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Buy Coffee Machine in 2024 - What You Need to Know!
Introduction
Embarking on the journey to find the perfect espresso machine for home use can be both exciting and challenging. From choosing the right machine and grinder to understanding the optimal settings – the quest for the perfect cup of coffee is full of twists and turns. In this comprehensive guide, I aim to help you make the best decisions and share my experiences, so you are well-prepared from the start.
Finding the Right Coffee Machine
Espresso Machine
When you decide to buy a coffee machine, you'll quickly realize that the selection is vast. One of the most popular options for true coffee lovers is the espresso machine. These machines offer high control over the brewing process and allow you to prepare finely tuned espressos.
Advantages of an Espresso Machine
The espresso machine is the top choice for many coffee aficionados for good reasons. Here are the main advantages:
- High control over the brewing process: You can individually adjust parameters like grind size, dosage, and temperature, leading to a perfectly balanced espresso.
- High-quality espresso: With high pressure and manual operation, you get a rich-tasting espresso with perfect crema.
- Durability and easy maintenance: Many machines are robustly built and very durable with proper care.
Disadvantages of an Espresso Machine
Naturally, there are also some downsides to consider:
- Time-consuming: Preparing a perfect espresso requires practice and time.
- Complexity: The multitude of settings can be overwhelming for beginners.
Types of Espresso Machines
There are different types of espresso machines, each with its own pros and cons:
Single Boiler Machines
Single boiler machines have one boiler inside and are mainly suitable for espresso fans. They are compact, affordable, and heat up quickly. However, steaming milk can be a bit more challenging since the boiler is used for both heating water and producing steam.
Dual Boiler Machines
Dual boiler machines are like two machines in one, with one boiler for coffee temperature and another for steam temperature. They provide consistent results for both espresso and steam and are perfect for enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their espresso beans. However, these machines are larger and more expensive.
Heat Exchange Machines
Heat exchange machines are a compromise between single boiler and dual boiler machines. They have one boiler with a heat exchanger, allowing you to brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously. These machines are suitable for those who like milk-based drinks but don't need the absolute top result in the cup.
Choosing the Right Grinder
Importance of a Coffee Grinder
A high-quality coffee grinder is essential for the taste of your coffee. Without a good grinder, you will never be able to consistently make good coffee.
Types of Coffee Grinders
There are different types of coffee grinders, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Hand grinders: Ideal for beginners who want to get a feel for grinding. They are affordable and often very robust.
- Electric grinders: Provide more comfort and consistency. Look for a grinder with adjustable grind size settings.
Tips for Choosing a Grinder
- Top hand grinders: Look for models that can grind fine enough for espresso.
- Single dose grinders: These are ideal if you want to try different beans without wasting much coffee.
Eureka – Mignon Single Dose Oro – Chrome
CHF 748.00
hand coffee grinder – Timemore Chestnut C3
CHF 125.00Essential Accessories for Your Coffee Machine
Must-Have Accessories
To start, you only need a handful of essential accessories:
- Tamper mat: Protects your work surface and makes tamping easier.
- Good filter basket: A high-quality filter basket ensures even extraction.
- Solid tamper: A good tamper is crucial for properly compressing the coffee grounds
precision espresso basket IMS, 16-20g
CHF 28.90
Spring Tamper 58mm
CHF 99.00
Tampermat flat
CHF 12.00Optional Accessories
- Scale: Particularly useful with single dose grinders to use the same amount of coffee each time.
- Leveling tool: Helps to distribute the coffee grounds evenly in the filter basket.
- Bottomless portafilter: Ideal for identifying and correcting extraction errors.
Eureka Precisa coffeescale with timer
CHF 69.00
Leveler Tamper – Leveling Tool
CHF 79.00
Bottomless Portafilter e61 wood
CHF 68.00The Right Brewing Technique
Basic Steps
You now have everything you need to make a perfect espresso. Now it's about mastering the technique.
- Adjust the grind size: The grind size should be set so that the extraction time for an espresso is about 25-30 seconds.
- Dosage: Always use the same amount of coffee to achieve consistent results.
- Tamping: Press the coffee grounds evenly into the filter basket.
- Extraction: Start the machine and make sure the espresso flows out evenly.
Tips for Getting Started with Espresso Preparation
Tip #1: Try Affordable Equipment First
Before investing a lot of money in expensive equipment, try more affordable alternatives like a Bialetti or a filter coffee machine. This way, you can find out if you even enjoy making coffee.
Tip #2: Invest in a Good Grinder
Without a good grinder, you will not be able to make consistently good coffee. A good grinder reduces fluctuations in taste and increases the enjoyment of brewing.
Tip #3: Buy Used Espresso Machines
If your budget is tight, look for used espresso machines. With a bit of maintenance like replacing seals and descaling, you can often get a great deal.
Tip #4: Use Fresh Beans
Always use freshly roasted beans. Old beans from the supermarket often lose their flavor. Darker roasted beans are often easier to handle for beginners.
Tip #5: Essential Accessories
You don't need thousands of different accessories. A tamper mat, a good filter basket, and a solid tamper are enough to start with. Optionally, you can add a scale and a leveling tool.
