I can tell you how to choose the best espresso machine; that is to know what the dreaded things that might happen are, and to avoid them! If I were to tell you the horror stories of some of my espresso machines, you’ll probably very quickly gain insight to choose a better machine.

But let’s not beat around the bush, I’ve compiled a few points that you should consider while buying your espresso machine, and here they are:

1. Sturdy and replaceable parts
Two points here, actually. Sturdy, because you want it to last longer; and replaceable, because you want it to last longer still! Most above mid-end espresso machines have replaceable parts now, and everything can be found online.

2. Quality boiler(s)
There are 3 types of boilers in espresso machines out there: aluminum, stainless steel and brass.

Aluminum – Cheaper but might corrode in the long run. Corrosion happens because of chloride in tap water. Luckily I always used distilled water with my Gaggia 14101 Classic previously.

Stainless steel – Won’t corrode easily but said to be bacteria friendly.

Brass – Best material for boilers in espresso machines because it won’t corrode or breed bacteria, but contributes to the price. My Rancilio Silvia has added this value to its price tag!

3. User-friendly
Do you have family members who are not a good barista like you? You might want to consider getting an espresso machine which is easier to operate for their benefit. Super automatics are much more user friendly than semi automatics, of course, and among super automatics I think the Bosch Benvenuto B30 is the most user-friendly.

4. Heats up fast
You might or might not need this feature. If you’re the kind who are always on the go, then it’s better to look out for machines that make your coffee real quick in the mornings.

5. Accessible and adjustable spouts
Everyone wants a different size of coffee? No problem if you have adjustable spouts with your machine just like the Bosch Benvenuto B30 but bad luck if you have a budget machine like DeLonghi EC155 which can only accommodate shot glasses or espresso cups.

6. Safe design
Safety is no doubt an important thing. Check whether the model you intend to buy has any safety issues with other users.

7. Easy to clean
This actually depends on how good you are at cleaning. I have written a guide on how to clean your espresso machine; take a read and see whether you think that’s too difficult to achieve. If it is, go ahead and buy a super automatic machine that has automatic cleaning cycles.

Last but not least, always remember that no espresso machine is perfect! So the aim is to get the best espresso machine within your budget range.
I have changed espresso machines many times since my college days; each time is an upgrade, but I still like every one of the machines I owned. This is because I made a lot of research online before buying and each of them is the best within their range!

Anyway you can see my list of recommendations for various types of espresso machines in my Best Espresso Machine main page.

I hate cleaning! I am one of those people who will rush to the store for more beans in the morning to have that perfect espresso shot but couldn’t be bothered to wash the mug afterward. But I clean my espresso machine every day, run cleaning cycles every week, and descale it every 3 months. Why?

I’ve learned from experience that even the best espresso machine, best grinder and best coffee beans all combined could not make the best espresso, if your machine is sitting in rancid oils and stale milk!

You know of course that the delicious crema on the finest espresso comes from the essential oils in the beans. So logically that must mean the oils are also present inside the machine when you make your coffee, right?

These oils will emulsify over time and hang on to the water screen, filter basket and portafilter. After a while, they turn bad and develop a smell that will go into your espresso every time you make one. Ew!

As for milk, there will be some residue on the steam wand and in the nozzle every time you use it. If you let it be, milk turn sour very quickly and will become a sticky layer of white. Yuk! Now can you imagine what goes into your cup of coffee if you don’t wash the machine? I think you can!

Well, that is the main reason I clean my Rancilio Silvia very regularly, but there is another reason as well. Espresso machines, just like any other inventions that man made to make life better, need to be serviced and maintained to preserve its lifespan.

Simply put, treat your espresso machine well and it will serve you for many years! Those who still can’t be bothered, just don’t come complaining when the filter is clogged, the steam wand spits and chokes, or when the boiler is a gone case.

Want to start cleaning your machine right away but don’t know how? Click here for some tips.

Go to my Best Espresso Machine main page for more guides and recommendations for espresso machines.

Ah, so you’ve heard that you need to clean your espresso machine. Do you wonder how to start? I’ve written the steps here to clean your espresso machine if it is not a super automatic that has automatic cleaning functions.

