Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker
A coffee and espresso machine is a must for any kitchen, whether you prefer a full-sized pot or espresso. At Target, we have an array of designs and features to meet your needs.
With an espresso machine, high pressure forces water through the ground beans in a matter of seconds. The grounds are then tamped in order to compact them evenly and then interlock.
Here are a few examples of
When purchasing a coffee maker or espresso machine, there are many factors to consider. The most important are the characteristics that determine its purpose and its suitability to your requirements. Look for features that offer convenience, enhance the quality of your drink and allow you to customize your drink.
Coffee- and espresso makers can be quite simple. For instance the classic Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer that uses an insulated pot that slowly drips water over ground beans. Certain models come with more advanced options, like a dual boiler that lets you to make espresso as well as steam or frothed milk at the same time. Digital displays can also alert you when your tank is in need of topping up, when it's time to empty or clean the grounds bin, and when other maintenance tasks are due.
Most modern coffee and espresso makers utilize a similar brewing process that involves pouring hot water over ground or pre-ground beans that sit in a filter. Many are designed to stop the brewing process automatically at the appropriate time so that you can have a fresh cup of coffee every morning. Certain models allow you to select your preferred brew strength and some come with adjustable temperature settings to ensure the best flavor.
The top-tier model of espresso and coffee machines is the superautomatic, that is designed to do everything. They're usually equipped with an integrated grinder, which means they can grind and brew coffee using fresh beans. They'll usually also have an additional steam wand that can be used for making lattes and cappuccinos. You might also choose from a variety of drinks including hot chocolate from their menu.
If you have small kitchen space, go for a small model that doesn't take up much counter space. If you have several people in your home who have their own preferences for coffee, consider getting a multi-cup device that can accommodate different sizes of cups. If you're an espresso connoisseur, look for models that let you adjust the strength of the brew and water-to-coffee ratio so that you can make the perfect cup every time.
When you are looking for the latest coffee and espresso machine, a good warranty and prompt service are essential aspects to consider. Based on the manufacturer the warranty will vary from one to three years.
Easy of Use
You require more than a basic drip-filter maker to make a cafe style beverage at home. For espresso, water pressured to high is forced at high speed through finely ground beans. The result is a brief "shot" of caffeine with a thick layer crema on the top. The majority of espresso and combination coffee machines employ a portafilter, steaming arm and basket for this process, while others rely on pre-packaged coffee pods or filters, or allow the user to grind and measure beans manually.
The kind of machine you choose depends on how hands-on you'd like to be as well as the space you have. Manual machines offer the most control, but they require a lot of effort: you'll have to grind the coffee beans, hand-tamp it and pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines can be accomplished in a few steps, such as grinding and tamping. However they will require more effort than automatic machines. Fully automated coffee and espresso makers make a whole pot of drips or an entire cup of espresso at the touch of a button.
Consider whether you are brewing for one person or a group of people. Certain models, like the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of coffee or espresso simultaneously. This is a good alternative for those who prefer to make their own coffee in the morning, but might not be ideal if are preparing for a large group.
Dual boilers let you prepare steaming and coffee simultaneously, so that you don't need to wait until one feature cools before starting the next. This feature is especially useful when you're planning to make lattes or cappuccinos.
experienced is less likely that a espresso machine with an adjustable reservoir will build up mineral deposits. You'll have to regularly clean your reservoir, but it will save you time since you don't need to drain and replace the entire pot of water. The hardness of the water could be a factor in the buildup of minerals. The harder water will create more dissolved minerals, which can make your machine require more descaling. Soft or filtered filtered water is less abrasive to your machine, and will reduce the frequency of descaling.
Cleaning is easy
A coffee or espresso maker is a major purchase for a lot of homeowners and it requires regular care to ensure its performance and longevity at maximum levels. Whether you use drip coffee makers or an espresso machine, proper cleaning of the carafe as well as other removable parts is a critical part of the upkeep process. Using vinegar or a special descaling solution at least once a month is important to help maintain your appliance and some models have sensors that light up to alert you when it's time to clean.
While vinegar is a great option for sinks and countertops, the acidity can damage the rubber seals and other components of your coffee and espresso maker, thereby limiting its life. Many brands, including Lavazza and Smeg recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your coffee maker because it could void the warranty.
To clean your espresso maker or coffee maker, first you must remove the portafilter as well as the basket from the group. Remove any dirt from the portafilter or basket by using a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Rinse both thoroughly with hot water, and dry them using a clean towel. Then, clean the brewing group by inserting a clean tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush software. Alternately, you can manually backflush the machine by placing the cleaning tablet into the portafilter, then turning on the brewing cycle, and pausing it for 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure until the flow of water is constant. This means that your machine has been descaled.
The brew group mesh must be soaked by the water as it runs through the espresso machine. This mesh can become blocked by coffee residue if it's dirty. This could negatively affect the extraction. Calatrello suggests you remove the mesh every month and clean it with a toothbrush. Then, soak the mesh in hot water for a night using a tablet for cleaning.
If you own a full-automatic coffee maker and espresso maker, you can also clean your machine by removing the water reservoir, then filling it with fresh water, adding a cleaning tablet and running a backflush program. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the pot as well as the water reservoir to remove any traces and stains. Before reassembling the appliance, you'll have to clean and dry the carafe as well as the water reservoir.
Maintenance Ease
If you're looking to make a quick espresso or coffee at the go, select an automatic model. It doesn't require any action from you. The models are built with a basket containing ground coffee beans, water that is heated to the right temperature, then released into the coffee grounds.
These machines are great for those who enjoy making a cup of coffee but don't have the time to invest in learning the skills and techniques that produce the best tasting drinks. They are easy to use and clean. The results are similar to drip coffee maker.
To keep your machine in good condition be sure to clean the grounds that are used from the portafilter after every use, and then clean the portafilter and grouphead. In addition, you'll need to flush the machine back every so often. This is done by locking the portafilter in the grouphead and running the brew cycle a several times until the water is clear. Coffeehouses will do this at the end of each day, however, home users can do it every couple of days, or every week, with detergent, to give the machine a deeper clean.
You'll also need to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir as well as other parts of the machine regularly. We recommend cleaning them at least once a week. It's as easy as cleaning all the parts of your machine with a vinegar-soapy mixture of water (check the instructions before starting because some manufacturers don't recommend vinegar). Additionally, you must change your filter regularly--hard water tends to build up mineral residue faster than soft or filtered water. This could cause your coffee and espresso maker to stop working, or have a different taste. To keep this from happening, buy an espresso maker and coffee maker that has an instrument to measure the water hardness.