Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
Espresso machines are the best method to enjoy the best coffee experience. They're a labor of love but give you control over every aspect of your coffee.
They also have an espresso tamper to flatten the grinds, as well as a steamer for frothing milk in cappuccinos and lattes.
1. Stovetop
There are 98 million cups of coffee consumed in the UK every day and we have a fantastic range of espresso makers for stovetops to help you brew a great cup of coffee. These devices, also referred to as moka pots, use pressure to produce an espresso-like cup of coffee without the need for messy filter papers. These simple and easy-to-use appliances can enhance any coffee and can be used with milk for lattes or cappuccinos.
Moka pots come with the bottom chamber, which is filled with water, and the coffee is placed in a basket that is surrounded by two pipes which lead to the upper chamber where the beverage is served. When 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 seeps upwards. The end result is an aromatic rich and robust coffee that can be enjoyed by itself or paired with sugar and milk.
When buying a mokapot, the first thing you need to consider is the unit's capacity. It is essential to examine the size of the bottom and the capacity of the basket. A larger unit could require a longer wait time, whereas a smaller unit might not be capable of making enough pressure. We suggest that you take a look at the material that the machine is constructed of. Stainless steel machines are more durable and strong but they tend to cost more.
Other factors to consider is whether the appliance can work with the source of heat you prefer (gas or electric) and any extra add-ons that might be available like steamer wands for milk that are used to heat and froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. It is also worth considering the number of cups you are able to make in one go, since this is a good way to determine the right size unit for you.
We also suggest to check the base of the moka pot to ensure it fits on your burner. Some models, like the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a narrow base which makes it difficult to align the machine on a gas burner. However, larger bases such as those of the Bialetti venus and London Sip stovetop coffee makers, provide better results. We also preferred models with thicker walls since they were found to conduct heat more efficiently and stop it from sputtering too fast.
2. Capsule
There are capsule coffee machines that make use of pods to create espresso, cappuccinos, etc. This is a great choice when you don't want be tangled with brewing, grounds and cleaning up - they offer an easy, quick and effortless method of getting your caffeine fix in the morning.
You will need to buy the coffee pods on your own, but there is a wide selection available from brands such as Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are a variety of sizes to choose from and you can pick the size and type of coffee that suits your preferences. The smallest model is the Nespresso Essenza Mini, which is ideal for small spaces and can make one cup at one time. A larger model is available which can also hold larger cups, but it will cost more.
If you want a more sophisticated alternative that also produces better tasting coffee The Illy Iperespresso is an elegant shortcut for coffee snobs. It's not the most affordable machine, but it does produce an excellent cup of coffee and is simple to use too. It comes with a clever feature that allows it to automatically alter its settings in accordance with the brand of pods it's using. This makes it one of the most flexible machines in our opinion.
If you want to explore the wide range of drinks you can make with a pod coffee machine, it's worth looking for a model that comes with a milk carafe. This will allow you to experiment with lattes and cappuccinos. You can still make the majority of popular drinks with capsule machines, but it will be a more unpredictable affair.
If you're interested in getting a capsule coffee machine be sure that it's marked as compatible with ESE pods. It will come with a basket or adapter that will fit these smaller pods. Certain machines in our range come with this feature. This means you can use the machine with Nespresso compatible pods, and also Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
Like the name suggests, these are espresso machines designed for those who prefer a more traditional approach. They look similar to the OG espresso machine that was invented in Italy back in the early 1900's. They are operated by pumping water manually into the portafilter before locking it and forcing water under 9 bars of pressure, resulting in an espresso shot.
A manual espresso maker is usually more of a labor of passion than a capsule machine since they require you to heat the water separately from your coffee, pour it into the chamber over the pre ground coffee or pods and then press down on the lever or plunger to create the pressure and push the water through and into the cup below. This method is difficult, time-consuming and tedious 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 technology is present in immersion circulators and high-end toasters. It is designed to stabilise the temperature of the boiler used to brew. This is a great method to eliminate a lot the guesswork surrounding the optimal temperature for brewing.
There are several big companies that manufacture manual espresso makers. Check This Out of Rancilio and La Pavoni are familiar names to many who have worked in a coffee shop or cafe. They manufacture the huge two or three group heads of commercial espresso machines you'd see in a coffee shop but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia, an automated, semi-automatic machine with a few bells and whistles that help take some of the hassle out of the brewing process.
Fully automated espresso machines can complete all the work for you. They will grind the beans, tamp them, pull the shot, and some even steam your milk. But they are expensive and you'll need a good budget to be able to afford one.
4. Semi-Automatic
If the thought of replicating an espresso shot from your favorite cafe at home is appealing to you, then a semi-automatic machine is the best choice for you. These machines allow you to adjust your preferences over time and also adjust the amount of your espresso drink according to your mood at any time.
The machines are equipped with a portafilter and steam wand. They have similar brewing processes to superautomatics, however they require manual steps like grinding the beans and putting in the portafilter. They also require more understanding and skills to operate because the brew cycle is not controlled by a computer.
A semi-automatic machine that's good will have a removable filter and a tamper to compress the coffee grounds inside the portafilter prior to making. It also allows you to control the amount of water and pressure used during the brewing process. You can then customize your shots based on your preferences and the kind of coffee beans you are using.
Another thing to look for in a semi-automatic is an adjustable temperature control. This feature allows you to decide the brewing temperature for your coffee beans based on how they taste. This will also allow you to avoid temperature swings. This is crucial particularly when it comes to the boiling brew. Without a PID controller the temperature of brewing can fluctuate by up to 20oF from one cup to the next. With PID controllers, this swing is limited to about 0.1oF.
A few of the more expensive models include a milk frother to create milk-based espresso drinks. This allows you to make delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The frothing jug should have a comfortable grip and an spout that makes pouring easy.
You should also select a model with a removable filter basket, and a system that automatically doses the grounds. You'll be able not have to do the manual grinding and tamping yourself. It will also make cleaning the machine easier.