Guides

FAQ - Espresso Machines

What is the difference between manual, semi-automatic, automatic and fully automatic espresso machines?

These types of machines all use a pump to force heated water under pressure through ground coffee to create an espresso shot. The primary difference is how automated each machine is. Manual machines contain a water reservoir but they don't hold nor grind coffee beans - you will have to load the machine (specifically, the "portafilter") with pre-ground coffee every time, and tamp the coffee down yourself. The coffee maker must turn on the water pump and turn off the water pump when the correct amount of water has passed through the ground coffee. The used coffee (called the "puck") must then be manually disposed of and finally, milk foaming is also done manually. Semi-automatic machines are the same as manual machines except that the coffee maker doesn't have to tell the machine when to stop the water, instead it pushes a preset amount of water through the coffee. This makes the espresso more consistent and also means you can walk away, knowing that the machine will stop drawing water automatically. The automatic espresso machine is a different beast all together. These machines do all the work for you, from grinding the coffee beans with a built-in grinder, loading the portafilter, tamping the coffee, pushing the water through, disposing of the puck, and some models will even allow you to use more than one type of coffee (see bypass doser). The fully automatic espresso machine - or super automatic machine as it is also known - is the same as the automatic machine except that it generally offers a couple more time-saving features. This machine will heat and froth your milk for you, and some models even offer automatic cleaning, decalcification and rinsing cycles. It may also warn you when water levels are low.

What is a steam powered espresso machine?

A steam powered espresso machine is similar to a stovetop espresso maker. Water is heated and the pressure built up forces it through the coffee. The pressure the water is pushed through the coffee is usually a lot less than an espresso machine with a pump. These are cheaper machines that produce an acceptable coffee, but not a coffee of the same quality as a pump based machine.

What is a bar and how many do I need?

Bar is a measure of pressure. At least 8 bar of pressure is needed for the water to be pushed through the ground coffee. Most consumer machines on the market will have this capability. Some will even offer 10 or more bar of pressure, but don't get too caught up in this as long as the machine can deliver more than 8 bar you can get a great cup of coffee!

What is the difference between a thermoblock and a boiler?

A thermoblock is a heated block of metal with channels in it that water runs through. The water is heated as it travels through the channels. In a boiler, a larger volume of water is held and heated before being pumped through the coffee.

Do automatics / full automatics have automated cleaning?

Automated cleaning is available on some models of automatic and fully automatic espresso machines. This can include disposing of the puck (the used coffee) into a dump box, decalcifying the machine and running a rinse cycle - and these cleaning cycles can be set to run automatically, say every three months. Bear in mind that every machine will require some level of cleaning and maintenance, even if it is only to empty out the puck dump box or refill with calcifying liquid.

What maintenance do espresso machines need?

Like many kitchen appliances, your espresso machine will need to be cleaned on a regular basis, with some parts needing to be cleaned after every use. In manual and semi-automatic espresso machines, you will need to clean the portafilter and filter basket after every use, wipe down the milk-steaming wand, and regularly clean out the drip tray. On a semi-regular basis, say every 3-4 months, you will need to run decalcifying liquid through the machine to break down any mineral build up. For cleaning automatic and fully automatic machines, see questions 5.

What is decalcification?

This is a method of cleaning your espresso machine. Over time, especially if you use tap water, your machine will get a build up of calcium inside that will start to restrict water flow. This calcium comes out of the water. To remove that build up, you simply add a decalcification solution to your water reservoir and run that through the machine. This only needs to happen once every few months; however, you might need to do this more often if you have especially use "hard" tap water or if you use your machine very frequently.