There are some materials you may need to prepare before cleaning:

Espresso machine cleaner kit (including flushing detergent) *IMPORTANT: Never use conventional detergent!
Backflush portafilter basket
Descaler or Citric acid (or any other weak acids, such as vinegar)*IMPORTANT: Never use strong acid like hydrochloric acid!
Clean kitchen towel and dishrag.
‘Green scrubby’ of 1’X 1’ size or any similar non-grating materials for scrubbing
A container of size capable to soak in the portafilter.

You need to clean your espresso machine:

• After every shot
• Daily
• Weekly; and
• Every 3 to 6 months

If you clean according to the routines, your espresso machine will shine with glamor and look healthy. Perhaps it may even last longer than its supposed life. The most important thing is, you’ll have great espresso every time! So here are the steps to do it:

After Shot Cleaning
This process is perhaps the simplest and easiest cleaning process.

What you need to do is just clean the milk wand thoroughly using a damp towel and release some steam to expel any milk trapped in the nozzle hole and you are ready for another cup of coffee.

If you are not going to prepare another coffee, you should empty the grounds from filter basket and rinse thoroughly from the group head, then wipe it dry and reinstall it back to the machine. After that, run some water through it from the spout to rinse out any remaining stains.

Daily routine
1. Wipe off the residue on your shower screen with a damp towel.
2. Install the backflush portafilter basket into the portafilter.
3. Run water though the group head and jiggle the filter handle to rinse water around the shower screen and parts around the group head. Beware as the water splashed out is hot! Use lower boiler temperature to prevent scalding.
4. Tighten the filter handle and run water into the group head as though you are making espresso.
5. Let the water pressure in the machine build up for 15 seconds then release it along with the stains. This step is known as backflushing.
6. Repeat the backflushing for at least 5 times or until the water released from it is clear.
7. Remove the portafilter and drip tray. You may notice there are small coffee particles and brown tint to the water.
8. Rinse the drip tray (and remove any undissolved detergent if used)
9. Reinstall the portafilter and drip tray after cleaning.

Weekly routine
I shall make this part brief as the steps are almost similar to that of the daily routine with only addition of detergent.

1. Measure the recommended amount of the detergent as mentioned by the manufacturer then pour it into the backflush portafilter basket.
2. Install the backflush portafilter basket into the portafilter and add the recommended amount of detergent into the portafilter.
3. After that, you just have to follow the steps 3 to steps 9 of the daily routine.

Additionally, you must also soak both the backflush portafilter basket and the portafilter into a container with water and detergent and scrub them clean. If your group head is removable, remove it and soak it into detergent water and scrub it clean too.

Every 3 to 6 months routine
This routine is dependent on the hardness of water of your water supply as it is meant to remove minerals collected in your machine. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water is. Water test reagent or strips can be used to test hardness of water.

1. Empty the water reservoir and fill it with descaler of appropriate amount or amount as suggested by manufacturer.
2. Initiate the machine for the descaler to enter the boiler and pipes.
3. Run some of the descaling solution through the hot water wand and group head too.
4. Leave the machine switched on for at least half an hour with descaling solution in it.
5. Empty the reservoir and refill it with clean water. Rinse the machine as you did with the descaler.
6. Repeat steps 5 for at least 2 times or until you are satisfied.
7. Use a litmus paper to test the pH of the water to ensure all the descaler has been rinsed out. If the blue litmus paper turns red, repeat the rinsing with clean water again.

Well, I hope the steps are simple enough to follow. Happy cleaning and enjoy your espresso!

I have more tips and recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine website.

So you’ve bought your espresso machine, and now you wonder what you can make besides the regular espresso shot and cappuccino. You remember seeing that long list on the Starbucks menu and you can’t wait to get creative!

Well, I’ve listed out some suggestions for you, can’t say I’ve tried them all, but some of these are rather fun to make.

Americano – A shot of espresso watered down with about 7 oz of hot water.

Café Breva – Same as cappuccino, but using half-and-half milk instead of whole milk.

Café Latté – A shot of espresso with steamed milk at the ratio of 3:1.

Café Macchiato – A shot of espresso with steamed milk at the ratio of 4:1.

