How to Buy a Coffee or Espresso Maker

Are you a true caffeine addict? Do you absolutely need that morning cup of coffee or shot of espresso before you can be functional? If so, you're not alone. According to the National Coffee Association, 56 percent of Americans drink coffee everyday, and this number is gradually increasing.

Caffeine is considered the modern drug of choice in the working world, as it is easily accessible, readily affordable, and of course, perfectly legal. There are two basic styles of coffee: regular, or non-espresso coffee, and espresso, with the main difference between the two being the fineness of the grind and the brewing time.

Regular Coffee
Perhaps the most familiar among Americans, regular coffee often consists of a medium-strength brew that is served in a mug or cup, and the method of brewing depends on the equipment at hand. Common coffee brewing equipment includes French presses, percolators, and the drip/filter.

No matter what equipment is used, however, regular coffee brewing always involves hot water coming into contact with preground beans for at least one minute, and compared to espresso, regular coffee is usually brewed at a lower temperature for a longer amount of time. Regular coffee also uses more water and requires the beans to be more coarsely ground.

When purchasing a coffee maker, keep the following things in mind:

1. How much are you willing to spend?
Basic drip coffee makers that don’t have lot of bells and whistles are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. For example, the Caffe Elite by DeLonghi retails for $49.95, and features a 24-hour programmable digital timer, aroma switch, and pause and serve function.

2. What type of brewing process are you looking for?
The most common type of coffee maker by far is the drip coffee maker. These appliances make full pots of coffee easily and quickly, and can evenly distribute water over ground beans to produce a full-bodied brew. On the other hand, French press coffee makers are also quite popular, as they are a quick way to make a cup or two of freshly brewed coffee, and allow water and coffee to steep together in one container.

3. What features are you looking for?
Consider which features are most important to you. Some of the most common features found in coffee makers are built-in grinders and programmable settings which allow you to have your coffee ready when you wake up in the morning.

Espresso
Espresso, on the other hand, is a concentrated coffee beverage that is brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder.

The defining characteristics of espresso includes a thicker consistency than drip coffee, a higher amount of dissolved solids than drip coffee per relative volume, and a serving size that is measured in 20-25 ml shots. Properly brewed espresso will have three major parts: the heart, body, and the most distinguishing factor, the presence of crema, or the reddish brown foam that floats of the surface of the espresso.

Before purchasing an espresso machine, here are a few things to consider:

1. How much are you willing to spend?
Although higher-end espresso machines offer more features and possibly more robust espresso, a budget model may very well suit your needs. Espresso machines can start at $100, with some of the most pricy models costing $1000 or more. With that in mind, if you’re not an espresso connoisseur but do enjoy your morning shot, look for mid-range models such as the DeLonghi EC701. This pump espresso/cappuccino maker features Italian design and engineering, and boasts self-timing operation and an adjustable frother. The EC701 also includes 2 thermostats for separate control of water and steam pressure, and at $329.95, it’s competitively priced.

2. What features are you looking for?
A good espresso machine can be an investment, and you should decide which features are most important to you. Common espresso machine functions include cup warmers, frothing wands, hot water dispensers, strength controls, and integrated bean grinders. Of course, more fancy functions equal more money.

3. What about brewing regular coffee?
For many consumers, the ability to brew both espresso and regular coffee is appealing. These combination espresso/coffee machines give you versatility and help save space in the kitchen.