What features should a coffee machine have? How do I choose the best coffee machine for home?
A decent cup of coffee improves your day, giving you the vigour and energy to take on any commitment, and provides you with enjoyable and intense moments. However, this can only happen if the extract is of high quality and deserves to leave a deep flavour. And using a high-quality espresso machine is the only way to achieve such a result.
If you do not have the proper evaluation criteria, picking from the many coffee makers on the market might be difficult.
This article will focus on the factors you should take into account when selecting the best coffee maker for your home, whether it be manual, pod, automatic, or bean-to-cup.
This is an actual buying guide for the top coffee maker, allowing you to bring home the device of your desires.
Are you ready?
How many types of coffee machines are there
Choosing a coffee machine is not at all simple because there are several factors to consider: the number of cups you prepare each day, your budget, the space you have available, the maintenance required, and, most importantly, the kind of coffee you enjoy drinking.
There are many options available on the market, therefore you must first learn to differentiate between the various types of coffee makers:
- Manual machines: espresso made with manual coffee machines is unrivalled because it embodies all the knowledge and tradition of the earliest café’s coffee makers. The output is of higher quality even though using the lever is a little more difficult to understand. Although they may cost more than other kinds of equipment, using ground coffee greatly reduces costs.
- Automatic machines: to activate these machines just press the power button. The only commitment necessary is to commit to drinking coffee because delivery is automatic, and all settings are predetermined. These include machines that operate extremely automatically.
- Capsule machines: if with manual coffee machines the purchase price is higher, but the cost of coffee is cheaper, in this scenario, the opposite is happening: the machine is more affordable, but the capsules or pods are significantly more expensive. In some circumstances, it is possible to use a loan for use.
- Pod machines: pods are cheaper and less polluting than capsules. E.S.E. pods, which are less expensive and compatible with several types of machinery, are also offered for specific machine types. Ground coffee can also be used in a variety of pod coffee maker models.
How do you choose the best coffee maker among all these options?
How to choose the best manual coffee machine
The espresso produced by the manual coffee machine is of the finest quality. It creates a drink with a delicious, potent, and addictive taste while maintaining every fragrance. True connoisseurs who enjoy making extracts with all the flavour of tradition can choose this option.
Depending on how active you want to be in the extraction process, you should choose a manual machine. It’s a device that gives the bartender a lot of creative freedom so they can share their preparation-related experiences.
How involved do you want to be in the process?
The manual coffee maker is for you if you enjoy customising the flavour, enhancing the infusion, and devoting time to the art of coffee. In fact, you can change the extraction of the grounds, manage the flow, regulate the temperature of the extract, and alter the infusion period with this machine. They are all actions that distinguish the cup.
But how do you choose the best manual coffee machine for true connoisseurs?
First and foremost, you must ensure that the materials are sturdy and resistant. Plastic equipment has a propensity to degrade quickly with use, and too harsh of water can harm high temperatures. The ideal choice is to go with expensive, robust metals that provide top performance.
It is crucial to check the operating system. You can’t personalise the cup to your tastes because to the electronics, which also leave little room for manual dexterity. On the other hand, a professional coffee machine that operates mechanically allows for more interpretation. And the outcome is the fruit of each, and every time spent preparing.
Concentrating on the flavour of the espresso might reveal vital details about the device. Typically, when you purchase a manual coffee maker, you can sample the product and assess the extract’s quality. Does the surface have the recognisable cream texture? What fragrant notes does it emit? Is the cup the ideal temperature? And was the correct amount of espresso served?
Some manual machines come with extra parts for making other kinds of beverages. A steam wand and a hot water wand must be included in the machine if you wish to use it to froth milk or serve hot extracts.
How to choose the best automatic coffee machine
Some manufacturers sell automatic coffee makers that incorporate features including a cappuccino maker, cold extraction, and a coffee grinder. Simply choose the drink and push the power button to obtain any type of drink with these all-in-one appliances.
The models are created and developed to work with any type of furniture, allowing the design to blend seamlessly into contemporary kitchens. The most recent machines are curved and made of various metal components.
But what are the criteria for choosing the best automatic coffee machine?
Before rushing out to the store to buy the coffee machine, you should first assess how you use it, considering:
- How many cups do you prepare each day: depending on how many cups you make each day, you may assess if a machine that can be left on for a long time and is always ready to use is right for you. You should also consider how many coffees you will need to offer simultaneously.
- How many other kinds of drinks do you want to prepare: if you only require coffee and no other drinks, you can concentrate on espresso makers. While the scenario alters if you prefer options like tea, herbal teas, cappuccino, barley coffee, or ginseng.
- How well you handle technology: is where your dexterity comes into play. Do you desire a coffee maker that can make coffee all by itself? Then it is preferable to concentrate on a super-automatic model, which you can also set to activate itself as soon as you wake up.
