Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
If you're looking for the best coffee experience, you can't beat an espresso machine. They're a labour of love but allow you to control every aspect of your coffee.
They usually have an espresso tamper to smooth the grinds and a steamer to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes.
1. Stovetop
There are 98 million cups of coffee consumed in the UK every day. We have a huge selection of stovetop espresso makers to help you brew an excellent cup of coffee. These appliances, also known as moka pots, utilize pressure to produce an espresso-like cup of coffee without the hassle of filter papers. These simple and easy to use devices will enhance any coffee, and can be used with milk to make lattes or cappuccinos.
The bottom of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The coffee grounds are placed in a basket that is between two pipes that lead to the upper chamber, where the final drink will be served. As the water in the lower chamber boils, it is pushed through the coffee grounds under high pressure. The aromas are released into the upper chamber as the water flows upwards. The result is a full and aromatic coffee that you can enjoy on its own or with sugar and milk.
When you are buying a mokapot the most important thing to take into consideration is the unit's capacity. It is important to make sure that the size of the bottom chamber as well as the capacity of the basket is sufficient for your requirements as a larger unit will require a long wait time while a smaller one may not be able to build up enough pressure. We recommend that you also consider the material the machine is made from. Stainless steel machines are more durable and sturdy but they can cost more.
You should also think about whether the appliance is compatible with your preferred heating source, whether gas or electric. Also, you may want to look at any additional add-ons available such as steamer arms for milk that can be used to heat up and foam milk in cappuccinos and lattes. You might also want to consider the number of cups that you can make at once in order to be a helpful factor when selecting the best size for your needs.
We would also suggest checking that the moka pot you are considering has a wide enough base to be able to fit on your preferred burner. Certain models, such as the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a narrow base which makes it difficult to place the machine on a gas burner. However, larger bases such as those of the Bialetti venus and London Sip stovetop coffee makers, give better results. We also preferred those with thicker walls because they were found to carry heat more efficiently and prevent it sputtering too quickly.
2. Capsule
There are capsule coffee machines which use pods to make cappuccinos, espresso, etc. This is a great choice for those who don't want to be tangled with brewing, grounds and cleaning up after - they are a quick, simple and effortless method to get your caffeine fix in the morning.
You will need to buy the coffee pods separately, but there is a large selection on the market from brands like Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are a variety of different sizes available, so you can suit your drink size and the type of coffee to your own preference. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the smallest and is ideal for small space. It makes one cup of coffee at one time. You can get a bigger model that can take larger cups too, but they are more expensive.
Illy Iperespresso offers a stylish alternative for coffee lovers who are looking for a more sophisticated machine that makes better tasting coffee. It's not the most expensive machine, but it produces a great cup of coffee. It's also simple to use. It also has an innovative feature that lets it recognise the brand of pod it is using and automatically adjusts its settings accordingly which makes it one of the most versatile in our opinion.
You should look for one with a milk carafe if you want to try out the various drinks you can make with a pod machine. This will allow you to experiment with lattes and cappuccinos. You can still make these popular drinks using a capsule maker without a milk carafe but it'll be more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you are interested in purchasing a capsule machine, check that it is compatible with ESE pods. It will come with a basket or adapter that fits these smaller pods. Some of the machines in our range include this feature, which means you can use them with Nespresso-compatible pods, as well as Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
As the name suggests these are espresso machines operated manually that are for purists. They look like the OG espresso machine, which was invented in Italy back in the early 1900's. They operate by manually pumping water into the portafilter, locking it, then forcing water under 9 bars of pressure creating a shot of espresso.
Manual espresso makers are typically more labor-intensive than capsule machines. You have to heat the water separately, then pour it into the chamber over pre-ground coffee or pods, and then press the plunger or lever down to create pressure and force the liquid through into the cup. This method can be complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to master, but the end result is worth it.
Some of the more modern models like the Flair 58 and the Sage The Barista Touch Impress have taken a different approach to make it easier to control, they have utilised an electronic temperature controller known as a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative). This is a type of technology you will find in immersion circulators, high-end toasters, and is designed to stabilise the temperature of the brew boiler. The beauty of this is that it eliminates a lot of the guesswork regarding the ideal temperature for brewing and lets you adjust the temperature of your espresso with precision.
Rancilio, La Pavoni and other large names make manual espresso machines. Most people who have worked in a cafe or cafe are familiar with these names. They produce the massive two or three group-head commercial espresso machines that you would see in a coffee shop but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia which is a semi-automatic, manual espresso machine that has a few bells and whistles to help alleviate some of the stress out of the coffee making process.
Fully automated espresso machines will complete all the work for you. They'll grind the beans and tamp them before pulling the shot, and even steam your milk. However, they can be costly so you will require a strong cash flow to be able to afford one.
4. Semi-Automatic
If the idea of replicating a perfect espresso shot from your favorite café at home is appealing, then a semi-automatic machine is the right one for you. These machines allow you to alter your preferences as time passes and adjust your espresso drink according to your mood at any given moment.
The machines come with a portafilter and steam wand. These machines share a similar brewing process to superautomatics, however they require some manual steps such as grinding beans and putting in the portafilter. They also require additional knowledge and skills to operate since the brewing process isn't controlled automatically.
A good semi-automatic will have a removable portafilter and a tamper for firmly compressing the ground coffee inside of the portafilter prior to making. You can also regulate the amount and the pressure of water used during the brewing process. You can then alter your shots to suit your tastes and the type of coffee beans that you are using.
A semi-automatic must have the ability to control temperature that can be adjusted. This feature allows you set the brewing temperatures for your coffee beans according to the way they taste. This will also allow you avoid temperature swings. This is important particularly when it comes to the boiling brew. The brew temperature could vary by as much as 20oF in a cup without a PID controller. With a PID controller the swing is restricted to approximately 0.1oF.
Some of the top models also come with the milk frother to make espresso drinks based on milk. espresso machine uk will allow you to make delicious cappuccinos and lattes. The frothing pitcher should be able to handle comfortably and an spout to make it easy to pour.
It is also a good idea to choose a model with a filtering basket as well as an automated dosing system for the grounds. This will prevent you from having to do the grinding and tamping manually on your own. It will also make cleaning the machine easier.