Tip #6: Learn the Proper Technique
Watch videos and get free handbooks like our Home Barista Handbook to learn the proper technique. This will save you many mistakes and expensive learning experiences.
Alternative Brewing Methods for Home
Great Coffee at Home for Under 100 Dollars
Do you want to enjoy great coffee at home without breaking the bank? Here, you will learn how to make excellent coffee with simple means and under 100 dollars. These low-budget methods mainly include filter coffee, as you can make excellent coffee with minimal equipment.
The Basics of Great Coffee
Before we dive into the various coffee machines, here are some basics for great coffee. Freshly ground coffee is a must, and a coffee grinder allows not only fresh but also individually adjustable grind sizes. A coffee scale ensures consistency, while a gooseneck kettle with temperature control optimizes the brewing process.
Bialetti - Espresso-Like Coffee
The Bialetti offers a strong coffee result and comes closest to espresso among alternative brewing methods. However, the strength is not the same. For espresso, the same amount of coffee grounds is brewed with much less water. With the Bialetti, we use more water, so the strength lies somewhere between espresso and café crème. The coffee in the Bialetti is often brewed too hot, resulting in a rather bitter taste. If you're a fan of a bitter Italian result, use dark beans, finely ground, and in high dosage. For a lighter, fruitier result, use acidic beans.
Filter Coffee - Tea-Like Beverage
Filter systems like the V60 create a tea-like beverage. Bitterness and oils are filtered out, highlighting the natural sweetness and acidity in the coffee. This method is perfect for light roasts. Dark roasts lead to a very bitter result. Filter coffee has a lower caffeine content, making it enjoyable in larger quantities.
French Press - Simple, Quick, and Strong Coffee
The French Press is a simple brewing method for making strong coffee. The preparation is quick, uncomplicated, and with simple recipes, you can adjust the grind size and time for a great result. The French Press is perfect for groups as it can make a lot of coffee at once.
AeroPress - Compact Filter Coffee for On the Go
The AeroPress is perfect for adventurous coffee drinkers or those who are always on the go. It’s a mix between a French Press and filter coffee, with the addition of pressure. There are many recipes and techniques, and there are even championships for it. The coffee is brewed in a vacuum and then pressed through a thin filter paper, resulting in a stronger filter coffee without grounds.
AeroPress Go
CHF 51.30
French Press coffee maker ILSA – 600mL
CHF 27.80
coffeefilter v60 wood
CHF 37.00Versatile Coffee Machine: The Automatic Coffee Maker
Introduction
A coffee maker is ideal for households with different coffee preferences. It offers a variety of coffee specialties at the push of a button and grinds the beans fresh.
Advantages of a Coffee Maker
The coffee maker offers a range of advantages that make it a popular choice:
- Variety of coffee specialties: A coffee maker can prepare a wide range of coffee specialties like cappuccino and latte macchiato, making it very versatile.
- Easy operation: You can use preset settings or adjust many parameters yourself, making it very user-friendly.
- Fresh beans: The beans are ground directly before brewing, ensuring a fresh taste.
Disadvantages of a Coffee Maker
However, there are also some disadvantages to consider:
- No real filter coffee: The coffee maker doesn’t use a filter system but presses the water through the coffee grounds, resulting in more of a café Americano.
- Insufficient pressure for perfect espresso: Espresso machines are often better in this regard.
- Complicated cleaning: Especially with integrated milk frothing systems.
- Space and cost: Coffee makers are often large and expensive.
Buying Tips for a Coffee Maker
Think carefully about which features you really need. Every extra feature increases the price. Do you need a milk frothing system, or is a steam wand sufficient? Is plastic acceptable, or do you prefer metal? Do you really need technical gimmicks like app control?
Conclusion
Buying a coffee machine is an investment that should be well considered. Whether it's an espresso machine, coffee maker, or a simple filter machine – each has its pros and cons. The important thing
Buying a coffee machine is an investment that should be well thought out. Whether it's an espresso machine, a coffee maker, or a simple filter machine – each has its pros and cons. The important thing is that you enjoy the process of making coffee and find the machine that suits you best. Invest in a good grinder and use fresh beans to achieve the best results. No matter which brewing method you choose, with the right tips and a little practice, you'll soon be able to enjoy perfect coffee. Everything you need to know about coffee preparation can be found in our free Home Barista Handbook.
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FAQ
It depends on your preferences and budget. Espresso machines offer the best control and quality but require practice. Coffee makers are user-friendly and versatile but more expensive. Filter machines are ideal for simple and quick preparation.
Single boiler machines have one boiler for water and steam, making milk frothing more difficult. Dual boiler machines have separate boilers for water and steam, allowing you to brew espresso and froth milk simultaneously.
The French Press is ideal for beginners. It is affordable, easy to use, and delivers strong coffee. The AeroPress is also a good choice for those who are on the go and like to experiment with their coffee.
You can make excellent coffee with alternative brewing methods like the Bialetti, French Press, or AeroPress. Invest in a good coffee grinder and use fresh beans.
