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Espresso Coffee Makers: Choosing the Right Type
Espresso coffee makers come in four flavors: manual, semi-automatic, fully automatic, and super automatic.
Essentially this translates into how much of the work is done for you or how hands-on you want to be when making
espresso. There is something for the “I can’t boil water” crowd as well as the “I’ll do it my way” group, so not
one espresso drinker is left wondering “what about me?” You all are important and there is an espresso coffee
maker just for you.
About Espresso Coffee Makers
Long ago espresso coffee makers were simple machines, it was a manual press without many bells or whistles, but as
time passed, these machines blossomed into the devices we now enjoy. They have a full range of capabilities and
features that, at times, resemble the older models out of the corner of your eye and then sometimes not so much.
With several generations of espresso machines since the early pioneer, good old industrial know-how has improved
and revolutionized this machine’s form and function. Now you can get way out designs and colors and a range of
machines that vary in features and how much (or little) operator participation is expected. Let’s take a minute
and look at the family of espresso coffee makers.
Manual Espresso Coffee Makers
The manual espresso maker is still being manufactured and is based on the premise of the lever and piston. Lifting
the lever in the upstroke draws water into the coffee filter. The downstroke of the lever forces water under
pressure through the coffee filter and into the coffee cup. An example of the manual espresso coffee maker is the
Europicola espresso machine by La Pavoni. It is a chrome beauty that has a 20-ounce boiler and is capable of
making 8 two-ounce cups.
Semi-Automatic Espresso Coffee Makers
This type of machine provides you with some assistance but still leaves some things to your discretion. This coffee
maker brews a more consistently good cup of espresso because the variables that determine good espresso are
controlled. It’s electric pump loves to apply consistent pressure on coffee grounds through a portfafilter
handle which is a sieve with room for coffee grounds and either a water tank or a direct water line to the machine.
The pump controls the amount of pressure applied to the coffee while the espresso coffee maker operator controls the
tamp and setting the strength of the brew on some machines.
Fully-Automatic Espresso Coffee Makers
This version has the elements of the semi-automatic espresso maker plus service with a smile. The fully-automatic
espresso coffee maker brews espresso at the push of a button. It is preprogrammed to dispense a set amount of
water for the brewing process which controls the strength of the shot. You set it and forget until you are ready
for a shot or two of espresso. Absolutely delightful.
Super-Automatic Espresso Coffee Makers
This espresso coffee make is the epitome of convenience. It does everything but walk the dog. The super-automatic
espresso coffee maker has all of the features of the fully automatic espresso coffee maker with a built-in grinder
and more specialized adjustments that affect the way that espresso is brewed. This machine will spoil you like the
princess (or prince) that you are. It grinds to your specifications, brews, dispenses, and then disposes of the
grinds which makes it truly super indeed! It’s all of the fun and none of the work. Your part is to keep the
coffee beans in the grinder hopper, water in the water tank, empty the bin of grinds occasionally, and be ready to
catch shots are they are brewed. What’s not to love? This version of the espresso coffee maker sells extremely
well in Europe.
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