Which Espresso Maker Is Right For You?

Espresso has become very popular in the last 10 years or so. Almost every city has one or more Starbucks or similar stores where you can buy an espresso on your way to work. May gas stations also feature the European coffee. However, the cost of buying exclusive coffee every day quickly adds up, and you may find it makes sense to buy your own espresso coffee maker so you can make your own cup of espresso at home. Below, we are going to tell you about a wonderful coffee maker that will be worth waking up to each morning...

There are two types of home espresso makers. The cheaper coffee machines are steam driven, while the fancier makers are pump driven.

In any case, there are several factors to consider when deciding upon an espresso maker. First, think about how much space you have in your kitchen to devote to such a maker.

Many kitchens are short on space because of the sheer number of appliances in the kitchen. This leaves you shuffling appliances every time you need to do something in your kitchen.

A small coffee machine that can be easily put away might be your best bet if you are facing this situation. You also want to think about how easy the coffee machine is to clean, whether it has a programmable timer, and so on.

Of course, when evaluating espresso makers, the most important thing is the taste of the finished coffee. You can't try out an espresso coffee machine in the store, so make sure to taste homemade espresso from your friends' coffee machines before making your decision.

Before buying an espresso machine, it is vital to do some research and testing if possible. Any Italian espresso maker can vary greatly in price and quality from manufacturer to manufacturer.

October 28 2009 | espresso | No Comments »

The Breville 800ESXL – More Than Just Nice

The 800ESXL is stunning. Fortunately, it's not just all looks and no brains. This superb espresso maker offers several new features that entirely remove the effort in your espresso-making experience. You'll find the taste results won't disappoint, either.

Weighing in at 31 lbs (19 kg), it's on the heavy side of the scales as home espresso makers go. That weight doesn't guarantee a good shot, naturally. But the extra stability provides a welcome convenience. You'll spend no time cleaning up spills. With its stainless steel exterior, cleanup there is equally easy.

The interior parts offer equally high quality. The porta-filter is chrome-plated brass, providing even thermal conductivity for excellent temperature control. Some users are less than thrilled with the thermoblock heating component, but the complaints are reminiscent of stereo aficionados who say that good sound can only come from a turntable and vinyl records. The difference will be undetectable to all but a few even in a blind taste test.

Users have a more legitimate complaint when it comes to the dual-wall design. While it provides for good pressure and temperature control, it does make the post-brewed grinds a messy sludge. If you've seen a few different espresso makers you're probably familiar with the drier, more compact puck they produce. Even so, clean up is straightforward, so it represents a minor flaw.

The unit more than makes up for any less-than-ideal qualities by added convenience overall. It also, not coincidentally, produces a truly fine cup of espresso.

It offers a well designed steam wand set on a ball. That makes it easy to turn in any direction. That's a big help when you've got different sized cups to fill. The wand also provides straight hot water for making hot cocoa, tea... any hot drink!

The maker does a superb job of keeping water at precisely the right temperature throughout the machine for a stellar shot. Cheaper espresso makers have hot and cold spots, producing inconsistent and inferior results. As the water and/or coffee passes through the machine it is affected slightly by these differences.

It's true that the thermoblock is not quite as consistent in terms of pressure and temperature as a commercial-quality brass boiler. But in actual tests the difference was virtually undetectable and the lower price makes it a toss up.

The large heating tray at the base is another nice feature, too. If, like a good barista, you pre-heat your espresso cup in order to prevent rapid cool down of the liquid, the tray will assist your efforts rather than undo them.

The removable water tank produces up to 50 shots before requiring refilling, so the 800ESXL makes for a great machine for large parties.

The Breville 800ESXL Die Cast espresso maker offers convenience and high-quality in a medium-priced machine. No one could be disappointed about that.

December 29 2008 | coffee | No Comments »