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Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker Whether you like a full pot of drip coffee or an espresso, a coffee and espresso maker is a must for your kitchen. At Target, we have an array of designs and features that will meet your needs. High pressure pushes water into ground beans in just a few seconds. Then the grounds are compacted evenly and then interlock. Features There are a number of aspects to take into account when purchasing a coffee and espresso maker. The most important are the characteristics that determine its purpose and suitability to your needs. Look for features that are easy to use, improve your brew's quality and allow you to personalize your drink. Espresso makers and coffee makers can be quite simple. For instance the traditional Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer that uses a pot to slowly drip water over the ground beans. Certain models have more advanced features, such as a double boiler that lets you make espresso and frothed or steaming milk at the same time. Digital displays will also inform you when your tank needs to be topped up and when it is time to clean or descale the grounds bin, and when other maintenance tasks are due. Most modern espresso makers and coffee makers utilize the same brewing process that involves pouring hot, filtered water over pre-ground or ground beans. They're typically designed to stop brewing at the right time, so you can have each morning with a fresh cup. Some models also allow you to select the strength you prefer to brew and some models have adjustable temperature settings to ensure the best flavor. The top-tier model of espresso and coffee machines is the superautomatic which is designed for you to do everything. These machines usually come with a built in grinder so that they can grind and brew coffee with fresh beans. They'll usually also include an additional steam wand for making lattes and cappuccinos. They may also have a menu which lets you choose from a selection of drinks, including hot chocolate. If you have small kitchen space, go for a small model that doesn't take up much counter space. Consider a multi-cup coffee machine that can accommodate various cup sizes if you have many people in your home with different preferences for coffee. If you're a coffee or espresso enthusiast, search for models that let you customize the brew strength and water-to-coffee ratio so that you can have the perfect cup every time. When looking to purchase a new coffee and espresso machine, a good warranty and responsive service are crucial factors to consider. Depending on the manufacturer the warranty will range between one and three years. Easy of Use You need more than a standard drip-filter coffee maker to make a coffeehouse style beverage at home. Espresso is made when water pressured to high is forced at high speed through finely ground beans. The result is a few “shots” of caffeine with a rich crema on top. Most combination coffee and espresso machines make use of a portafilter basket and steaming arm to accomplish this, whereas others use pre-packaged pods or filters, or permit you to grind and measure beans by hand. The kind of machine you pick will depend on how involved you'd like to be and how much space you have. A manual machine will give you the most control, however, it will require lots of work: You'll need to grind the beans, then hand-tamp the coffee and then take your shots. Semiautomatic machines can be accomplished in several steps, including grinding and tamping. However, professional espresso machine require more work than automated machines. Fully automated espresso makers can make a full pot of drip coffee or an entire espresso cup with the press of a button. It is also important to think about whether you're making coffee for one or a group of people. Certain models, like the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of coffee or espresso simultaneously. This is a great way to keep up with your morning coffee requirements however it might not be the ideal choice when you're hosting an audience. Dual boilers let you prepare steaming and coffee simultaneously, so that you don't have to wait until one process is cool before beginning the second. This feature is particularly useful if you're planning on making cappuccinos or lattes. It is less likely that a espresso machine with a removable reservoir will accumulate mineral deposits. You'll need to clean your reservoir periodically but it will also save you time because you won't have to drain and re-fill the entire pot of water. Another factor that can contribute to the buildup of minerals is the hardness of the water you drink: The harder water will produce more dissolved minerals and makes your machine need descaling more frequently. Soft or filtered filtered water is less damaging to your machine and can reduce the frequency of descaling. Cleaning is easy For many home owners who own a 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. Whether you use a drip coffee maker or an espresso machine, the proper cleaning of the carafe and other parts that can be removed is a crucial part of the upkeep process. Using vinegar or a specialized descaling solution at least once a month is essential to keep your machine in good condition and certain models might feature light-up sensors that notify you when it's time to clean. While vinegar is great for sinks and counters however, its acidity may harm rubber seals as well as other components of your espresso and coffee maker, reducing its lifespan. Many brands—including Lavazza and Smeg, also recommend that you don't use vinegar to clean your machine, as it could invalidate the warranty. To clean your espresso machine or coffee maker, first remove the portafilter and the basket from the group. Remove any dirt from the portafilter or basket using a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Both should be thoroughly cleaned with hot water, then dried with a clean cloth. Next, clean your brewing group. Place a cleaning tablet into the blind filter. Run backflush. Alternatively, you can manually backflush the machine by placing an empty cleaning tablet inside the portafilter, then turning on the brewing cycle and then stopping it for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you see a steady flow of water. This means that the machine has been descaled. As the water flows through the espresso machine, it needs to soak through the mesh of the brew group. When this mesh is dirty, it could be blocked by coffee residue and negatively affect the extraction process. Calatrello suggests that you unscrew the mesh once a month and clean it with the aid of a toothbrush. Then, soak the mesh in hot water for a night with a cleaning tablet. If you own a fully automatic coffee and espresso machine, you can clean it by disassembling the water reservoir and filling it with clean water adding cleaning tablets, and running a backflush program. You should also wipe the inside of the pot and water reservoir to remove any traces and stains. Before reassembling your appliance, you'll have to clean and dry the carafe as as the reservoir of water. Maintenance Ease If you're looking to make a quick espresso or coffee on the go, choose an automatic model. It doesn't need any action from you. These models typically have an insulated basket that holds ground coffee beans as well as water that's warmed to the ideal temperature and is then released into the ground and brewed as a single shot. These machines are great for those who love the process of making coffee but don't have the time to learn the techniques and skills that produce the best tasting drinks. They are simple to operate and clean and produce results like those produced by traditional drip coffee makers. To keep your machine in good condition ensure that you remove the used grounds from the portafilter after each use, and clean the grouphead and portafilter. In addition, you'll need to flush the machine back on a regular basis—this is done by locking the portafilter into the grouphead and running the brew cycle a several times until the water is clear. Coffeehouses will do this at the end of every day, but home users can do it every few days or once per week, using detergent, to give the machine a deeper clean. It is also necessary to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir as well as other components of the machine regularly. We recommend cleaning them at least once every week. You can do this by wiping down all parts of your machine using a vinegar-soapy water mixture (check the manual before starting since some manufacturers do not recommend vinegar). Lastly, you should change your filter regularly—hard water tends to build up mineral residues more quickly than soft or filtered water. This could cause your espresso and coffee maker not to run, or have a different taste. Purchase a coffee and Espresso maker with a water-hardness tester to avoid this.