A good espresso machine might seem somewhat expensive at first glance, but it will help you save a LOT of money in the long run (assuming you normally purchase your espresso at coffee shops). Plus, they are fun, too!
Do you find yourself spending hundreds — or maybe even thousands — of dollars each year at Starbucks or other coffee shops?
At just $5 per trip, 30 days a month, that’s $150 every month, which comes out to a whopping $1,800 per year! And that’s if you only go once per day — most people do more. This quickly adds up to big money. So, having your own espresso maker — that will last for many years — will save you a ton of money!
Not only that, but a good espresso machine can really be a lot of fun. I don’t know about you, but my friends love it when they come over and I serve espresso based drinks that I made with my own espresso maker at home, using recipes that are better than anything they’ve had before. It makes me feel so good!
So, where do you get one of these amazing machines? There are a lot of high-end coffee manufacturers who have begun making espresso machines for the home.
These machines are a great conversation pieces and make social gatherings at home much better. Plus, with a little practice, you can make a better cup of coffee than Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or any other coffee place. Which also gives you back all that extra time you used to spend waiting in line, and saves you money.
The biggest issue, when it comes to espresso makers, is what type to buy?
That question has both an easy and a difficult answer. By that I mean, if you only have a limited amount of money to spend, the question doesn’t really matter. You’re just not buying one of the more expensive models. But if money is not the issue, then sure, this is a question you need the answer to. Let’s see how we can help you sort through all of this…
While there are many different variations, you can mainly only find 3 mainstream kinds:
- Automatic
- Pump
- Steam
When it comes to pump driven espresso vs steam driven espresso vs automatic machines, you are talking about three very different technologies at three wildly different price points.
Automatic Espresso Machines
An automatic machine is for people who want the end results and best taste without all the fuss. You don’t have to roast and grind beans. You don’t have to tamp them down. All of this is done for you. Automatic machines are easy to clean and use.
These particular ones are top of the line, so be prepared to spend some of your hard earned money (though it is more than worth it in the end). If you are trying to save money, then the automatics might not be the right type of machines for you.
Whereas pump machines are in the middle price ranges and steam machines are at the lower end, automatic machines are very much at the high end. What’s so great about automatic machines is they do everything, and I do mean everything!
True automatics will grind their own beans and make the perfect espresso from them. All you do is put the beans in an wait. Out comes an amazing espresso!
Pump Driven (Semi-Automatic) Espresso Maker
The pump machines are usually the mid-range products. If you want to really get into the whole process of making espresso at home, then the pump model is likely for you. These are powerful enough and heat the water hot enough to make really good espresso.
With a pump machine, you can get a very nice cup of espresso, and also with a little frothed milk and cinnamon, a good cappuccino.
What makes great espresso is mainly three things: proper temperature of the water, proper pressure as the water goes through the coffee grounds, and also the right fineness of the ground beans. Pump machines take care of two out of three of these. The only thing left to do is to make sure you correctly grind your beans, which for espresso can be somewhat of a headache.
Steam Driven Coffee/Espresso Machine
You might think with the word “steam” that these machines would be able to achieve the correct high temperature to make a really good, authentic cup of espresso. After all steam is super-heated and pressurized water, isn’t it? Well, actually when they say steam they really mean water vapor. The big problem with steam machines is they don’t normally achieve the temperatures necessary to make a proper cup of espresso.
The steam driven machine can get the basic job done, but it is undoubtedly the budget version of espresso makers.
A lot of people don’t like these. They say they leave the coffee tasting bitter and sometimes burned. The major plus side of steam driven machines is that they are cheap. These are not for espresso aficionados, but for those who just want something at home to get them by. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you should not expect your espresso to equal what you’ve learned to love at Starbucks or other coffee shops.
If all you want to do is to play around with espresso and cappuccino making, or you aren’t too concerned with taste, then you can get by with a steam machine. Otherwise, you will need a pump driven or automatic maker.
So, which is the best?… pump driven espresso vs steam driven espresso vs automatic? There’s no doubt that automatic is the best!
However, you can get by with the others depending on how much money you want to spend. I would say that a good mid-range pump driven product is a great investment if you don’t have the funds to get a high-end automatic machine. My advice would be to stay away from the steam makers unless your budget gives you no other choice, but you can still do some good things with these if you need to, so don’t be discouraged.
Now, you see that there are all types of coffee espresso makers. For more information on these machines, you can browse around this blog. We’ve researched and published all kinds of information about how to find the best espresso machines and coffee makers. What’s important is that you enjoy your morning and get a great start to your day!