CHOOSING YOUR MACHINE

There are several styles of espresso machine available, and such a plethora of products that it is difficult to know where to start. The espresso machine you choose depends first and foremost on how much coffee you need to brew each day. This should help give you a better idea…

From the bakery to the large restaurant

The brewing group of an espresso machine is the part into which the portafilter engages; it is the part that connects the water reservoir to the portafilter. The number of groups is chosen to suit the amount of coffee to be brewed. Home espresso machines only have a single group, whereas professional machines can have up to four groups, and machines with even more groups can be made to order.

For those who can’t decide: the prosumer

Machines intended for commercial settings are made using more reliable and durable components to enable them to cope with intensive, continuous use. In the early 2000s, private consumers who wanted to have their own high-performance machine at home started purchasing single-group professional machines, generally secondhand. In response to this new demand, manufacturers started developing semiprofessional machines known as “prosumer” (a contraction of “professional” and “consumer”) machines, which combine technical solutions and professional components in small espresso machines for domestic use.

A machine to suit everyone

The latte art geek

You’re a coffee geek who likes to practice latte art at home. A single-group semiprofessional (prosumer) machine with a heat exchanger will suit your needs. You can have steam whenever you want it, and can brew one cappuccino after another to enable you to practice your ephemeral art.

The fan of terroir

You’re fascinated by the amazing diversity of coffees offered by the countless terroirs, or coffee-producing regions, around the world. A single-group, single-boiler machine does a good job of conveying all the nuances and aromatic complexity of the best coffee beans. The fact that this machine does not offer steam on demand is not a problem, especially if you’re not big on milky coffee, and only occasionally prepare this if you happen to have guests visiting.

The barista

A two-group espresso machine is good for use in a small coffee shop. The machine needs to operate at a stable, accurate temperature, and provide plenty of steam power, enough to cope with the high demand for milky drinks.

The office coffee klatch

An automatic machine is probably best for the office. This machine, which is very easy to use, can be operated individually by ten or so different people throughout the day, and allows each of them to select their desired program. With its integrated coffee grinder, it uses coffee beans, rather than capsules, making it an environmentally friendly choice. The high purchase price may be less of a problem since it’s usually purchased by companies for use by employees.

The vacation home

A capsule machine may be the best option, since it may only get use a few weeks out of the year. It’s relatively inexpensive and the amount of coffee one needs to buy (as capsules) can be tailored to the exact amount of coffee consumed. The intuitive operation and speed with which you can prepare coffees are useful in a house where there is a lot of coming and going.