Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
Espresso machines are the best way to get the ultimate coffee experience. They're a labour of love but they give you control over every aspect of your coffee.
They also have an espresso tamper to flatten the grinds, as well as a steamer for frothing milk in lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Stovetop
There are 98 million cups of coffee consumed in the UK every day. We have a huge selection of espresso makers for stovetops to help you brew the perfect cup of coffee. These devices, also referred to as moka pots, utilize pressure to make an espresso-like cup of tea without the hassle of filter papers. These simple and easy to use appliances can enhance any coffee and can also be used with milk for lattes or cappuccinos.
The lower chamber of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The ground coffee is placed in a basket that is between two pipes that lead to the upper chamber where the brewed beverage will be served. As the water in the bottom chamber boils, it pushes through the coffee grounds under high pressure. The aromas are released into the upper chamber as the water seeps upwards. The result is a fragrant rich and robust coffee that can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with milk and sugar.
When buying a mokapot, the most important factor to consider is the unit's capacity. It is crucial to make sure that the dimensions of the bottom chamber and the capacity of the basket is sufficient for your requirements as larger units will require a longer wait time while a smaller one may not be able create enough pressure. We also suggest looking at the material the machine is constructed from, as stainless steel machines are stronger and more durable, but they also come with a higher cost.
Other considerations are whether the appliance will work with the heat source you choose (gas or electric) and any other add-ons you might have like steamer wands for milk that can be used to heat and froth milk to make lattes and cappuccinos. You may also consider the amount of cups you are able to make in one go, since this is a great method to determine the best size unit for you.
We also suggest that you examine the base of the moka maker to ensure that it is a good fit on your burner. Some models, like the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a base that is narrow which makes it difficult to align the machine on a gas burner. However, bases with a wider width such as those of the Bialetti venus and London Sip stovetop coffee makers, give better results. We also preferred models with thicker walls since they were found to conduct heat more efficiently and avoid it from sputtering too fast.
2. Capsule
In a similar vein to the stovetop models, there are capsule coffee makers that can make cappuccinos, espresso and more by using pods. If you don't like making mess with grounds, cleaning and making coffee, this is the perfect option for you.
You will have purchase the coffee pods separately. There are a variety of brands to choose from, such as Nespresso Dolce Gusto, and Tassimo. There are a variety of sizes to choose from so you can select the size and kind of coffee that best suits your preferences. espresso machines home Coffeee is the Nespresso Essenza Mini, which is ideal for small areas and makes one cup at one time. You can get a bigger model that can hold larger cups too, but they're more expensive.
For a more sophisticated option that also produces better tasting coffee The Illy Iperespresso is an elegant shortcut for coffee snobs. It's not the most expensive machine, but it does make excellent coffee. It's also very easy to use. It also has a clever feature that allows it to recognize the brand of pod it's using and automatically adjusts its settings accordingly it, making it among the most versatile machines in our opinion.
You should look for a model that comes with a milk cup if you're looking to test the various drinks you can make with a pod machine. This will allow you to experiment with lattes and cappuccinos. You can still make popular drinks using a capsule machine, but it will be more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you're considering purchasing capsule coffee maker ensure that it is listed as compatible with ESE pods. It will have an adapter or basket that can be used with these smaller pods. Some of our machines we offer have this feature, which means you can use them with Nespresso-compatible pods as well as Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
They are manual espresso machines for purists. They look like the OG espresso machine invented in Italy in the early 1900's and are operated by manually pumping water through the portafilter, locking it, then pushing water under 9 bars of pressure to create a shot of espresso.
A manual espresso maker is often more of a labor of affection than a capsule maker since they require you to heat the water separately from the coffee, pour it into the chamber over the coffee that has been ground or pods, and then press down on the plunger or lever to create the pressure and force the water through and into the cup below. This method is complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to master, but the final result is worth it.
Some of the more modern models like the Flair 58 and the Sage The Barista Touch Impress have taken a different approach to make it easier to control, they have utilised an electronic temperature controller known as a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative). This is a type of technology you will find in high-end immersion circulators and toasters and is designed to stabilise the temperature of the brew boiler. This is a great method to take away a lot of the uncertainty about the optimal temperature of brewing.
Rancilio, La Pavoni and other big names produce manual espresso machines. The majority of people who have worked in a coffee shop or cafe will be familiar with these names. They manufacture the huge commercial espresso machines that have two or three heads that are found in coffee shops. However, in 1997, they introduced the Silvia semi-automatic manual espresso machine with a few bells & whistles that help to reduce the stress out of making coffee.
Fully automated espresso machines do all of the tasks for you, they grind the beans, tamp, pull a shot and some will steam your milk too all at the touch of a button, but they can also cost a pretty penny therefore you'll need an adequate amount of cash to be able to afford one.
4. Semi-Automatic
If the idea of re-creating a perfect espresso shot from your favorite cafe at home is appealing to you and you want to replicate it, then a semi-automatic coffee machine is the right choice for you. These machines allow you to alter your preferences over time, and dial in your espresso drink according to your mood at any given moment.
The machines are equipped with a portafilter and a steam wand. These machines have a similar brewing process to super automatics, but they require manual steps like grinding the beans and inserting the portafilter. They also require more knowledge and skills to operate as the brew cycle is not controlled by a computer.
A semi-automatic machine that's good will come with a removable filter and an tamper that compresses the coffee grounds in the portafilter prior to making. You can also control the amount and pressure of water used in the process of brewing. You can then customize your shots to suit your tastes and the kind of coffee beans you are using.
A semi-automatic must also have an adjustable temperature control that can be adjusted. This feature lets you determine the brewing temperature of your coffee beans based on how they taste. It also helps you avoid fluctuations in temperature, which is especially important in the case of the boiler that brews the coffee. Without a PID controller the temperature of the brew can vary by as much as 20oF from one cup to the next. This swing can be reduced to 0.1oF by using a PID.
Some of the top models also come with an milk frother to create milk-based espresso drinks. This lets you make delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The frothing container should have a comfortable grip and a spout to make pouring easy.
You should also select one with a removable filter basket, and a system that automatically doses the grounds. You'll be able to not have to do the manual grinding and tamping yourself. This will make cleaning the machine simpler.