Espresso Machines | Best Coffee Maker Deals

Every barista (professional maker of coffee drinks) will have his or her own method. Here’s mine…It all starts with water. No coffee grounds, no matter the quality, can overcome the result of using poor water. It must be fresh and very hot. Yes, even water can get stale, thanks to mildew, poor cleaning practices and inadequate filtering. The optimum temperature is 203F (95C), nearly boiling.Next comes the coffee. Select arabica – whether from Brazil, Bogota, or elsewhere, grown above 3000 feet (915m) and delivered fresh for roasting. Either self-roasted or bought within a few days after, the coffee should have that ‘fresh food’ smell.Robusta – though easier to grow and more disease resistant – has more caffeine and less flavor.

It should be reserved for those quick pick-me-up cups, not used for an espresso to be savored.Finely ground in burr, not blade, grinders the roast should be dark –  French or Viennese. The name refers to the color, not the origin. Blade ‘grinders’ actually chop, not grind. Burr grinders have pyramid shaped teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them.The distance between the plates determines the fineness of the granules. Sand grain-sized is good, powder is too fine, and small-gravel too large.

Of course, the grind should not be exposed to air any longer than necessary. Coffee, like any food, will oxidize and absorb odors from the air. Neither is conducive to a good cup.And, last but not least, a good espresso requires a good quality pump espresso machine that’s scrupulously clean. ‘Good quality’ means: generates heat by boiler or thermoblock and is capable of producing pump pressure of 9 bar or better. A ‘thermoblock’ heats water as it passes through the machine on the way to the pump. Avoid the cheaper units that rely on steam to create pressure.Now you have the basic elements. Next comes the process.

Super Automatic Espresso Machines

A super automatic espresso machine differs from a traditional espresso  machine because it creates espresso and coffee automatically at the push of a button. Traditional espresso machines require the operator to manually create  the espresso. Proper grinding, dosing, tamping, temperature, pressure, and  extraction timing is an art that requires experience and precision.

Automatic Espresso Machines are programmed to do all of this for you. All you do is push a  button and enjoy. There are other advantages to Super Automatics, besides being  simple to operate; Super Automatics can pull an espresso shot in less time than  a traditional manual espresso machine. For businesses this means quicker  service, less employee training required, and more time to interact with your  customers. For the home barista this spells convenience.

Another advantage of the Automatic Espresso Machine is the fact that it uses  less coffee. These machines do all of the grinding and dosing to the exact  desired dose you specify. There is no waste and no guess work with a machine  that takes care of the exact dosing.Besides being quick, conservative and precise, these machines leave you with  no mess. The manual machines require you to grind, dose and tamp your own beans.  The process is messy in each of the phases. Espresso requires a fine grind  making it difficult to contain the fine coffee bean powder. When dosing  manually, it is necessary to overfill and level off before tamping. You can’t  help but spill the fine ground coffee.

The Super Automatics do all of this messy  dosing within the contents of the machine, leaving your hands, counter tops, and  floors free of fine ground coffee.Espresso machine parts must be cleaned after each and every espresso is  pulled manually. The Super Automatics clean themselves automatically. After each  shot of espresso is pulled, these machines clean and prepare for the next shot.  Before a Super Automatic is turned off or turned on, they go through a rinse  cycle to clear their lines.

Some Automatic Espresso Machines turn themselves off  at a programmed time, and rinse themselves at automatically programmed  intervals.Some Super Automatic Espresso Machines will even froth and dispense milk  automatically. One touch of a button frothing is an incredible feature.These machines come with a variety of options such as bypass dosers enabling  decaf brewing, animated touch screen, automatic warm up timer, and automatic  milk frothing. All of these options add to the luxury and convenience of the  machine. Regardless of the sophistication level you choose, super automatic  espresso machines are sure to save you time and money while creating an espresso  or regular coffee at the touch of a button and to the customized consistency of  your desire.