewarding.
How Often Should Espresso Machines Be Cleaned?
How often you clean your machine depends a little on the type of machine and how often you use it. If you use your machine at least a couple of times each week you should backflush it once per week. You should descale your machine at least once every month. Descaling is important for removing the calcium buildup in the machine’s internal workings.
You should purchase a small scrub brush or bottle brush if your machine does not have one. You can use this wand or scrub brush to clean the pipes and some of the tubes in the machine. You can also use this to scrub some of the hard-to-reach areas that the cleaner can’t reach.
You do not need to do this too often. It would be best to do it at least once every couple of months. But, just so long as you add the cleanser once per month the interior will remain pretty clear of debris.
Backflushing your machine is a pretty straightforward system as well. This is basically just water that you add to your machine with no cleansers. The machine should have a cleaning cycle option. If not, simply select the brew option if it does not. This will help flush out any buildup in your machine. This should be done every week or at least every other week.