Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker
If you are looking for a big pot of drip coffee or an espresso, a coffee maker and espresso maker is a must for your kitchen. At Target we have many different designs and features to meet your preferences.
High pressure forces water into ground beans within seconds. The grounds are then compacted evenly and interlock them.
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There are many factors to consider when buying the espresso maker or coffee maker. The features are what determine the machine's functionality and suitability for your requirements. Consider features that offer convenience, improve the quality of your brew and allow you to personalize your beverage.
Espresso makers and coffee makers aren't difficult to make. For instance, the traditional Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer that uses a pot that slowly drips water over the ground beans. Some models offer more sophisticated options, like a dual boiler that allows you to make espresso as well as steamed or frothed milk simultaneously. Other features include digital displays that inform you when your water tank is low, when it's time to empty the grounds bin or descale, and other maintenance tasks.
The majority of modern espresso makers and coffee makers utilize a similar brewing method that involves pouring hot water over ground or pre-ground beans. Many are designed to stop the brewing process automatically at the correct time so that you can enjoy a new cup of coffee each morning. Certain models allow you to choose the strength you prefer, and some have adjustable temperature settings to give you the best flavor.
The highest-end of coffee and espresso machines is the super-automatic model, which is designed to handle everything for you. They're typically equipped with a built-in grinder, so they can grind and brew your coffee using fresh beans. They will also usually come with a separate steamer to make cappuccinos and lattes. You might also select from a range of drinks including hot chocolate on their menu.
If you live in small kitchens, you should consider a compact model to make use of less counter space. If you have several people in the household who each have their own coffee preferences look into a multi-cup machine that can accommodate different sizes of cups. If you're a coffee or Espresso connoisseur then look for models that allow you to alter the intensity of your brew and the ratio of water to coffee so that you can make the perfect cup each time.
A solid warranty and prompt customer service are other important aspects to consider when buying an espresso maker and coffee maker. Warranty periods vary from one to three year depending on the manufacturer.
Simple to Use
You will require more than a traditional drip-filter coffee maker to create a coffeehouse type beverage at home. To make espresso, highly pressurized water is pushed through finely ground coffee beans at high speed. The result is a few "shots" of caffeine with a thick, creamy crema on top. In this manner, the majority of espresso machines that combine coffee and espresso make use of a portafilter basket as well as a steaming arm. Other machines depend on pre-packaged pods and filters, or allow you measure and grind beans manually.
The type of machine you select will depend on how involved you'd like to be and how much space you have available. Manual machines provide the most control, but take a lot of work grinding the coffee beans, then hand-tamp it, and then take your shots. Semiautomatic models can take one or two steps out of the process, such as grinding and tamping, but they require more effort than an automated machine. Fully automatic espresso and coffee makers can make a whole pot of drip coffee or even an entire espresso cup at the press of a button.
Think about whether you are making coffee for a single person or a group of people. Some models, such as the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of espresso or coffee at once. This can be a convenient way to meet your morning coffee needs, but it may not be the best choice when you're serving an audience.
A coffee maker that has a dual boiler allows you to simultaneously brew and steam milk, which means you don't need to wait for one function to cool down before starting the other. This feature is particularly useful for those who plan to make lattes or cappuccinos.
It is less likely that a coffee or espresso machine with an adjustable reservoir will build up mineral deposits. You'll have to clean your reservoir periodically however it will save you time as you don't have to empty and re-fill the entire pot of water. The hardness of the water could be a factor in the buildup of minerals. A water that is harder will result in more dissolved minerals, which can cause your machine to require more descaling. Water that is soft or filtered is more gentle to work with and decreases the frequency of descaling.
Cleaning is easy
For many home owners the coffee or espresso machine is a major investment. It requires regular maintenance to ensure it is operating at its peak and lasts as long as possible. Cleaning the carafe and other components that can be removed from an espresso machine or drip coffee maker, is a crucial part of maintenance. Use vinegar or a descaling solution once every week to maintain the appliance. Certain models have sensors that illuminate when it's cleaning time.
While vinegar is great for countertops and sinks however, the acidity can harm the rubber seals and other components of your coffee and espresso maker, potentially limiting its life. Many brands -- including Lavazza and Smeg--recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your machine as it could invalidate the warranty.
To clean your espresso maker or coffee maker, you must remove the portafilter from the group. Remove any dirt from the portafilter and the basket with a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Both must be thoroughly rinsed with hot water, and then dried with a clean cloth. Then, clean the brewing group by putting a cleaning tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush program. You can also manually flush your machine by placing a cleaning tablet solution into the portafilter and turning on the brewing software after which you will have to stop for 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure until the flow of water is constant. This indicates that your machine has been descaled.
The brew group mesh must be soaked by the water as it moves through the espresso machine. The mesh can get clogged with old coffee residue if it's dirty. This can negatively impact the extraction. To ensure that the mesh is in good working order Calatrello suggests removing it every month, cleaning it with a brush and the overnight soak in hot water, using a cleaning tablet dissolved in it.
If you have an automatic coffee and espresso machine, you can clean it by removing the reservoir for water, filling it up with clean water, adding cleaning tablets and running a backflush program. You should also clean the inside of the water reservoir as well as the pot to get rid of any residue or stains. Before reassembling the appliance you'll have to clean and dry the carafe as well as the water reservoir.
Coffeee
For those who want to brew up an instant cup of espresso or coffee on the go, look for an automated model that doesn't require any effort from you. These models typically have an insulated basket that holds ground coffee beans and water that's warmed to the ideal temperature and is then released into the grounds and it is brewed in one shot.
These machines are ideal for those who enjoy the process of making coffee but don't have much time to invest in learning the techniques and skills required to produce the best tasting drinks. They are simple to use and clean and produce results like those produced by the traditional drip coffee maker.
To keep your machine running ensure that you empty the used grounds and scrub down the portafilter and grouphead after each use. In addition, you'll need to backflush the machine every so often. This is done by locking the portafilter into the grouphead and running the brew cycle for a several times until the water runs clear. Coffeehouses do this at the end each day, however, home users can do it every couple of days or once per week, with detergent for a more thorough cleaning.
Finally, you'll need to clean the steam wand and the milk reservoir frequently, which we suggest once a month. You can do this by cleaning all areas of your machine with a vinegar-soapy water mixture (check the manual before starting because some manufacturers don't recommend vinegar). Also, make sure you change your filter regularly--hard water tends to build up mineral residue faster than soft or filtrated water. This can cause the coffee maker and espresso maker to get blocked and taste different or not run at all. Purchase a coffee and Espresso maker with a water-hardness tester to avoid this.