Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker
If you prefer a large pot of drip coffee or espresso, a coffee maker and espresso maker is essential to your kitchen. At Target, we have a wide selection of designs and features that will meet your preferences.
High pressure pushes water into ground beans in a matter of seconds. Then the grounds are tamped to evenly compact and interlock them.
Features
When purchasing an espresso maker or coffee machine, there are numerous factors to consider. The features will determine the machine's functionality and suitability to your needs. Find features that provide convenience, improve the quality of your drink and allow for customization of your drink.
Espresso and coffee makers can be simple, like the classic Bialetti Moka Express non-electric coffee brewer that uses the use of a pot to heat the water that slowly drips over the ground beans. Some models offer more advanced features, for instance, a double boiler that allows you to make espresso and froth or steamed milk at the simultaneously. Other features include digital displays that let you know when your water tank is depleted or when it's time empty the grounds bin or descale, as well as other maintenance tasks.
The majority of modern espresso and coffee makers employ the same brewing process that involves pouring hot, filtered water over freshly ground or ground beans. They're usually designed to stop brewing at the appropriate time, so you can enjoy an iced cup every morning. Some models let you select the level of brew you prefer and some have adjustable temperatures to give you the best flavor.
The top tier of espresso and coffee machines is the super-automatic model that is designed to handle everything for you. They usually have a built-in grinder, so they can grind and brew coffee using fresh beans. They'll usually also come with an additional steam wand for making lattes and cappuccinos. They might also have a menu which lets you choose from a variety of drinks, including hot chocolate.
If you have small kitchen space, go for a small model that doesn't occupy much counter space. Consider a multi-cup coffee machine that can be used with different cup sizes if you have several people in your household with different preferences for coffee. If you're an espresso enthusiast, search for models that allow you to alter the strength of your brew and the ratio of water to coffee, so you can have the perfect cup every time.
A good warranty and responsive customer service are also crucial factors to consider when choosing a coffee and espresso maker. The warranty period varies between one and three years depending on the manufacturer.
Simple to Use
You need more than a standard drip-filter coffee maker to make a cafe style beverage at home. Espresso is brewed when highly pressurized water is forced through finely ground coffee beans at high speeds. The result is a quick "shot" of caffeine with a rich layer of crema on the top. Most combination coffee and espresso machines employ a portafilter, basket and steaming arm for this process, while others use pre-packaged pods or filters, or allow the user to grind and measure beans by hand.
The type of machine you select will depend on how involved you'd like to be and how much space you have available. Manual machines give you the most control, but require a lot of effort grinding the coffee beans, hand-tamp it and pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines can be accomplished in several steps, such as grinding and tamping. However they will require more effort than automated machines. Fully automatic espresso and coffee makers can prepare a complete pot of drip coffee or even an entire espresso cup with the click of a button.
Think about whether you are making coffee for one person or an entire group of people. Certain models, such as the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of espresso or coffee at once. This can be a convenient method of keeping up with your coffee-drinking needs in the morning, but it may not be the best option if you're making for crowds.
A coffee maker that has a dual boiler allows you to simultaneously brew and steam milk, so you don't need to wait for one feature to cool down before starting the other. This feature is especially beneficial when you are planning to make lattes and cappuccinos.
A coffee and espresso maker that has removable water reservoir is less likely to build up mineral deposits than one that does not. It is still necessary to wash the reservoir on a regular basis however you'll save some time by not needing to empty and replace a whole pot of water. Another reason that can contribute to mineral build-up is the hardness of your water: Harder water produces more dissolved minerals, which causes your machine to need descaling more often. Water that is soft or filtered is less stressful to use and reduces the frequency of descaling.
Ease of Cleaning
For many homeowners the coffee or espresso machine is a major investment. It requires regular maintenance to ensure that it is operating at its peak and lasts as long as is possible. If you have a drip coffee maker or an espresso machine, regular cleaning of the carafe as well as other removable parts is an essential part of the upkeep process. Use vinegar or a descaling solution at least once a week to maintain your equipment. Some models have sensors that illuminate when it's time to clean.
While vinegar is ideal for counters and sinks but its acidity could harm rubber seals as well as other components in your coffee and espresso machine which can reduce the life of your machine. Many brands -- including Lavazza and Smeg, also recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your machine, since it could invalidate the warranty.
To clean your espresso maker or coffee maker, take out the portafilter from the group. Remove any dirt from the portafilter and the basket by using a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Clean them thoroughly with hot water and dry them with a clean towel. Next, sanitize the brew group by inserting a clean tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush application. You can also manually backflush your machine by placing a cleaning tablet solution in the portafilter and turning on the brewing program after which you will have to stop for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until the water flow is constant. This indicates that your machine has been descaled.
The mesh of the brew group must be soaked up by water as it flows through the espresso machine. If this mesh is dirty, it may get blocked by coffee residue and negatively affect the extraction process. Calatrello suggests that you unscrew the mesh once a month and clean it with a toothbrush. Then soak the mesh in hot water for a night with a cleansing tablet.
If you own a full-automatic coffee and espresso maker, you can clean the machine by removing the water reservoir, then filling it up with fresh water, putting in a cleaning tablet and running a backflush programmer. You should also wipe the inside of the pot and the water reservoir to remove any traces and staining. Before reassembling Coffeee 'll need to wash and dry the carafe as as the water reservoir.
Easy Maintenance
If you want to brew an espresso quickly or coffee on the go, opt for an automatic model. It doesn't need any intervention from you. These models make use of an insulated basket that contains ground coffee beans, heated water to the proper temperature, then released into the coffee grounds.
These machines are ideal for those who love the process of making coffee, but don't want long learning the techniques and skills required to create the finest tasting drinks. These machines are easy to operate and easy to clean. The results are similar to those of a drip coffee maker.
To keep your machine in good condition ensure that you remove 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 accomplished by locking the portafilter into the grouphead and running the brew cycle a few times until the water is clear. This is a task that coffeehouses perform at the end of every day, but which home owners can do every few days or, alternatively, every week using detergent to give it better cleaning.
Finally, you'll need to clean the steam wand and milk reservoir regularly--we recommend this once a month. This can be done by cleaning all areas of your machine using a vinegar-soapy water mixture (check the manual before you start as some manufacturers don't recommend vinegar). It is also recommended to change your filter frequently, as hard water tends create more mineral residue than soft or filtrated. This can cause the coffee maker and espresso maker to clog or have a different taste or stop running altogether. Buy a coffee and espresso maker that has a water-hardness tester to prevent this.