As a coffee enthusiast, what you need is a unit that can deliver fine-tasting beverages that will keep you psyched up all day. But because of the numerous options that the espresso machine offers, choosing the best one for your needs can be a bit confusing.
Thus, many buyers – whether it is their first time or not, are pushed to do extra work to ensure that they make an informed decision while buying the best espresso machines available.
As you do your search, there are several points you should consider. In this article, we will give you seven things that we think should be at the back of your mind as you search.
1. Your needs are your priority
What do you want your espresso machine to do? Of course, brewing high-quality coffee; however, there are other needs to consider.
For instance, brands cluster these espresso machines according to price range. The price dictates the additional features that these devices have. Having a budget helps you know what you are looking for, even when reading the various reviews available on the internet.
On the other hand, do not let price be the only determining factor when it comes to selecting the best espresso machine. It is possible to find a cheaper machine that can brew the best coffee – even though some more affordable units can have a few knacks that higher-priced espresso machines may have.
Think about what you want first. It will make the decision process easy when you start to compare espresso machines.
2. Know the different brands available
As mentioned earlier, different brands manufacture espresso units. That is why there are so many options to pick from.
Nevertheless, some brands seem to be on top of others, and most reviewers will recommend particular brands and refuse to refer to others.
The wisdom behind this is that brands with so many reviews produce durable units; and even if the prices are high, you are sure that you will use your espresso machine for a long time. You will also get the full benefits of drinking coffee when you have the right espresso machine.
On the other hand, it should not mean that you should ignore the less common ones. Sometimes, it might be a new brand trying to penetrate the market, and you can find some qualities and technologies that could be helpful for your coffee-making endeavours.
3. The espresso machine’s features
It is important.
People who are a bit sensitive when it comes to aesthetics become choosy when selecting an espresso machine. They would love something that matches with other units or the overall theme of their homes.
While it may seem unnecessary, I think it is essential.
Consider how much space this thing will take, the amount of espresso you can make in an instance, the pressure, heating qualities, and materials used to make the machines. By the way, the outer covering matters.
If you want more information about a machine, do not shy off from reviewing it individually. You can check the different blogs and videos available on the internet.
4. How automatic the device is
Although every coffee enthusiast’s goal is to brew tasty and flavored coffee, everyone has his or her own opinion when it comes to using the espresso machine. For some, an automatic espresso machine will do them good. Others would like to have full control of the brewing machine.
There is no problem with that. Some espresso machines are manual. This type of unit is best for someone who would like to take control of how the machine brews the coffee by doing everything manually.
Others are automatic. The user has to leave the machine to do the job by itself. Hence, it is suitable for people who want to see the results rather than having to do the job by themselves.
By the way, you can also find electric espresso machines, while others do not need electricity to function.
5. Portability
If you love travelling, and your espresso means so much to you, then you might require an espresso machine that can brew some coffee for you while on the move. Therefore, a portable option should be available.
While doing your search, know the size of the unit, see what you will need to brew the coffee, and understand what you will need to maintain. You can get all this information from the manual provided by manufacturers or by reading different manuals available on the internet.
Additionally, it should be lightweight, and should not compromise on essential things such as pressure and heating elements that control how good your coffee will taste.
6. How easy it is to maintain
Regardless of the price of the espresso machine, taking care of it is mandatory. If you do not know how to do it, then you might need some extra buck to repair it.
Because of this, get to know what you need to clean it. If you do not clean the filter correctly, then there is a massive chance that this would destroy the quality of the coffee.
Again, take note of how easy or difficult it is to assemble and disassemble. You can get all these details on the product manual to see if you will be able to maintain it, or not.
7. Understand the brewing process
While the end process is having your espresso, you should know how the machine operates. Some of the espresso machines in the market have additional features to ensure that it extracts all the nutrients and tastes within your coffee.
Take note of the following things while understanding this factor: The amount of time it takes to brew the coffee, the pressure it provides, the temperature the thermostats releases when brewing the coffee, and if it has or lacks a steam wand.
Steam wands are essential for users who would like to brew their coffee with milk.
Bottom line
From the article above, we can see that the buying process does not just involve placing an order at any time. You need to do your homework so that you can have a good espresso machine.
Besides that, as you factor in all these points, you should know what aspects are essential to you, and what is not that essential.