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When working on your monthly budget is your espresso allowance at the top of the list? Do you visit your local Starbucks more often than you do your parents? If so, you should probably consider an espresso machine for your home. Before you run out and buy the first one you see you should know what to look for.

Cost

Espresso machines can range in cost from under $50 to upwards of a $1000, it all depends on how fancy and how automatic you want the machine to be. You can buy a stovetop percolator for nearly nothing or a super automatic for over $3000. Cost is going to be the first thing to decide on, knowing what your budget is helps to narrow down your options.
Size

Look around your kitchen and decide where you are going to put the machine. Espresso machines come in countertop models or they can be as bulky and large as adding a freestanding appliance. Decide on a location and write down how much space you have there, be sure to save space around the machine for work, especially if it is a countertop model.

If you are going for the large, appliance size espresso machine you might want one that is plumbed to  your water source, much like your refrigerator is. If this is the case you will need to make sure you have a location near your water tap, otherwise you might need a plumber to install the machine.

Accessories

Although you might be buying the espresso machine for that one-shot jolt in the morning, you want to be able to make those wonderful lattes and cappuccinos. You will need to also have these items:

* Tampers: these are essential when brewing a perfect espresso. Make sure it is the proper size for the espresso machine you purchase.

* Frothing pitcher and wand: these are needed for frothing steamed milk to make those great lattes and cappuccinos.

* Cappuccino thermometer: milk must be the right temperature for frothing.

* Espresso shot glasses, espresso cups, espresso pitchers

* Coffee grinder: fresh ground beans make the best espresso, unless you are purchasing an automatic espresso machine that grinds its own beans, you will need one.

Types of Espresso Machines

There are several types of espresso machines available on the market. Price will play a large part in which type of machine you choose to buy. The breakdown of how these machines work follows.

* Stove Top Percolator:  These are the simplest of all the espresso makers and also cost the least. You can usually pick one up for around $20. They are made of aluminum and are used on the stove top.

You put water in the pressurized base, and then put the coffee into a basket that has a metal filter; the top area is where the espresso collects as it is percolated up. This model is a simple model that is great for those who don’t drink espresso often.

The stove top model is not good for making more than one espresso at a time because the base has to cool before it can be used again. It also has to be cleaned and dried very well to prevent build up.

* Electric Espresso Maker with Single Pressure Chamber: These models range in price from around $40 to $100. They have a screw on top where the water goes in. These offer no control whatsoever in making your espresso. You can’t control the water flow through the coffee and you can’t stop the water flow. You have to wait for it to finish.

Also, like the stove top model, you must wait for it to cool down before you can make a second cup. This is time consuming and the espresso isn’t all that great. Some people say it tastes more like strong coffee than espresso.

* Electric Espresso Maker with Water Reservoir: Saving your money up for this type of espresso machine is well worth the cost. The water goes into a separate reservoir that allows you to turn it on and off, controlling the amount that goes through the coffee.

These models allow you to pull a shot with a nice crema on it. The drawback is of course the cost. They start at a around two hundred and can run into the thousands.

Having an espresso maker in your home gives you a warm feeling inside, knowing that anytime you crave that jolt you can pull your own shot and you can offer your guest those hot, tempting lattes they typically have to pay a fortune for.

Weigh the options available and make an informed decision when purchasing your espresso maker. Be sure to find out about warranties and read any comments you can find about the machine. If you are an espresso enthusiast you should consider this an investment not to be replaced in 6 months.

Baristas are trained in the art of making the perfect espresso. It requires a lot of patience and practice and is not easy to master. However, there is an easier way. An espresso machine. Espresso machines make espresso a much simpler beverage to create by controlling the temperature precisely.

There are several different types of espresso machines available, each functioning in a different manner. There are piston-driven espresso machines, semi-automatic machines, and automatic espresso machines.

In the Beginning

Espresso came into being when people were looking for a quicker way to make their coffee.  In Italy, around 1901, Luigi Bezzera found a way to make hot pressurized water and its steam push through a bed of finely ground coffee. The result was a quick, individual cup of highly concentrated coffee that came to be known as espresso. Bezzera acquired a patent for his machine and in 1903 these first espresso machines were sold in Europe.

These machines were not easy to use. There was no consistency to the espresso produced because the temperature and steam were controlled by the operator, leaving room for a large amount of diversity in the resulting beverages.

In 1935 Illy invented a coffee maker that used compressed air instead of steam, thus solving the problem of exploding espresso makes. His machine gave a more favorable, stable result.

The lever action espresso machine was invented by Achille’s Gaggia in 1945 and still bears his name today. Both the Illeta and Gaggia versions of espresso machines are available on the market today.
Illy continued to expand and simplify his espresso machine by combining the best parts of other makers.

Various Types of Espresso Machines

Piston Driven Espresso Machines

Piston-driven espresso machines are more authentic than any other espresso machine. It is the most primitive of the espresso machines. Designed in Italy in 1945, this design requires strong arms to make the espresso.

The piston-driven espresso machine uses a lever that is pumped by the operator to force pressure onto hot water, driving it through the coffee grinds. This pulling down of the handle is how the term ‘pulling a shot’ came into being. The piston driven espresso is also how the crema came to be a part of espresso.

Espresso drinkers who also value authenticity tend to opt for the piston-driven machine. Otherwise you can usually find them as part of a display. Advancements in technology that brought the semi-automatic and the automatic espresso machine made the piston-driven machine obsolete.

Semi-Automatic and Automatic Espresso Machines

Semi-automatic espresso machines are hard to find due to the advanced popularity of fully automatic espresso machines.

Semi-automatic espresso machines and automatic espresso machines both have the hot water delivered using a pump system. However, in a semi-automatic machine the bean grinding, preparing and placing in the machine are all done by hand.

Automatic and super automatic espresso machines require that you only put the beans in. The machine measures the water, regulates the temperature and even grinds the beans to make the espresso. Many true espresso enthusiasts believe that the quality of the espresso is lost in the automation.

Commercial or Home Use

In addition to the types of espresso machines are the uses for the machine. If the espresso machine is intended for home use then the cost is going to be decreased significantly. For commercial use, the cost can skyrocket.

Home espresso machines should be purchased with longevity in mind. The buyer should have an idea of how often it will be used. If it is going to be used a lot, a low end commercial maker might be a better choice. For occasional use, a home espresso maker will suffice.

Commercial espresso machines can be plumbed to a water source or be manually filled – another cost to consider when looking into espresso makers. The more automated the machine the higher the cost.

Espresso makers come in a variety of types and sizes, all designed to prepare the very best espresso possible. When deciding on an espresso maker care should be taken to get the one that best serves the intended purpose.