5starcoffeeco-blog

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The best assortment of espresso coffee makers, accessories and craft coffee gear.

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If you’re like us, we ditched the hard to keep clean stainless steel appliances in our kitchen for a slate grey package. Looks sharp and is sooo much easier to keep clean. Now Cuisinart has black stainless coffee makers to match! Won’t they look great on the counter?

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The Beginner’s Guide To Determine The Top Rated Espresso Machines

Espresso is a special type of coffee that originated in Italy. Espresso has a very rich and intense flavor, which is liked by many people around the world. Baristas working in cafés all over the world are trained in the art of making espresso and you might be thinking it’s not that easy to make great tasting espresso at home. Never fear, there are many options and price points for the home barista!

Espresso machines were launched in the 19th century, but at that time, the machines used to be bulky and clumsy. - too big for home use. With the passage of time, espresso machines became more compact and affordable. Prices range from $100 to well over a thousand dollars and can be grouped into three main types. These are;

Manual (Piston Driven Machines)

These machines are more authentic than any other coffee machine on the market. Piston driven machines are the most primitive machines, and the love of espresso that people have today is simply due to piston driven machines. In this machine, you will have to pump the lever to force pressure onto hot water, which will further go through the coffee grinds. It is this piston drive machine that led ‘crema’ to become a part of the drink. They’re also more challenging to learn to operate which leads us to...

Semi-Automatic and Automatic Espresso Machines.

The semi-automatic machines have a great balance of features for both the beginner as well as a more seasoned espresso lover. On these machines, you can expect to grind your own beans (although some come with a built-in grinder), tamp, lock in the portafilter (that holds the coffee grounds), brew the espresso shot and froth the milk for lattes and cappuccinos. With automatic or super-automatic machines all of that is done for you through the magic of technology!

While you can’t beat the convenience of a super-automatic machine, many people feel they can make better coffee with a semi-automatic that allows them to fine tune the time and temperature of the shots. Semi-automatic machines are also less expensive with many great options coming in under $500.

With so many brands and features, how do you choose one that’s right for you? I suggest starting with your budget and pay attention to the features, footprint (amount of counter space it takes) and the reviews. There’s also the aesthetics like style and color options that you might be looking for. Once you’ve narrowed it down to one or two - go for it! Espresso experts also recommend purchasing a high-quality burr grinder separate from the espresso machine. They will give you more control over the grind (very important and a topic for another blog post) and can be used for poor-overs, French press, and drip coffee too.

To help get you started, here are several links to sites and reviews I trust to get you started on your quest for the perfect espresso, cappuccino or latte. Enjoy!

Top 3 Espresso Machines Under $500

Seattle Coffee Gear Reviews

Whole Latte Love Gear Reviews

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Coffee Maker Style Guide

Coffee Maker Style Guide by: Dr Bryan Stoker

According to statistics, 52 percent of Americans are coffee drinkers. This translates to greater than 140 million people who drink coffee daily. Americans are a diverse population and far from unanimously agreeing on what makes a good cup of coffee. Happily, there are a number of different kinds of coffee makers available today.

Coffee lovers can select the brewing machine that matches their preferences. Common coffee maker styles include Automatic Drip, Automated Espresso, French Press, Percolator, Stovetop Espresso, and Vacuum style. Each has its own pros and cons and gives the person varying control over the end result.

Automatic Drip Coffee Maker

The automatic drip coffee maker might be the most popular alternative for Americans. This style is simple to make use of and are inexpensive to purchase. Most operate on the identical principle. Contained in the coffee pot is a filter basket where a paper filter holds the coffee grounds. Cold water is poured into the reservoir where it is heated before being poured over the grounds. The resulting coffee flows into a carafe. The brewed coffee is kept warm by the hot surface beneath the carafe.

Individuals who don't like to use automatic drip coffee makers complain that they do not make a very good cup of coffee. Keeping the coffee maker and carafe clean, utilizing quality coffee and disposable paper filters will help ensure a better result.

Automatic Espresso Coffee Maker

Automatic espresso coffee makers are available in semi-automatic, fully automatic and super automatic versions. Semi-automatic models tamp the coffee grounds, brew the coffee, fill the cup and eject grounds. Fully automatic models also grind the coffee. Supermodels supply all kinds of options, including built-in water filters.

French Press Coffee Maker

French Press coffee makers are also referred to as press pots or plunger pots. The pot is a glass or porcelain cylinder which incorporates a stainless, mesh plunger that works as a filter.

The consumer measures coffee grounds into the pot and adds nearly boiling water. The plunger is put in place but not pushed till the coffee has steeped a number of minutes. After steeping, the plunger is pushed and the espresso is ready.

There is no hot surface to maintain the coffee temperature so the coffee must be served instantly or placed into a thermal carafe of some sort.

Percolator Coffee Maker

Percolator coffee makers are available in range top types and in electric styles. Most modern ones are both electric and can be programmed. Some models make just one cup of coffee, others could make 12 cups at a time. The large coffee urns utilized by many organizations work on the percolation principle however brew more than one hundred cups of coffee at a time.

Percolator coffee makers are not used as often as they used to be. These machines constantly run the water over the grounds and the water is boiled. Many coffee lovers claim that both actions violate the legal guidelines of creating good coffee.

Coffee made via percolator tends to be stronger and often bitter tasting than coffee made with other brewing methods.

Vacuum Coffee Maker

Vacuum coffee makers look more like chemistry lab equipment than coffee machines. This type consists of two overlapped containers that are connected by a siphon tube. There's a filter in the bottom of the upper container.

The user places water in the lower container and coffee grounds within the upper container. The machine is then placed on top of the stove where the heated water vaporizes and passes through the siphon tube into the upper container.

A brewing cycle lasts roughly three minutes. When the unit is removed from heat, the vapor turns back to water and is forced through the filter and back into the lower container. Farberware created the first automatic vacuum coffee maker model whereas Sunbeam made the first truly automatic modern one.

Coffee lovers can choose from a wide variety of coffee makers. From cheap range top coffee pots to high end super automated coffee makers, there is a coffee maker for every choice as well as every budget.

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I love coffee! Drip, pour-overs, French press, and espresso. Especially espresso - so let’s talk! I’ll be posting on all things coffee related and if you love coffee too, please share.