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Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker A coffee and espresso machine is essential for any kitchen, regardless of whether you prefer a full-sized pot or espresso. We have a wide range of styles and features available at Target to meet your needs. High pressure forces water into the ground beans in a matter of seconds. The grounds are then tamped in order to compact them evenly and interlock. Features When buying an espresso maker or coffee machine, there are numerous factors to consider. The features determine the machine's capabilities and suitability for your needs. Find features that are easy to use and enhance the quality of your drink and allow you to personalize your drink. Espresso- and coffee makers can be simple, like the traditional Bialetti Moka Express non-electric coffee brewer that makes use of an oven to heat water that slowly drips over ground beans. Certain models come with more advanced features, for instance, a double boiler that allows you to make espresso and froth or steaming milk at the simultaneously. Digital displays will also inform you when your water tank is in need of topping up and when it's time to remove or clean out the grounds bin and when other maintenance tasks are due. Most modern coffee and espresso makers employ the same brewing procedure that involves pouring hot water over pre-ground or ground beans that are placed inside a filter. Many are designed to stop brewing automatically at the right time so that you can take a fresh cup of coffee every morning. Certain models let you select your preferred brew intensity and some have adjustable temperature settings to ensure the most flavorful brew. The top of the line of espresso and coffee machines is the super-automatic, which is designed to handle everything for you. They're usually equipped with a built-in grinder, so they can grind and brew coffee using fresh beans. They'll usually also have a separate steam wand for making lattes and cappuccinos. You may also select from a selection of beverages, including hot chocolate on their menu. If espresso and filter coffee machine have a small kitchen, opt for a compact model that doesn't take up a lot of counter space. Consider a multi-cup coffee machine that can handle different sizes of cups if there are many people in your home with different coffee preferences. If you're a coffee or espresso connoisseur, look for models that allow you to customize the brew strength and water-to-coffee ratio so that you can have the perfect cup every time. A solid warranty and prompt customer service are also important factors to consider when buying a coffee and espresso maker. Depending on the brand, warranties vary between one and three years. Easy of Use You require more than a standard drip-filter coffee maker to make a cafe type beverage at home. To brew espresso, highly pressurized water is pushed through finely ground coffee beans at high speeds. The result is short “shots” of caffeine with a thick, creamy crema on top. In this manner, the majority of espresso machines and combination coffee use a portafilter basket and steaming arm, whereas others depend on pre-packaged pods and filters, or allow you to measure and grind beans by hand. The type of machine you pick will depend on how involved you'd like to be as well as the space you have available. A manual machine will give you the most control but it requires a lot of work: You'll need grind the beans, then hand-tamp the coffee, and then pull your shots. Semiautomatic models can take a step or two out of the process, such as grinding and tamping, but they require more work than an automatic machine. Fully automated coffee and espresso makers make a full pot of drips or an entire cup of espresso at the touch of the button. It is also important to think about whether you're making coffee for one or a group of people. Some models, like the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, can produce up to three cups of espresso or coffee at the same time. This is a great method of keeping up with your morning coffee needs but it might not be the best option if you're making for a crowd. Dual boilers let you brew steaming and coffee simultaneously, so that you don't have to wait until one function cools before starting the other. This feature is particularly useful for those who plan to make cappuccinos and lattes. It is less likely that a espresso machine that has removable reservoirs will accumulate mineral deposits. It is still necessary to wash the reservoir on a regular basis however you'll save some time by not needing to pour out and replace a whole pot of water. The hardness of the water may also cause mineral buildup. The harder water will create more dissolved minerals, which will cause your machine to require more descaling. Water that is soft or filtered is more gentle on your machine and reduces the frequency of descaling. Ease of Cleaning A coffee or espresso maker is a major purchase for many homeowners, and it requires regular care to keep its performance and longevity at the highest levels. Whether you use a drip coffee maker or an espresso machine, the proper cleaning of the carafe as well as other removable parts is an essential element of the maintenance process. Use vinegar or a descaling solution at least once a week to maintain the appliance. Some models have sensors that light up when it's time to clean. While vinegar is excellent for counters and sinks however, its acidity may cause damage to rubber seals and other components in your coffee and espresso machine and reduce its life span. Many brands, like Lavazza and Smeg, also advise against use vinegar to clean your coffee maker as it may invalidate the warranty. To clean your espresso machine or coffee maker, first take the portafilter and the basket from the group. Using a nylon brush or scrubby pad, dislodge any grounds from the portafilter and the basket. Both of them should be thoroughly cleaned with hot water, then dried using a clean cloth. Then, you can clean the brewing group by putting a cleaning tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush software. You can also manually backflush your machine by placing a tablet of cleaning solution inside the portafilter, turning on the brewing software after which you will have to stop for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you can see a steady flow of water—this indicates that the machine has been properly descaled. The brew group mesh must be soaked up by water as it flows through the espresso machine. If the mesh is dirty, it can be blocked by coffee residue, which can negatively affect the extraction process. To ensure that the mesh remains in good shape Calatrello suggests removing it once a month, cleaning it with a toothbrush and the overnight soak in hot water using an anti-bacterial tablet that is dissolved in it. If you own a full-automatic coffee maker and espresso maker, you can clean your machine by dismantling the water reservoir, then filling it with fresh water, then adding a cleansing tablet and running a backflush application. You should also wipe the inside of the pot and water reservoir to remove any traces and stains. You'll need to wash and dry both the carafe and the water reservoir prior to reassemble the appliance. Easy Maintenance If you want to brew a quick espresso or coffee at the go, select an automatic model. It doesn't require any intervention from you. These models make use of the basket with ground coffee beans, water that is heated to the right temperature and then released into the coffee grounds. These machines are ideal for those who enjoy making a cup of coffee but don't have the time to learn the skills and techniques that produce the best tasting drinks. These machines are easy to operate and are easy to clean. The results are similar to drip coffee maker. To maintain your machine make sure you dump the used grounds and scrub down the portafilter and grouphead after every use. Additionally, you'll have to flush the machine back on a regular basis—this is done by locking the portafilter in the grouphead and running the brew cycle for a few times until the water runs clear. This is something that coffeehouses complete at the end of every day but that home users can easily do every few days, or alternatively, once a week with detergent for a deeper clean. You'll also need to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir and other components of the machine regularly. We suggest cleaning them once every week. To do this, just wipe the entire surface of the machine using a mixture of vinegar and warm soapy water (check the manual for your product prior to cleaning since some manufacturers recommend against using vinegar). Also, you should change your filter frequently because hard water tends to accumulate more mineral residue than soft or filtering. This could cause your espresso and coffee maker to stop working or have a different taste. Get a coffee maker and espresso maker with a water-hardness tester to prevent this.