Guides

What are coffee pods and coffee capsules?

An alternative to coffee beans and ground coffee, coffee pods and capsules are like tea bags for coffee. Rather than fill the portafilter with coffee and then tamp it down, some espresso machines are able to handle coffee pods instead. Coffee pods and capsules are easy to use and are less messy; however, you will have to buy your coffee pods or capsules from specialist providers.

What is a bypass doser?

A bypass doser is only found on the automatic and fully automatic espresso machine - and only on a selection of models. Basically, it allows your machine to hold two types of coffee at once. For example, if you have a guest that wants decaf coffee, instead of emptying out the current beans, simply fill the bypass doser with the decaf blend. Bear in mind that while your automatic machine will probably take whole coffee beans, a bypass doser will generally only handle pre-ground coffee.

How often should I replace the water in my espresso machine?

If you use your machine on a regular basis (daily or more often) and are completely refilling the reservoir at least once a day, then you probably won't ever need to replace the water. If you make coffee less often, say every few days to a week, we recommend you do a complete water change when you make your first coffee of the day.

Is tap water OK in my espresso machine?

The type of water you use in your espresso machine will affect both the taste of the coffee and the level of maintenance your machine will require. For many areas, tap water will work fine in your machine, and some believe it can actually bring flavour benefits to your coffee. The main downside to using tap water is that the minerals found in water, such as calcium and magnesium, will build up over time and affect the flow of the water through the machine. All this means is that if you use tap water you will need to "decalcify" your machine on a more regular basis than if you use filtered water. As for the taste benefits, that is more of a personal preference.

Do I need a cup warmer?

The short answer is no. The coffee purists out there will insist that coffee should be served in warm cups; however, even if you agree with that sentiment you don't need to specifically buy a cup warmer (for example, putting some hot water in the cup will warm it up). In our opinion, the cup warmer is a nice-to-have option but isn't the kind of feature to make or break a purchase decision.

What sort of coffee should I use?

The type of coffee you are planning to use will affect your choice of espresso machine. Manual and semi-automatic machines will need to use ground coffee. Espresso machines that contain a built-in grinder will need to be stocked with whole coffee beans, and some are also designed to take coffee pods and capsules. If you opt for a manual or semi-automatic and you are a stickler for freshly ground coffee before every cup, you will need to buy a separate grinder.

Should I buy a grinder?

Although freshly ground coffee does taste better you do not need to buy a grinder regardless of the espresso machine you purchase. At the top end of the market, espresso machines will come with a built-in grinder, which means you will need to buy whole beans. However, if your machine doesn't have a grinder you can simply purchase pre-ground coffee. Buy a grinder if you are a stickler for freshly ground coffee and your espresso machine doesn't come with one built in.

How hard is it to heat the milk?

Warming and frothing does take some finesse, but once you have it down you will feel like a real barista! On the manual and semi-automatic machines you will need to foam the milk yourself. There are a number of techniques to this - one way is to start by creating foam by repeatedly lifting the heating wand into and out of the milk to just above the milk surface. Finish heating the milk by placing the wand below the surface. Be careful to warm rather than boil the milk - burnt milk will ruin an otherwise good coffee. You can buy a thermometer, but as a rough guide, once the stainless steel milk container gets hot to touch on the outside the milk is ready.