Espresso Maker Reviews: Finding The Best Coffee Machine

Click on the images below for product reviews:

Tassimo T65

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Gaggia Classic

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DeLonghi EC155

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Tassimo T20

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Gaggia Brera

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Cuisinart 1200

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Mr Coffee ECMP50

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Gaggia Baby Twin

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Bosch Tassimo

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Jura Capresso

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Gaggia Baby Class

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Alicia Delonghi

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Gaggia Evolution

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DeLonghi BCO

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Capresso 464.05

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Espresso maker: A gift from heaven to busy people.

Everyday, millions of people all around the world wake up with their first thoughts on that steaming hot mug of delicious brew. Professionals as well as students rely on their morning coffee buzz to jump start their day. For many, coffee is not just a drink but rather an integral part of modern life. They need caffeine and they need it fast.

This coffee drinking habit coupled with a need to keep-up with the typically fast-paced daily grind gave light to the people’s need for the home coffee machine. Good appliance will not only give them top-notch cuppa, fast, hence the espresso maker.

Why instant coffee won’t cut it.

With more than half of the world living a fast paced and urban lifestyle, and the coffee consumption as well as the percentage of coffee-drinkers steadily increasing annually, a need for an easier and more convenient way to make coffee was born: the instant coffee. But as more people consumed more coffee, their taste for this hot beverage became more sophisticated, not just any cup would do.
Instant coffee has been processed so that it comes in a powdered “dehydrated form” and the drinker simply needs to “rehydrate” it with hot water. This makes instant brew, in a way, artificial. Like most food and beverage, the fresher the ingredients are, the more flavourful it is. A good quality brewed coffee from freshly ground beans has a more robust flavour. The taste is so fresh that barristas can even identify subtle undertones and overtones in flavour. Today instant coffee is the antithesis of what professional-drinkers call “real coffee”.

What is espresso?

Although coffee did not come from the Italians, it was they who popularized this beverage; because of this, Italian coffee has come to be associated with superior flavor. The heart and soul of Italian brew is the espresso. Espresso is coffee but prepared in a particular way. The term “espresso” comes from the Italian word meaning express because an espresso is made in less than a few minutes. Espressos are the diamonds of the coffee world; they are made under the conditions of high temperature and high pressure. Espresso comes in a shot and some first-timers may describe its taste as concentrated coffee. Espresso Makers are a sub-category of coffee makers.
While all Espresso machines are coffee makers, not all coffee makers are espresso machines.

The evolution of the home espresso maker

Morning brew from the best coffee machine

Morning coffee

It was in 1905, 21 years after the first working espresso maker was patented, when Desiderio Pavoni (not the inventor) bought the patent and founded the first company to industrially manufacture one espresso machine a day in his small workshop in Milan.
The appeal of espresso was not only for its exquisitely stronger and purer flavour but also for the way it is prepared. Making an espresso requires a certain skill and specialized machinery that, until the late 90s, espressos were only available in cafes.
With the increase of the espressos’ popularity, demand for a more affordable and more accessible way to enjoy espressos were raised.

In the 1970s, home espresso makers were developed to address this demand. However, limited by the technology of that time, espresso machines were not only very expensive but they were also very bulky and difficult to operate.
It was in circa 1990s when Saeco introduced the world’s first super-automatic espresso maker designed specifically for home and small office use. However, that machine was far from perfect. It wasn’t until 1994 when the first successful automatic espresso machine for home was introduced to the market (Solis SL-90).
In 1997, Rancilio introduced the espresso maker that would raise the bar in home espresso machines, the Silva espresso maker. It was that machine that kicked off the home espresso maker revolution and each manufacturer/brand has since thrived to beat their competitions by constantly improving and innovating.

Espresso maker reviews: Finding the right model for you

As each espresso machine is unique, there are many factors to consider before making that purchase. Price and brand popularity is not always indicative of quality, so the most affordable model may not always be a bargain.
We have tried out, reviewed and evaluated some of the more popular brands of espresso makers in order to help coffee-lovers decide on the right coffee machine that will fit their lifestyle, preference and budget.

The modern espresso maker

Today, there are just as many brands and specifications of espresso makers as there are coffee flavours. From the most expensive machines that can cost thousands of dollars to the more modest and simpler compact espresso makers costing under a hundred dollars.
Generally there are 4 types of espresso machines:

Manual espresso machine
Semi-Automatic espresso machine
Fully-automatic espresso machine
Super-Automatic machine
Steam driven espresso makers

Although there are stove top espresso makers, the coffee produced are very rarely considered espresso in the true sense of the term.
But even with only four types of real espresso makers, the choices can still be quite baffling, especially for first timers.
Top-grade espressos highly rely not only on the ingredients but also on the preparation. That is why choosing the best coffee machine is so important.