- How much space do you have available: you will need to adjust the measures at the time of purchase based on the space you plan to put the machine.
Additionally, we advise you to pay attention to crucial elements like the capacity to regulate brewing speed, the use of capsules, pods, coffee beans, or powder, the self-cleaning feature, and the inclusion of a water filter.
How to choose the best pod coffee machine
For people who want a delicious cup of coffee without expending a lot of time and effort on preparation, pods are a quick and simple answer. In actuality, you only need to turn on the machine after inserting the pods to begin serving coffee.
With ready-to-use, pressed single doses of coffee coated in a thin layer of rice paper, it is an environmentally friendly and simple substitute for regular coffee.
Since the powder is already prepared, all that is needed to extract the coffee from the pods is for it to come into contact with hot water.
The cost of this kind of equipment is minimal and using it doesn’t require any prior knowledge.
The materials used to create them must be considered as one of the features to be considered. It goes without saying that a less expensive equipment cannot be guaranteed a long life and is susceptible to damage from use and high temperatures.
It is generally good to choose a coffee machine that turns off on its own when not in use. The auto-off feature is perfect for people who rush out and tend to leave the machine on for an excessive amount of time without needing to in order to prevent overheating.
Regarding the number of coffees, these machines allow you to extract one cup of coffee at a time, and you must wait a little while before preparing the coffee again. They are excellent choices for people who live alone or don’t drink a lot of coffee.
The best pod coffee machine combines the use of powder and pods, integrating the many features.
How to choose the best coffee bean machine
One of the most expensive appliances you can get is a coffee maker with an integrated coffee grinder, therefore you must choose very carefully.
You must first examine the features you desire. When a piece of equipment is turned on, some tasks are completed automatically.
In a coffee machine for bars, you start from grinding the coffee to obtain a cappuccino with a pleasant texture. However, those who like to experiment and create unique drinks at home ought to give up on the concept of such a device. In fact, choosing a manual coffee machine with a steam wand enables you to make cappuccinos artfully by whipping the milk with just the proper quantity of steam and air.
The complexity of the machine’s configuration and operation must also be tested in a bean coffee maker. Is it easy to handle?
Once more, consider the drinks you intend to make. Espresso, cappuccino, and latte macchiato can often be made using bean machines.
Additionally, it is also important to verify that the pressure, water temperature, and degree of grinding may be controlled separately. The flavour and strength of the espresso are, in fact, influenced by these specific factors.
These machines are larger in size and take up more space than manual or pod coffee machines. The size is affected by the tank and coffee grinder, thus a separate area must be set aside for the coffee machine.
Once more, tasting is one of the tests that is most important. What features does the product have? Consider the drink’s thickness and colour before tasting it, and then pay attention to the extract’s flavour and other characteristics.
Finally, think about how many cups it can simultaneously brew and whether it is appropriate for the application you have in mind.
The primary considerations when choosing a coffee machine
You can’t count on chance if you don’t know exactly which coffee maker best represents your preferences.
You need to ask yourself a few questions in order to make a wise decision and a worthwhile investment: where you will put your coffee maker? How much can you spend? Do you want it to create additional drinks in addition to espresso, or simply the espresso?
The responses to these queries might aid in your first skimming, but it’s crucial that you also pay attention to the materials used and required maintenance. These are the two factors that have an impact on the machine’s lifespan and the amount of time you must invest in it.
Here are some recommendations for choosing the best coffee machine.
Space
Although making choices based on the available space can be annoying, it is important to accept reality: if your kitchen is small, you most likely cannot purchase a huge and heavy coffee machine. On the other hand, things are different if your coffee corner is created especially for a gorgeous machine and becomes furniture.
We advise measuring the areas and making appropriate adjustments before making an impulsive purchase and bringing home a piece that clashes with the other furniture.
Price of a coffee machine
How much money are you willing to spend on a coffee machine?
There are coffee machines available for every budget: a very basic and simple appliance may only cost 100 euros, while a super-automatic and feature-rich machine may cost up to 25,000.
It goes without saying that when talking about prices, factors like the machine’s functionality and construction materials must be taken into account.
You can decide on a price range that you can afford, evaluate the machines that are offered at those prices, and make an informed decision.
Cleaning and maintenance of the coffee machine
Cleaning the coffee machine is a real sore point. In order to ensure the proper operation of the equipment and its longevity, it is essential to follow this procedure. It is not just a matter of hygiene.
Others take time and effort to clean fixed components and smaller parts, while some models are self-cleaning.
Even limescale can create irreversible issues to the machine, damaging the pump or the hydraulic system, therefore, descaling must be carried out in time and pay attention to the hardness of the water.
Materials
The durability of the coffee machine depends on the quality of the materials.
Plastic worsens very quickly and is harmed by heat. On the other hand, metal is significantly more durable and robust. There are variations even among metals, and not all of them ensure the best performance. Iron can be damaged easily, whereas steel and brass are incredibly resilient and long-lasting.
