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Coffee and Espresso Machines Espresso machines use pressure to force water through finely ground and tamped coffee beans. They produce a rich, flavorful brew. Good Housekeeping Institute experts recommend models that use a minimum of 9 bars for a perfect extraction. Beware of companies who claim they use more pressure than is necessary. Types The espresso maker, also known as a espresso and coffee maker, brews the highest-quality, concentrated coffee that you enjoy in your favorite drinks at an average of 9 bars of pressure. These machines usually have many features, such as temperature and brew strength control including programmable brewing, as well as multiple sizes of drinks. They could also have manual or automatic steam wands to create texture-rich milk for latte art. They are available in three main kinds of espresso machines, comprising semi-automatic, automatic and super-automatic models. Each one has its own level of oversight and automation. Semi-automatic espresso machines are the most popular choice for specialty coffee shops. Semi-automatic espresso machines allow baristas to control the brewing process but are not as user friendly as fully automatic or automated machines. To get the most perfect espresso shot, grind the beans, then fill the portafilter and tamp it down, and adjust the time of extraction. Automatic machines come with built-in mills that measure and tamp your grounds. They automatically dispense enough water to extract espresso, and usually have an adjustable beverage size. They were the most frequent espresso machine types in our lab tests and they offer a good balance of consistency and human control. Functions If you opt for a pump-driven machine or a steam-driven one, you'll have a reservoir that stores the water used to make your coffee. You'll also have a heating element that heats up the cold water to produce the intense pressure needed for extraction of coffee from grounds. When the button for brewing is pressed, the water inlet valve is sealed so that only hot water with intense pressure can flow through the portafilter before it is absorbed into the ground coffee. It takes about 25 minutes for the water to be brewed into espresso. The hot-water tubing, also referred to as the insulated tubing, runs from the reservoir up to the spout located at the top of your machine. The heating element that resists warms the water as water passes through the aluminum tube and warming plate. When the spout is switched on, you'll need to place your cup on top of the spout, which will catch the espresso as it flows through the portafilter and into your cup. The coffee maker also has steam wands that you can use to heat up and froth the milk to make drinks that are espresso-based, such as cappuccino and lattes. Automated best home espresso machine take the guesswork of brewing. They are easy to use, programmable and are able to measure and grind beans as well as to tamp down. They generally perform the best overall in our Lab tests since they are easy to use and do not require much user-friendly skills. Materials In an espresso machine, you'll find a vast array of copper tubes and boilers made of stainless steel. There's also intelligent firmware. It may appear to be complicated however, at the heart they do just one simple thing: force hot water through finely-ground coffee. When buying an espresso maker, you should consider the size and space requirements as well as drink options, energy-saving options, and brewing accuracy. Look for a steam button to activate the steam wand. It is used to create latte arts and frothing milk. A gauge of pressure on front of the machine informs you of the boiler's and pump's operational pressure. Look for the coffee maker with two needles, so that you can observe both the maximum and minimum pressure. If you're looking to make more than just espresso, select an espresso machine that can accommodate different brew sizes, including the ristretto. There are models that come with a removable milk hopper for effortless, easy frothing and the ability to easily change between different types of milk. Pick a model that comes with an inbuilt softener, if you have hard water in order to prevent mineral build-up and ensure fresh espresso. Certain manufacturers employ PID (proportional, integral digital) thermostat to keep a specific temperature range for espresso brewing. This feature helps ensure an exact, high-quality cup of espresso every time. This feature can also help reduce costs for energy because the machine only functions when necessary. Maintenance As espresso and coffee machines are becoming more readily available for home use, regular maintenance of the equipment becomes even more crucial. Having the best equipment can make all the world of distinction in your cup of coffee, but that's only true if your machine is operating properly. A regular cleaning and maintenance routine should include everything from cleaning the steam wand and group head, to descaling, to changing the water filter regularly. In general for making between two and five cups of coffee per day, you should wash the majority of the machine once a week. Certain components of the machine will need to cleaned every two to three weeks, such as the water tank and the grinder. You should also backflush your machine every week. This is done by locking the portafilter in place and running the brew cycles several times. This can help eliminate any coffee grounds or oils that remain. You can also use a brush and cleaner specifically designed for espresso machines to clean the portafilter. Maintaining your coffee maker and espresso correctly will also make it last longer. It is important to maintain your expensive professional espresso machine.