Cappuccino – Equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk. To make it look restaurant-served, you can add whipped cream, chocolate flakes or cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Dry Cappuccino – A cappuccino with less foam and no steamed milk.

Espresso Con Panna – Espresso with whipped cream on top.

Frappé – A cold espresso with ice and milk, just like a coffee milkshake.

Hammerhead/Shot in the Dark – A mix of drip coffee and one shot of espresso served in a regular size coffee cup.

Mocha/Mochaccino – A cappuccino or café latté with added chocolate syrup.

Ok, I hope you find these enjoyable as a variety to your daily coffee menu. Cheers!

Go to my Best Espresso Machine main page or blog for more espresso machine tips and guides.

What could be more fun than drinking a cup of rich espresso made from the beans you ground yourself? I love to be my family and friends’ barista whenever they come over, because they always expressed their wonder that I could grind, tamp and brew great coffee like a professional in a coffee house.

If you buy a super-automatic espresso machine, then of course you don’t need to buy a separate grinder. But if you have a semi-automatic like me, you’re probably looking for a good grinder that can give you that fine quality ground beans for a perfect espresso.

There are two popular types of grinders out there:

1) Blade grinders
2) Burr grinders

Blade Grinders
These are the cheaper grinders in the market, using a blade to chop up the beans. If you’ve seen a blender before, then you get the idea. The longer you let it run, the finer the grounds are.

Bad news though, these type of grinders don’t produce even-sized grounds, and the blades heat up a bit when they run too long, causing the coffee grounds to come out with a slightly burnt taste. All these are determining factors for what goes into your cup, but all I say is that you get what you pay for.

My recommendation for this type of grinder: Best Blade Coffee Grinder – Krups Fast Touch 203

Burr Grinders
Burr grinders produce more even-sized grounds, because the beans are crushed between one moving wheel and one immobile surface. The cheaper type of a burr grinder is the wheel burr grinder, which is a bit noisier and messier.

The best of all grinders are the conical burr grinders. They preserve the aroma of the coffee beans and can grind very fine grounds without any clogging or heating up the grounds. As you might have guessed, these are the most expensive of all grinders.

I prefer Rancilio Rocky, but a cheaper one would be Capresso 560.01 Infinity.

Back To My Best Espresso Machine Main Page.

Are you overwhelmed by all the technical names of the espresso machine types that you don’t know which to choose? No worries, I’ve made a summary here for you so that you know which is which.

Basically you will find two COMMON types of espresso machine that people use in their homes. These 2 types are:
1) Steam-driven espresso machine
2) Pump-driven espresso machine

Other less common types are the piston-driven (which is an older version of the pump-driven), the air-pressure-driven (which is handheld) and the Moka Pot coffee maker (which is stove top).

Frankly, I hardly think that a stove-top coffee maker can be called an ‘espresso machine’, but I’ll mention it for good measure anyway.

I’m sure that as you read this you realize that each type of espresso maker makes different ‘levels’ of coffee. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you know that strong coffee is NOT the same as espresso.

Steam Driven Espresso Machine
Many people consider this is not truly an espresso machine rather than just an improved version of a Moka Pot coffee maker. So if you are serious about making espresso, I don’t recommend buying any steam driven espresso machine. The steam driven espresso machine would not produce enough pressure and right temperature of hot water to create an authentic espresso but rather than just create a strong coffee.

The best steam driven espresso machine that can produce the closest flavor to real espresso is the Kalorik EXP 25022 800W 4-Cup Espresso Maker.

Pump Driven Espresso Machine
This is the type of espresso machine that makes true espresso by pumping the water from the boiler and forcing it through the coffee grounds. Most espresso bars and coffee houses now use this type of espresso machine. Here are a few variations of the pump-driven:

Semi Automatic – This is the espresso machine that you see in Starbucks. It is much easier to operate and your job is to grind the coffee beans and tamp them into the portafilter. Then you just press the button to turn the machine on. When you see you have the right amount of dark, creamy liquid coming out, press the button again to stop the brewing.

The best budget semi automatic must be DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker. Perfect for college students!