The materials evaluation must include the accessories as well as the machine, including: the filters, the brewing system, and the water and steam wands.
Available features
There are coffee machines that are solely designed to dispense espresso and others that have additional features like an automatic shutdown or a timer. You get to choose whether you want a basic coffee maker or a more feature-rich device.
The expenses of the machine are typically impacted by each extra feature, while the quality of the coffee is largely unaffected.
There are some really intriguing characteristics that are worth keeping around since, in some situations, they can save your coffee maker. Examples include the automatic shutdown or the lights that indicate that there isn’t enough water in the boiler.
Pressure
While the additional aspects have little impact on the organoleptic properties of the espresso, pressure is one of the key elements in determining whether the cup develops a distinct flavour.
It is crucial that the machines are configured in accordance with the ideal pressure of 15 bar.
The best coffee machines contain a pressure gauge, which measures the water pressure in the boiler and lets the user know when the water is just right for brewing.
Drinks able to prepare
Coffee machines can only be used to make coffee or to prepare also other kinds of drinks. Which do you prefer?
Some machines come with a nozzle for frothing milk, which makes for delicious cappuccinos. On the other hand, excellent teas and herbal teas can be served thanks to the water nozzle.
You can also offer alternative drinks like barley coffee or ginseng coffee using super-automatic and pod machines. It must be remembered, too, that the potential of making other beverages can be damaging to the espresso’s quality.
The best lever coffee machine: Pontevecchio coffee machine
Pontevecchio is an Italian company that crafts each product with great care and devotion. All of our lever coffee machines are one-of-a-kind creations made from the finest metals, such as brass and steel, which are chosen because they provide strength and longevity.
In our catalogue we have three different models of coffee machines, which are distinguished one from another by the number of brewing groups and by their performance: Export, Luxury I and Luxury II.
They can be used to make espresso and any other coffee-based beverage, including cappuccino, latte, or iced coffee. The nozzles that are included make it easy to froth milk and heat water for making delectable infusions.
The entire line is offered in a variety of colour tones so that the machine’s placement environment can be properly matched.
We would like to introduce our lever coffee machines.
Export
The Export lever coffee machine is a treasure trove of engineering and taste, perfect for domestic use in modest areas. With this model, which has a thin and linear shape and is made according to tradition, you can enjoy an extract with all of its organoleptic features.
Export is a mechanically activated lever machine whose automatic operation is managed by a pressure switch. The machines merely have a heating element and no other electrical parts.
For serving coffee at the ideal temperature, there is an easy-to-remove cup warmer in the upper section.
The model has a single brewing group and comes with all the equipment required to serve a perfect extract, including: filters for one cup, two cups, a filter for pods, a measuring cup for coffee, a tamper, and a funnel.
Regarding colour choices, you can indulge in vibrant hues like red, orange, and yellow, modern shades like white and black, or more opulent options like gold, steel colour, or tobacco.
Lusso I
The Pontevecchio Lusso I lever machine is the sole option for those seeking a device with great performance and a sophisticated appearance. This type, which is ideal for making one or two cups at once, represents the full history of the Pontevecchio brand.
Each and every component is put together by hand, using the skill and knowledge of people who have been doing this work for a while.
It provides flawless performance for life because it is composed entirely of valuable and durable materials like stainless steel and brass. It is incredibly simple to clean and requires little upkeep.
Thanks to a mechanism that turns off the power supply when the water reaches the proper temperature for extraction, it can be left on for an extended period of time without risk.
The hot water actually stays in the brewing group, keeping it heated and ready for use, so you don’t have to wait for it to heat up before making coffee.
Three litres of water can be stored in the tank, and the unit has a 1000-watt power output.
White, steel, tobacco, red, orange, and black are the available colours for the Lusso model with a single brewing group.
Lusso II
The Pontevecchio Lusso II lever coffee machine, which has two brewing groups, is the model that is best suited for commercial settings including bars, farmhouses, bed and breakfast establishments, and small restaurants.
It is an evolution of the one-group Luxury model and is distinguished by a chromed plate that distributes the water across two dispensing groups as opposed to only one. Therefore, four cups can be served simultaneously without causing a delay.
The environment is made comfortable by its retro design, which helps you start the day off right.
The machine has a control unit for turning on and heating the water, and it is entirely mechanical. A warning light that alerts if there is no water is actuated by a probe connected to the boiler, preventing malfunctions and breakages.
Depending on the preferences of the consumer and the requirements of the facility, you can use the powder or pods with the provided filters.
The available colours match those of the Luxury model with one group.
Discover the Pontevecchio models if you’re looking for the best home coffee machine. You’ll discover that they are equipped with all the necessary elements to brew coffee that has an amazing flavour and to ensure its longevity, resilience, and design.