A Brief History
Nowadays, purchasing an espresso machine is a great way for you to get the coffee shop latter experience right at your home or business. If you are thinking of getting an espresso machine there are some things you first need to remember so that you will get the best machine for your needs.
Here are 8 of the most common things people forget to consider when they are looking for an espresso machine.
Digging Deeper
Water storage
When you are looking at purchasing an espresso machine you will want to make sure you take a look at the dimensions of the water storage container. This is a factor that many consumers overlook when they are looking for an espresso machine, but they will often end up regretting it later. That is because the water storage capabilities of your espresso machine are important for the functionality and safety of your espresso machine. If you purchase an espresso machine that has too small of a water storage container, then you will need to constantly refill your espresso with water and this can be very time consuming and frustrating when you are trying to make a lot of coffee. Also, if you get a water storage container that is too large it may pose a safety concern for your health because stagnant water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. This is why you will want to get an espresso machine that has a water storage container that will suit your needs based on how often you will be using it.
If you are looking for a machine that will not require you to constantly put water in a storage container you should look at some of the super automatic espresso machines available on the market. These machines are designed in a way that will let you hook up a water supply so that you will not need to constantly refill your machine. Also, you will not need to worry as much about bacteria developing in stagnant water because the machine allows for a constant fresh supply over water to cycle through the machine. With that being said, these machines may still require periodic cleaning to keep them in tip-top shape.
Storage and size
If you are looking to get an espresso machine for your home, office, or coffee shop you will want to make sure you think about the storage capabilities and overall size of your machine. Some espresso machines are very large and are better suited for industrial and commercial uses, while others are designed in a way that allows you to easily set up and store your espresso machine at home.
Cleaning
When you purchase an espresso machine make sure you talk to a representative so that they can inform you of how to properly clean your machine. If the sales representative does not know how to clean the machine they are selling, then this should be a big red flag for you. Often times sales representatives will not tell you how to clean their machines if it is too complicated or if there are areas that are hard to access because they do not want to scare their customers. However, learning about how to clean the espresso machine you are about to purchase is an important factor that you should consider while looking for your new machine.
Overall design
Espresso machines are larger than your standard coffee maker and often times people will be visually drawn to your larger machine. If you are thinking about getting an espresso machine you may want to think about the overall design and aesthetics so that you can purchase one that will complement the look of your kitchen.
Foam quality
When you are purchasing a coffee maker you are not expecting your coffee to be nice and foamy; however, when you are purchasing an espresso machine you will be expecting a nice layer of frothy milk or cream in your cup. That is why it is important to consider the foam quality that your espresso machine will produce so that you can get a nice frothy latte every single time.
Built-in coffee bean grinders
Another important thing that deserves some thought is your espresso machines grinding capabilities. Often times espresso machines will not actually have a coffee bean grinder built into them so if this is something you want, make sure you are purchasing on that has a grinder built-in.
Price
This is something that many people will consider while purchasing their espresso machine. There are a lot of people out there that think they will be able to save money by purchasing a less expensive machine, but little do they know that this can cost them more money over the long run and ruin their espresso experience. There are a lot of affordable machines on the market, but if you really want to make the most of your cup of joe, make sure you spend the extra dollar on a high-quality espresso machine.
Brewing speed
Another thing that you will want to consider is the speed at which your machine will be able to make the perfect latte. You do not want a machine that is too fast because this can create a big mess and it will also not brew the coffee grinds properly. Also, you do not want to get a machine that is too slow because an espresso machine is meant to be able to give you a latte in a reasonable amount of time.
When you are looking for an espresso machine for your home or business, make sure you consider these 8 factors so that you can purchase a machine that will be the best for your needs. Often times, consumers overlook these 8 simple factors and they will purchase a machine without being properly informed. If you want to make the most of your espresso experience make sure you take the time to do your research and purchase a high-quality machine.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Pendergrast, Mark. Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World. Basic Books, 2019.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by Tim St. Martin, is licensed under the Unsplash License.