Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
If you're looking for the best coffee experience, there's no better than an espresso machine. They are an act of passion, but they also give you complete control over the coffee you drink.
They usually have an espresso tamper to smooth the grinds and steamer to froth the milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Stovetop
We offer a variety of stovetop coffee makers that can help you make a great cup. In the UK, approximately 98 millions cups of coffee are consumed each day. Also known as moka pots, these machines make use of pressure to produce an espresso-like coffee without the need for messy filter paper. These simple and easy to use devices will enhance any coffee and can be used with milk to make cappuccinos or lattes.
The bottom chamber of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The ground coffee is placed in a basket that is between two pipes leading to the upper chamber where the finished beverage will be served. As the water boils in the bottom, it pushes itself through the grounds under high pressure. It then seeps into the upper chamber where the aromas are released to you to take pleasure in. The end result is a fragrant rich and robust coffee that is delicious on its own or with milk and sugar.
When you are buying a mokapot the most important factor to think about is the pot's capacity. It is essential to ensure that the dimensions of the bottom chamber as well as the capacity of the basket will be sufficient for your needs as larger pots will require a longer wait time while a smaller one might not be able to build up enough pressure. We suggest that you take a look at the material that the machine is constructed of. Steel machines made of stainless steel are more durable and sturdy but they can cost more.
You should also think about whether the appliance is compatible with your preferred heat source, whether it's electric or gas. Additionally, you might want to look at any other add-ons that are available, like milk steamer arms that are used to heat up and make frothy milk in cappuccinos as well as lattes. You may also consider the number of cups you can prepare in one sitting, as this is a good way to determine the right size for your needs.
In the end, we recommend checking that the moka pot you're considering has a wide enough base to be able to fit on your preferred burner. We discovered that certain models, such as the Stelton collar espresso maker, had a narrow base and were difficult to put in the proper spot on a gas burner while larger bases, such as those of the Bialetti Venus and London Sip stovetop espresso makers, provided better results. We also preferred models with thicker walls as they were found to carry heat more efficiently and avoid it sputtering too quickly.
2. Capsule
There are capsule coffee machines, that make use of pods to create espresso, cappuccinos, etc. This is a great option if you don't want to have to deal with messing with grounds, brewing and cleaning up - they provide an easy, quick and hassle-free method of getting your caffeine fix in the morning.
You'll need to purchase the coffee pods separately, however there is a large selection on the market from brands such as Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are various sizes available, so you can choose the size and type of coffee that suits your taste. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the smallest and is ideal for small spaces. It can make one cup of coffee at one time. You can get a bigger model that can handle larger cups too, but they are more expensive.
Illy Iperespresso is a chic alternative for coffee snobs who are looking for a more sophisticated machine that produces better tasting coffee. It's not the most expensive machine, but it produces a great cup of coffee. It's also easy to use. It has a clever function that lets it automatically adjust its settings according to the type of pods it's using. This makes it one of the most adaptable machines in our opinion.
If you want to explore the wide range of drinks you can make with a pod coffee machine it is recommended to look for a model that includes a milk carafe. This will let you experiment with cappuccinos, lattes and a variety of other drinks. You can still make the most well-known drinks with a capsule machine without a milk carafe however, it's more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you're considering purchasing a capsule machine, check that it is compatible with ESE pods. This typically means it comes with a basket, or adapter to accommodate these smaller pods. Some of the machines we offer have this feature, meaning you can use them with Nespresso compatible pods as well as Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
Like the name suggests, these are manual espresso machines designed for those who prefer a more traditional approach. They look like the original espresso machine, developed in Italy in the early 1900s. They operate by manually pumping the water into a filter, then locking it, and then forcing the water under pressure of 9 bar to create a shot.
A manual espresso maker is typically more of a labour of love than a capsule machine because they require you to heat the water in a separate manner from the coffee, pour it into the chamber above the pre ground coffee or pods, and then press down on the lever or plunger to create the pressure and push the water through and into the cup below. This method of operation can be quite messy, time consuming and sometimes a bit difficult to master, but the end result is worth the effort.
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 technology is present in high-end immersion circulators as well as toasters. It is designed to stabilise the temperature of the boiler used to brew. This is a fantastic way to take away the guesswork about the ideal temperature for brewing.
Rancilio, La Pavoni and other big names produce manual espresso machines. Many who have worked in a cafe or cafe are familiar with these names. They manufacture the huge three or two group head commercial espresso machines that you would find in a coffee shop but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia which is an automated, semi-automatic machine with a few bells and whistles that help take some of the hassle out of the making process.
Fully automated espresso machines can take care of all the work for you. They will grind the beans, tamp them, pull the shot, and some even steam your milk. But they are expensive so you will need a good cash flow to afford one.
4. Semi-Automatic
If the thought of re-creating a perfect espresso shot from your favorite café at home strikes a chord, then a semi-automatic machine is the right one for you. These machines let you alter your preferences as time passes and also adjust the amount of your espresso drink according to your mood at any given moment.
These machines come with a portafilter and steam wand. The brewing process in these machines is similar to super automatics, however with added manual steps like grinding the beans and inserting them into the portafilter. They also require additional knowledge and skills to operate as the brewing process is not controlled automatically.
A semi-automatic machine that is good will have a removable filter and a tamper to compress the coffee grounds in the portafilter prior to brewing. It also allows you to manage the amount of water and pressure that is used in the brewing process. This means you can adjust your shots according to your personal preferences and the type of coffee bean that you are using.
A semi-automatic must also include the ability to control temperature that can be adjustable. This feature lets you decide the brewing temperature for your coffee beans based on how they taste. This will also allow you avoid temperature fluctuations. This is vital, especially when it comes the brew-boiler. The temperature of the brew can vary by as much as 20oF between cups if there is no PID controller. With PID controllers, this swing is limited to about 0.1oF.
Some of the higher-end models include a milk froth to make espresso drinks based on milk. This can help you make delicious lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. The frothing jug should be comfortable to hold and have an spout that makes pouring effortless.
espresso machine with milk frother www.coffeee.uk is also recommended to choose a model with a removable filter basket, and an automatic system to dose the grounds. This will save you from having to perform manual tamping and grinding on your own. This will make cleaning the machine much simpler.