Choosing home espresso machines?

Choose home espresso machines in just 3 steps (note that I did not use
the word -simple!)

Choosing home espresso machines for first time user is not easy, the variety is huge and the features that comes with it are mind boggling. And simply going there and "be sold" by salesman or site sales copy can lead one to regret the purchase.

For example while lever/piston home espresso machines look cool, it might not be for everyone, especially the ladies, as this make of machine requires manual strength.

Choosing espresso machines, involves steps and although it is inter-linked, following the steps provides a better understanding of what you could get with your investment.

There are 3 things to look out for in choosing espresso machines: the price, the make and the features.

1. The price

You love espresso, cappuccino and lattes, and want to get a home espresso machines to replicate the experience in your own home. So, how much are you willing to fork out for this experience.

How to make coffee without machine?

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How to use a Drip Coffee Bag?

Learn about these methods and more (such as coffee cupping) in our free coffee classes.

A collection of the various Drip Coffee Methods

Generally, the higher the price, the better the taste profile and the easier it is to replicte cafe quality espresso.

The rule of thumb is, if your budget is below $100, then you have to be prepared that the epresso extracted would have some different due to the lower pressure that the espresso machines are able to generate.

An average espresso machines retail between $300-$800, with some really high model going for a few thousands dollars.

2. The make

If you are spending below $100, then the home espresso machines that are available for your picking would be steam powered machines and also Moka pots. The former function exactly like pump driven espresso machines with the difference being the pressure she is able to generate.

Steam powered machines are not able to generate the required 15 bar pressure to attain the full extraction of an espresso. Similarly, Moka Pots (the most popular being Bialetti) using stove fire and their patented pot design could not really attain the "expert agreed" pressure in getting a good espresso.

Another home espresso machines that might fall below the 15 bar pressure are lever/piston machines. Although they are pricey, with some models costing more than $500, the pressure depends entirely on the muscle strength of the user.

A strong man would be able to exert more pressure than a dainty lady. So, the draw back for this make of espresso machine.

Then, you have the popular automatic pump espresso machines. Using pump power to produce the right amount of water pressure. These home espresso machines ensures full extraction of the coffee grounds to produce the perfect espresso.

The price for pump espresso machines starts from $300, with some very good models costing thousands.

3. The Features

Well, if you are spending below $100, then you can expect basic and no frills machines. But, still you can expect to see frothing wand and cup warmer.

As the price escalates, the function and features of the espresso machines increases. The frothing wand gets more sophisticated, hot water dispenser that alert you to low water level, wider range of strength control for your espresso, you can even take in single serve coffee pods.

The more high end models even comes with water filter to ensure that the water that brews your coffee is of good quality. So, depending on your budget, your coffee making experience gets easier as your investment on the machines gets bigger.

While this is not a comprehensive guide in choosing home espresso machines, it should give you an idea on what to look for and the machines that you would get with the investment that you are willing to put in.

Or, you wanna look for other coffee makers?

About US | OCM Profile

OCM (OnCoffeeMakers.com) was started in 2007 with the first webpage about coffee machines. And for a number of years, we focused on helping people find their desired coffee machine (we still are helping folks with that! So, if you are looking for coffee machines for office or restaurants - check out the link).

In 2010, we started getting enquiries on restaurant marketing and we start to help food and beverage brands with their marketing. Below are campaigns and events that we have done over the years:

OCM's campaigns: F&B Marketing Ideas by OCM

OCM's Events: F&B Industry events by or with OCM

Check out this restaurant marketing guide to learn more about the many campaigns and companies we have worked with.

Since then, we have also created many marketing workshops and classes for the F&B industry. Many of these modules are still running in tertiary institutions such as Temasek Polytechnic Skillsfuture Academy and also ITE College East COC classes, below are some snippets of our lectures and workshops:

OCM’s F&B workshops: Food and Beverage Marketing Lectures | Workshops - click to watch classes on customer journey map, JTBD and more.

So, if you are looking for industry practitioners to help you scale your coffee or F&B businesses, do drop us a message or book an appointment. Do also check out our various social media platforms on regular F&B and coffee market updates:

For regular coffee (F&B) related videos: OCM Youtube

For Daily Coffee Inspiration (fun coffee content): OCM IG

For insights into the coffee (F&B) industry: OCM LinkedIN

PS: For the coffee lovers, we continue to share coffee articles (and videos) and have also started a free coffee class section (with free online coffee training supported by coffee partners).