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How to Choose the Best Espresso Machines For Home The best espresso machines at home must give you a consistently excellent cup of coffee. This requires a precise proportion of finely ground tightly packed coffee to water under high pressure. It also requires a powerful steam wand that can texture milk without large bubbles. Some models come with mills built-in, while others will require you supply one. Our top picks feature adjustable PID controllers to maintain the temperature of the water at a constant level and a shot timer that ensures proper extraction. They also come with a dual boiler so you can steam milk and pull a shot simultaneously. Buying an Equipment A high-quality espresso machine is a great investment for those who plan to serve lattes, cappuccino, and other beverages made of coffee to customers in a café, restaurant or wine bar, or even a salon. When deciding on which espresso machine to buy, you should consider how much control and personalization you'd like to have. A manual machine could be the best option for those who are just starting out. These machines use an instrument to create pressure during extraction and often come with an attached steam wand, which is great to make milk drinks. These machines are hard to operate and require a lot of effort. A semi-automatic machine is an excellent option if you're looking to take your coffee skills to the highest level. These machines offer an easier experience, however they still offer the same consistency and flavor as professional-grade espresso. Semi-automatic machines also come with grinder built-in which saves you money by not having to purchase and maintain an individual grinder. Espresso machines that are professional grade or prosumer offer higher quality than the consumer models however they can be difficult to operate and require more maintenance. These machines can cost thousands of dollars, and it's crucial to understand your requirements and the amount of time you're willing spend on maintenance and upkeep before purchasing a machine. Certain models include a dual boiler that lets you make espresso and milk at the same time. But Giorgio warns that dual boilers aren't necessarily more efficient than ones with one heating system, because there's an in-between time between when the espresso is made until when the milk is frozen. If you're considering purchasing a machine for your business, it's more important to think through your needs. If you're looking to eliminate human error, you should consider a fully automatic or capsule machine. These machines can cut down on the time spent preparing espresso and ensure a consistent taste by eliminating the need to grind beans, extract espresso, and steam milk. Getting Started A home espresso machine can dramatically improve the quality of your morning coffee, but it's important to keep in mind that making a good cup of espresso will require a significant commitment to time and expertise. You'll want a machine that is easy to use for beginners, and will encourage you to continue learning. A few of our options include the Rancilio Silvia offer a variety of customizations aftermarket to make your espresso maker more personal. Similar to other espresso makers, some allow you to replace the handle with a different material to give you a better grip and appearance options, like wood or one made of recycled skateboards (you'll have to wait until the pre-order is available). If you're not ready invest in a commercial espresso machine, there are a number of basic models that can make amazing drinks. A lot of them are built with the same principles as professional machines, however, they're scaled down to fit into a home kitchen. The Breville Barista Pro X for example, has an adjustable PID control on the front that lets you set temperatures to a precise level as well as a shot-timer to track the progress of your brewing and an incredibly powerful wand that is capable of texturing milk, and a gauge that informs you when you've reached the optimal brew pressur (between 8 and 10) If you're ready to take their barista skills to the next level, there are options with dual boilers that allow you to make espresso and steam milk in the same time. Coffeee helps ensure consistency of results as both processes must be heated to the same temperature. It also allows you to play around with different extraction ratios for a broad range of drinks. If you choose to purchase a machine that has this feature, it's recommended that you invest in some extra accessories, such as a Group Head Cleaner to clean the brew port and a Descaling Kit. You can also use Espresso Machine Cleaner instead of water to eliminate old coffee residues which could alter the flavor of your coffee. These tools will allow you to keep your espresso machine in good condition and ensure that it's always ready to create great drinks for you and your guests. Making Great Drinks Making espresso and coffee drinks can be a challenging process. From weighing the grounds out to tamping them exactly the entire process requires precision. The top espresso machines have many features that make making coffee as easy and as consistent as is possible. This can include a fast heating time, automatic brewing, and an easy-to-control steam wand to texturize milk. Breville Bambino Plus is our top pick for newbies. This machine is super-automatic and easy to use and comes with five different settings for espresso, cappuccino or macchiato latte. The machine is simple to clean, and it comes with a built-in milk frother that makes thick, foamy cappuccinos and lattes. Our testers were impressed with the quality of the drinks made by this machine, however it's worth pointing out that when you're serious about your espresso an alternative could be to purchase a barista-grade espresso maker with an integrated grinder and customizable settings. The Rancilio Silvia costs more than the Bambino Plus, but it provides greater control over the making process. It also includes dual boilers that allow you to pull an espresso shot and steam milk at the same time which can aid in getting your drink to the right temperature. If you're willing to invest more, think about a high-end espresso machine such as the Lelit MaraX. This model was voted the top in our Best Prosumer espresso maker category. It is a smaller version of commercial espresso makers (think Vitamix blenders). This machine is worth the price in the event that you're a complete coffee lover. Both Morocco and Sheese insist that espresso machines are only as efficient as the grinder it's used with, and there are several grinders in this price range that are excellent for espresso (Morocco likes the Fellow Opus). Regardless of what kind of espresso machine you pick, we recommend pairing it with a high-quality burr grinder. Maintenance If you've put in the work to make your espresso machine produce amazing shots and drinks it's only right to do all you can to ensure it continues to run great. This means that you incorporate daily cleaning and monthly maintenance into your routine. This is crucial since even the most powerful machines can develop obstructions that are not visible within the internal mechanisms. These blockages can hinder the flow of water and steam. This can lead to lower pressure and a lack of functionality. A few minutes each day, along with a bit of time to clean the machine thoroughly every month is enough to stop the accumulation of coffee residue, oils, and scale that can taint the flavor of your coffee and ultimately harm the expensive equipment. The good part is that cleaning an espresso machine isn't a difficult procedure. The beer group can be cleaned easily on most models. This includes the dispersion screen, three-way solenoid, and rubber gasket. It is recommended to clean the portafilter following every use, since they may contain rancid oils which could alter the taste of your shots. Before you start this process, you'll want to be sure that you have a portafilter (and empty ones), the most compact size of brush, or Coffetool, and some espresso machine cleaner. Soak the baskets and portafilters in a solution comprising hot water as well as detergent and a small amount of vinegar prior to thoroughly cleaning them. You'll also need to remove the brass dispersion plate and stubby screw from the group head. This will allow you to backflush your group head. This involves using Urnex in small amounts. Cafiza tablets, which basically flush out the system by releasing a dissolving solution. This will not just remove some calcification, but also any coffee oil that could be obstructing your three-way valve, preventing water to flow through the system. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer for cleaning products since some may cause damage or create mineral deposits on your equipment. And always make sure that you're using clean, filtered water to reduce the amount of calcium and other mineral deposits inside your boiler tank.