Making an original espresso is an art that requires practice. Where every step is crucial to bring out the flavor of the original espresso, a quality espresso machine is one of the important components that ensures the delight of your favorite cup of coffee. If the machine does not offer good user-friendliness and control, it will ruin the entire experience of making espresso and also the taste in your mouth. Nowadays, when the market is full of varied options, selecting a suitable espresso machine according to one’s needs has become the most cumbersome task. The broad categories of espresso machines listed below will certainly clear up the confusion and help you in your purchasing decision:

Types of espresso machine:

Express manual:

The manual espresso machine was the first machine invented to make espresso. It remains the same and may interest you if you are an avid espresso traditionalist and coffee culture enthusiast. It has a piston that requires a pull to force the water through the coffee grounds. This may not excite the average coffee drinker, as the constant pull of the piston takes time and practice to master. Here, the ease of use is minimal and the learning curve is maximum.

But, if you learn to get the perfect shot, the machine is just like any other expensive model in its extraction of ground coffee. For those who love the ritual of preparation and claim to be espresso purists, the manual espresso machine promises everything you want in one package, but of course with an effort.

Semi-automatic espresso:

Semi-automatics are the most common home espresso machines. These machines are easy to use compared to manual machines and are suitable for those who don’t mind learning a bit of skill to make a wonderful espresso.

The machine, as its name suggests, performs its function in semi-automatic mode. A user manually starts the brew cycle via the on/off switch and similarly stops the process when extraction is complete. The semi-automatic machine gives the user control over the quality of the espresso. To develop a good foam for cappuccinos and lattes, you have the steam wand. Among all the categories of machines, the semi-automatic espresso machine is the least expensive. Generally, these machines do not come with grinders.

Fully automatic espresso:

The fully automatic machine performs the extraction process in the same way as the semi-automatic machine. The only difference lies in its one-touch system. The user only needs to turn on the button to start an extraction process. The machine will continue to run until the preset volume of coffee has been collected. After this, it will stop automatically. This machine is easy to use and you don’t need to learn the necessary skills.

Fully automatic machines are more commonly used in cafes and restaurants than in homes. The options for home users in this category are less and the ones that are available are the modified models of semi-automatics. The quality of espresso you get from these machines is not much better.

Super automatic espresso:

These machines are simply super automatic in their use. You don’t need to do anything except add the coffee grounds to it. Accompanied by a water tank and a grinder, it will carry out the entire ritual on its own. The machine will grind the dumped material, tamp the ground grains into the filter, and extract the concentration to its preset volume. Leftover coffee will be disposed of only in the internal garbage can.

These machines are state of the art and come with a rich set of features that do not restrict your control and also ensure that you get superior quality coffee. But its price may force you to think twice before making a final decision.