Best Home Espresso Machine
It is no secret that coffee powers a huge part of peoples lives. It gives you that quick jolt of energy in the morning to get up and do your best and it gives you that much needed pick-me up in the afternoon to ensure that you continue being focused and productive.
So why not treat yourself to a better kind of coffee? Take control of what you ingest and give yourself the luxury creating an espresso that you can get eager to wake up to. Make your quotidian life that much brighter by introducing a fresh, frothy ambrosia to your day.
With the plethora of different espresso machines out there however, finding something that piques your interest and delivers on all of its promises is no easy matter. That is why we will break down the merits and flaws of three popular espresso machines and help move you in the right direction.
The Mr.Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso Maker is a lower-end mid tier machine that delivers a lot great features without bankrupting you. It has a pragmatic square design that will fit almost anywhere and a nice looking black and gray plastic frame.
The Breville 800ESXL is a gorgeous stainless steel espresso machine that oozes quality and endurance. This machine isnt going anywhere and it promises great quality shots at a mid-tier price. If youre looking for something that isnt going anywhere for a long time, you cant go wrong with this machine.
The Gaggia 14101 has a modern, stainless steel brushed surface that looks like something you would find in a small quaint coffee shop. It has two spouts that allow you to pour twice as many spouts in half the time and has the classic tap feature you expect from an espresso machine.
The Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso Maker
What To Consider
When looking for a great espresso machine it is imperative that you look for one that can create more than nine bars of pressure. Ideally you want it to be able to pump out fifteen bars of pressure because that is what is commonly held as the key to creating the best cup of espresso. Luckily, this machine gives you that fifteen bar sweet spot that can make your shots extraordinary.
The reason that this is important is because in order to maximize the flavor of your shot and guarantee a foamy top layer, you need the water that is being pushed through the ground coffee to get a chance to seep through the most amount of coffee in order to evenly collect flavor.
Creating pressure not only makes the ground coffee more compact, forcing the water to disperse more evenly throughout it, but it also pushes it downward so that it doesnt simply pool at the top of the compacted coffee and take forever to drip out. This gives you thicker, richer output that will leave you hankering for more.
The Mr.Coffee Barista Espresso Maker also provides you more than just a solid espresso experience; it gives you the added options of producing lattes and cappuccinos. This is perfect for interested buyers who like to have more options when making coffee or for couples who have differing preferences for select styles.
Pros
The aforementioned milk frother is a huge plus to this machine as it can really round out your coffee so that it develops whatever consistency you prefer. It is also crucial to making cappuccinos and lattes so it is part of the multi-functionality that makes this a great option for the average consumer. The strong pump helps create rich cream and its is an extremely easy machine to clean.
Cons
Even so, the Achilles heel of the Mr.Coffee Barista Espresso Maker is its weak design and cheap internal mechanism. The use of cheaper materials certainly drives the cost of this machine down but the consequences of that is an espresso maker that might not last you very long at all. It is also quite loud and can bother anyone else living in your household while it is being used. Though it offers a great tasting espresso, the quality of it could certainly be better.
The Breville 800ESXL 15 Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Machine
The superb construction of this espresso maker has already been briefly discussed but it certainly merits more attention. This is a machine that will make your neighbors jealous even as they cant help but sip and enjoy the expertly brewed espressos you provide for them. This is a high quality appliance that is sure to create equally impressive shots.
Key Features
This high tech bad boy comes loaded with a triple prime cup that is going to make your espressos take fuller and richer than youve ever experienced them before. The way it works is that it injects three spurts of heated water onto the coffee grounds to moisten them before introducing the pressurized water.
This “primes” the ground coffee by making it begin to collect and release flavor that the ensuing water that is passed through it can more easily pick up and draw flavor from. Most mid-range espresso machines do not offer this feature which certainly makes this one stand out from the rest.
Another great trait that this espresso maker brings to the table is its phenomenal “purge function” which aims to create the best possible water temperature so that you attain prime espresso extraction temperature. This feature, coupled with the triple prime cup, ensures that you get consistent shots time and time again.
The Breville 800ESXL eschews the more traditional boiler for a more technologically advanced thermobock heating system. Although this is traditionally a sensitive subject for die-hard espresso purists who swear by the boiler method, this Breville device has a quality heating system that will leave you hard-pressed to be able to differentiate it from brews that utilize a boiler.
You also get a multitude of different features in the form of a dial that lets you switch between hot water, steam and espresso which can be great depending on what you need in any particular moment.
Pros
It goes without saying that this piece will look fantastic in any kitchen. It also has great sound insulation and quality parts that keep noise down to a minimum. Although this machine is specifically geared towards espressos it offers amazing features that will give you amazing quality controlled shots on command.
You also get a frothing pitcher, a decent tamping tool and some good filters that help bring your espresso making to an even higher level. Although it is still recommended that you eventually invest a a better tamping tool, the one that this machine offers is great for learning the ropes of making the perfect espresso.
Cons
You definitely have to be careful with this espresso maker because it can vibrate and drip water all over the place. A solution to this is to tape down the tank and put a towel on the bottom of the Breville 800ESXL to make it easy to clean up and dampen the vibrations. The thermoblock, while generally great can sometimes heat unevenly and the group head is not made out of brass which can contribute to inconsistent temperatures as well.
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The Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine
When looking for the best mid-tier espresso machine, you want to look for a combination of high quality parts and simple functionality that will give you an extremely cost-efficient product with impressive tasting espresso. The Gaggia 14101 is a simple, elegant machine that admirably attempts to give you the best of both worlds.
Aesthetic counts for a good portion of the ultimate value of a good. The Gaggia 14101 has an anachronistic blend of stainless steel on a streamlined rectangular body with a traditional coffee tap to remind you of the hay-days of coffee-making.
It also comes with brass portafilters and a brass grouphead which demonstrate quality parts and provide the most stable temperatures necessary for the consistent production of great espressos. Brass is a great conductor of heat and you can always tell the difference between a decent machine and a great one by the organs that power it.
A lot of other espresso makers at this price range use aluminum or other materials for their groupheads which never provide the same stability as brass. This is a difference you will doubtlessly be able to taste yourself.
In addition to all that, you get a 17.5 bar pump that goes above and beyond the more standard 15 bar pump to ensure that you get the most pump out of your money. And if you value the timeless quality of traditionally brewed espresso then you will be delighted by the high-voltage boiler that this beautiful espresso machine contains.
Pros
The Gaiggia 14101 has an extremely simple user friendly interface that is great and straightforward. This machine knows it is great at doing what it is made for and doesnt need a fancy display to prove it. Feeling the sturdiness of this machine bespeaks its expert craftsmanship. There
