What You Need to Know About the Coffee Espresso Machine

It should come as no surprise that untold numbers of people are coffee lovers or (dare I say it?) fanatics. And is there a greater way to indulge in a coffee obsession than through the use of a coffee espresso machine? Really, the only problem is that there are so many good ones, so it can be hard to choose.

For our purposes, there are usually three categories in which these machines fall. For starters, you have what's called the "fully automatic" maker. Like the words say, machines of these types do pretty much everything for the coffee fanatic. All he or she has to do is fill it with water, coffee and the like and just put the setup button.

A second category is a part manual - part automatic machine. In these machines, part of the process involved in getting the coffee down and into your cup is automated, but the best feature is that a maker such as this gives you the ability to control the coffee extraction process more fully than in a completely automated coffee espresso machine.

Most "true believers" (i.e. coffee lovers of every stripe) prefer instead to go for the totally manually-operated espresso machine. These are stripped down to a handle press and not much more, but there's something sublime about controlling every aspect of taking the coffee from base product to finished nectar, I think.

Now, as far as which manufacturers make a good coffee espresso machine, well...there are a number of them. In some instances, the machines they offer can run thousands of dollars in price. However, for our purposes, you'll find that even the commercial mainstream makers put out great product. Companies like Krups, Bosch, Capresso and several others can deliver the goods in any way a coffee lover would appreciate.

So what to look for in a coffee espresso machine, then? Well, if you want something that's fully automatic look for a machine that has an integrated burr grinder and a bean hopper that can hold a lot of product. It should also come equipped with a heater of high wattage, a good high-pressure pump and the ability to schedule regular cleaning cycles. And never forget the frother to make a good latte.

Good partially-automatic coffee espresso machines all come with quality components of stainless steel, larger boilers and also quality portafilters, to start. The most favored machine by enthusiasts in the know - the manual - tends to deliver both simplicity and quality in an attractive package.

Go with one in stainless steel or chrome for durability and the fact that there's no interaction in any meaningful way with the coffee and the water. To me, plastic and very hot water or coffee should never mix together, for obvious reason. I mean, who wants a heaping helping of polyvinyl chloride with their caffeine fix?

While there are plenty of people out there -- in a pinch -- who are willing to settle for a cup of java straight from the fast food restaurant tap, most real coffee lovers want only the very best coffee espresso machine in their own homes or apartments. Get the best machine you can afford, and you'll find that the initial investment will pay big dividends down the road as you continue to enjoy top-quality coffee for many, many years.

By T. W. Guerra