Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker
If you prefer a large pot of drip coffee or espresso, a coffee maker and espresso maker is essential to your kitchen. We have a variety of designs and features at Target to suit your needs.
Espresso machines high pressure, water is forced through the ground beans in a matter of seconds. The grounds are then tamped in order to make them compact and lock them.
Features
When buying an espresso maker or coffee machine, there are a variety of things to take into account. The features will determine the machine's functionality and suitability to your needs. Look for features that are simple and enhance the quality of your drink and allow you to personalize your drink.
Coffee- and espresso-makers can be quite simple, like the classic Bialetti Moka Express non-electric coffee brewer that makes use of the use of a pot to heat the water that drips slowly over ground beans. Some models offer more sophisticated options, like a dual boiler that lets you to make espresso and steamed or frothed milk simultaneously. Other features include digital displays that let you know when your water tank is empty or when it's time empty the grounds bin or descale, and other routine maintenance tasks.
Most modern espresso and coffee makers use a similar brewing method that involves pouring hot, filtered water over ground or pre-ground beans. They're typically designed to automatically stop brewing at the right time, so that you can have an iced cup every morning. Some models let you select your preferred brew intensity and some have adjustable temperature settings to ensure the best flavor.
The top of the line of espresso and coffee machines is the super-automatic, which is designed to do everything for you. They are typically equipped with a built in grinder so that they can grind and brew coffee from fresh beans. They'll usually also come with an additional steam wand to make cappuccinos and lattes. They might also offer a menu that allows you to choose from a variety of drinks such as hot chocolate.
If you have small kitchens, you should consider a compact model to make use of less counter space. You should consider a multi-cup machine that can be used with different sizes of cups if there are several people in your household with different preferences for coffee. If you're a coffee or espresso connoisseur, look for models that allow you to alter the strength of your brew and water-to-coffee ratio, so you can make the perfect cup every time.
When shopping for a new coffee and espresso machine, a good warranty and a responsive service are important aspects to consider. Based on the manufacturer, warranties range from one to three years.
Easy of Use
You need more than a traditional drip-filter coffee maker to make a cafe like beverage at home. Espresso is brewed when link web page -pressured water is pushed through finely ground coffee beans at high speeds. The result is a brief "shot" of caffeine with a rich layer of crema on top. The majority of espresso and combination coffee machines employ a portafilter, basket and steaming arm for this process, whereas others use pre-packaged pods or filters, or allow the user to grind and measure beans manually.
The type of machine that you select will be based on how spacious and hands-on you want to be. A manual machine will give you the most control, however it does require lots of work: You'll have grind the beans, then hand-tamp the coffee and pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines skip a few steps, like grinding and tapping. However, they require more work than automated machines. Fully automatic espresso and coffee makers can make a whole pot of drip coffee or even an entire espresso cup with the click of a button.
You'll also need to consider whether you're brewing for just one or several people. Certain models, such as the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, can brew up to three cups of espresso or coffee simultaneously. This is a great way to keep up with your morning coffee needs, but it may not be the best option if you're making for a crowd.
A coffee and espresso maker that has a dual boiler allows you to simultaneously brew and steam milk, meaning you don't need to wait for one function to cool before the other starts. This feature is especially useful when you're planning to make cappuccinos or lattes.
It is less likely that a coffee or espresso machine with an adjustable reservoir will build up mineral deposits. It's still necessary to clean the reservoir regularly however you'll save some time by not having to pour out and replace the entire pot of water. The hardness of the water may also contribute to mineral buildup. Harder water will produce more dissolved minerals, which can make your machine require more descaling. Soft or filtered water is easier to work with and reduces the frequency of descaling.
Ease of Cleaning
A coffee maker or espresso maker is a major purchase for many homeowners, and requires regular maintenance to keep its performance and durability at its peak. Cleaning the carafe and other removable parts of an espresso machine or drip coffee maker is an essential aspect of maintenance. Using vinegar or a specialized descaling solution at least once a month is a must to maintain your machine, and some models may have light-up sensors that alert you when it's time to clean.
While vinegar is ideal for counters and sinks but its acidity could harm rubber seals as well as other components of your espresso and coffee maker, reducing its lifespan. Many brands, including Lavazza and Smeg recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your coffee maker since it could invalidate the warranty.
To clean your espresso maker or coffee maker, take out the portafilter from the group. Dislodge any ground from the portafilter and the basket by using a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Both must be thoroughly rinsed with hot water, then dried with a clean cloth. Next, sanitize your brew group. Put an empty cleaning tablet into the blind filter. Do backflush. You can also manually backflush your machine by placing a tablet of cleaning solution into the portafilter and turning on the brewing program, then pausing for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until the water flow is steady. This means that your machine has been descaled.
When water flows through the espresso machine, it needs to pass through the brew group mesh. If the mesh is dirty, it could get blocked by coffee residue and negatively affect the extraction process. To ensure that the mesh is always in good shape Calatrello recommends removing it once every month cleaning it with a toothbrush and soak it overnight in hot water, using an anti-bacterial tablet that is dissolved in it.
If you have an automatic espresso and coffee maker, you can clean it by removing the reservoir for water and filling it up with clean water adding cleaning tablets, and running a backflush program. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the pot and water reservoir to get rid of any residue and stains. You'll need to wash and dry the carafe as well as the water reservoir before you rebuild the appliance.
Maintenance Ease
If you want to make an instant cup of coffee or espresso on the go, look for an automatic model that doesn't require any effort from you. These models usually use a basket that contains ground coffee beans and water that has warmed to the ideal temperature, then poured into the grounds and it is brewed in one shot.
These machines are perfect for those who enjoy the making of coffee but don't want to invest hours learning the techniques and skills required to create the finest tasting drinks. These machines are simple to use and easy to clean. The results are similar to those of a drip coffee maker.
To keep your machine in good condition, make sure to remove the grounds that are used from the portafilter after every use, and then clean the portafilter and the grouphead. In addition, you'll need to backflush your machine every so often. This is done by locking the portafilter into the grouphead and running the brew cycle for a few times until the water is clear. This is a task that coffeehouses complete at the end of every day but that home users can do every few days or alternatively, once a week using detergent to give it a deeper clean.
Finally, you'll need to clean the steam wand as well as the milk reservoir regularly--we recommend this once a month. This can be done by cleaning all the parts of your machine using a vinegar-soapy water mixture (check the manual before starting as some manufacturers don't recommend vinegar). You should also change your filter frequently, as hard water tends create more mineral residue than soft or filtering. This could cause the coffee maker and espresso maker to clog and taste different or not run at all. Buy a coffee and espresso maker with a water-hardness test to avoid this.