Coffee & espresso makers are all the rage. It’s no wonder. If you’re an espresso aficionado, like I am, you’re probably always stopping off at Starbucks before work, right? Well, have you ever sat down and actually calculated how much money you’re spending on your shots of espresso? I did, and I was shocked! What I was spending in only a few months could buy the best coffee & espress makers on the planet.
Not only that, but a lot of my friends are just as passionate about espresso as I am. I bet that’s probably true for you as well. There’s nothing that will liven up a get together quite as much as one of the top quality coffee & espresso makers that are currently on the market. You can make your own espresso for everyone! It’s a great conversation piece.
Well, since you love espresso, and since having a coffee & espresso maker will save you money and also benefit your social get togethers, the only question is what kind of espresso maker to buy.
There are basically four types of coffee & espresso makers automatic, piston driven, pump driven, and steam driven coffee & espresso makers. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
Automatic Coffee & Espresso Makers
Want the results without all the fuss? Want to just drink great espresso and talk with your friends without becoming a master espresso maker? Well then an automatic espresso maker is probably in your future somewhere. The great thing about automatic coffee & espresso makers is they’re easy to use and also easy to clean. There are also several very good, high-end manufacturers of these items, Gaggia, Solis, and Saeco being among the most popular and well thought of. Now, espresso makers made by these companies are top of the line, so be prepared to spend some money when you buy one. If you’re an espresso lover, the money will be well-spent, however, and you’ll also be saving yourself money over your normal Starbucks’ habit.
Piston Driven Coffee & Espresso Makers
Want to buy a real collector’s item? If you find a real piston driven machine, then snap it up! They’re becoming more and more rare. The original machine was invented by Gaggia. It uses a piston to drive the water through the coffee. You get the best foamy tops from piston drive machines, but as I said, they’re getting harder and harder to find.
Pump Driven Coffee & Espresso Makers
The pump driven machine is really like a modernized version of the piston driven machine. The pump model is for you, if you want to really get into the down and dirty of making your own espresso at home. Buy this type of machine if you think you’re going to be spending your free time roasting your beans, grinding them, making a cup of espresso then starting all over again in order to reach perfection. Pump driven coffee & espresso makers make a really great cup of espresso.
Steam Driven Coffee & Espresso Makers
Some die-hard purists will probably turn up their noses if you come home with a steam driven machine, but who cares! Most steam driven coffee & espresso makers can’t get enough pressure or heat to make a really excellent cup of espresso. But if you want to have fun with this and not spend a fortune, then the steam driven machine is for you.
Not matter which type you buy, making your own espresso at home is a ton of fun, and also can save you money to boot. Just do your homework so that you can find the right type of coffee & espresso makers for your needs and budget.