Automatic – It is very similar to semi automatic machine but you don’t have to push the button to stop the brewing. But you still need to do the grinding, tamping it into the portafilter and cleaning on the used puck. Unless you get one of those that uses proprietary pods, which is very convenient and easy to clean, and the pods are quite affordable as well.

Super Automatic – Well, this machine will truly run all the processes automatically including grinding the coffee beans, tamping the coffee beans, boiling the water, pushing it through from just the right pressure and discarding the used grounds into an internal waste box. Definitely the most convenient espresso machine compared to other types of espresso machine, and of course it comes with a heavy price tag too.

I recommend the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Esclusivo Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, which is a good value super-automatic.

Piston Driven Espresso Machine
This is, as I said earlier, an older version of the pump driven, and it’s manual! You will need to manually press the hot water through ground coffee to make your espresso. The learning curve is a bit high for making good espresso shots using manual espresso machine. I don’t recommend a beginner getting a manual espresso machine. Besides, it is rather hard work to make many cups for guests!

Air Pressure Driven Espresso Machine
This handheld device is made to be a portable espresso machine, so that you can make a cup of espresso when you need it while traveling. It can only make one shot at a time but the quality is crema-topped real espresso.

Well, I hope you find this easy to understand! For more tips and guides to buy an espresso machine for yourself, go to my Best Espresso Machine website.

Reviews for various types of espresso machines can be found in my blog.

For this espresso machine review blog, your might be wonder what is piston driven espresso machine compare to steam driven and pump driven espresso machine. So what is piston driven espresso machine? Well, Piston Driven Espresso Machine is the first espresso machine, to be simple, piston espresso machine can be call manual espresso machine.

Espresso Machine – Piston Espresso Machine

Piston espresso machine is design by Achille Gaggie in the early 1938. Piston espresso machines are very beautiful design and can be treated as a functional work of art. If you know how to use this piston espresso machine, it can produce outstanding espresso at home. One thing for sure is they are not easy to use, you definitely need some skill set to run it because there are many different variables to control while making the espresso using piston espresso machine. Often people buy a piston or manual espresso machine without knowing how much time and effort is necessary to learn to pull a good shot of espresso. Well, the advantage of getting a manual espresso machine is … it is the cheapest among all the espresso machine type but have the highest learning curve. Many time, the piston espresso machine can ends up serving as an expensive decoration:)

Well, to know more about this type of espresso machine reviews and which one is the best in the market, stay tune for more espresso machine reviews and recommendation in my Best Espresso Machine site.

Hi, welcome to my new blog – best espresso machine! I’m not sure what to write in my first post so I thought why not some simple introduction about espresso machine

I love to drink espresso or americano, so the only option for me is either to drink it in cafe or make one by myself using the espresso machine at home. Well, as you know, espresso machine is used to produce espresso – the traditional italian coffee beverage. Now day, it’s become cheaper to own one!

Espresso Machine

There are couple type of espresso machine:

• steam driven
• piston driven
• pump driven

Most commercial espresso machine is using pump driven and you can still find some steam driven espresso machine in low cost consumer coffee machine.

Anyway, for pump driven espresso machine, there are couple of variation in their design:

• Semi-Automatic
• Automatic
• Super Automatic

Machines which contain the addition of pumps, sensors, valves, and grinders to automate the brewing process generally are referred to as automatic espresso machine.

Base on wikipedia definition:

Semi-automatic espresso machines are automatic in the sense water is delivered by a pump, rather than manual force and remaining brew pressure in the basket is dissipated with a three way valve.

Automatic espresso machines add a flowmeter inline with the grouphead. When the programmed amount of water has flowed through the flowmeter, the pump is automatically turned off and brew pressure released through a three way solenoid valve.

Super-automatic espresso machines operate by automatically grinding the coffee, tamping it, and extracting; all an operator needs to do is fill the bean hopper, and if the machine is not connected to a water line, add water to a reservoir. Additionally, models contain an automated milk frothing and dispensing device.

If you like one-stop espresso machine without getting separate burr coffee grinders, then super-automatic espresso machine might be just nice for you.

Well, that’s all for my espresso machine introduction, stay tune for my espresso machine reviews post then. Or go to my Best Espresso Machine main page for more!