Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
Espresso machines are the best way to get the ultimate coffee experience. They're a labor of love but they give you control over every aspect of your coffee.
They typically include an espresso tamper to flatten the grinds and steamer to froth the milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Stovetop
We offer a variety of stovetop coffee makers that will assist you in making a perfect cup. In the UK around 98 million cups of coffee are consumed each day. These appliances, also known as moka pots, utilize pressure to produce an espresso-like cup of tea without the hassle of filter papers. They are a simple and easy-to-use device that can be used to enhance any coffee, and can be used with milk to make cappuccinos or lattes.
Moka pots come with the bottom chamber, which is filled with water, while the ground coffee sits in a basket that is surrounded by two pipes that lead to the upper chamber where the beverage is served. As the water boils in the bottom, it pushes its way through the grounds at high pressure, and then flows into the upper chamber, where the aromas are released to you to take pleasure in. The result is a rich and aromatic coffee that can be consumed by itself or mixed with sugar and milk.
The most important thing to keep in mind when buying a moka pot is the capacity of the unit. It is essential to look at the dimensions of the bottom as well as the capacity of your basket. A larger pot could require a longer wait time, while smaller units might not be capable of making enough pressure. We also suggest looking at the materials the machine is made of since stainless steel machines are sturdier and more durable however they come with a higher cost.
Other factors to consider is whether the appliance will work with the source of heat you prefer (gas or electric) and any additional add-ons you might have, such as steamer wands for milk that are used to heat and froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. You may also want to look at the number of cups that you can make at once in order to be an important factor in selecting the right size unit for you.
In the end, we recommend checking that the moka pot you are considering will have a base that is wide enough to fit on your chosen burner. We found that some models, like the Stelton collar espresso maker, had a narrow base and were difficult to center on a gas burner while wider bases, like those of the Bialetti Venus and London Sip stovetop espresso makers, provided 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
Similar to stovetop models there are capsule coffee makers which make cappuccinos, espresso and so on with pods. If you're not a fan of making mess with grounds, cleaning, and making coffee this is the ideal alternative for you.
You will need to buy the coffee pods separately, but there is a wide selection available from brands like Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are also different sizes to choose from and you can tailor the size of your beverage and coffee type to your preference. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the smallest and is ideal for small space. It can make one cup of coffee at one time. You can get a bigger model that can hold larger cups too, but they are more expensive.
If you want a more sophisticated alternative that also yields better tasting coffee, the Illy Iperespresso is a chic alternative for coffee lovers. It's not the most affordable machine, but it does produce a superb cup of coffee and is simple to use as well. It comes with a clever feature which allows it to automatically adjust its settings according to the type of pods it's using. This makes it one of the most flexible machines, in our opinion.
You should look for a model with a milk carafe if you are looking to test the various drinks you can make with a pod machine. This will let you explore the possibilities of cappuccinos and lattes. You can still make the most popular drinks using a capsule machine without a milk carafe, but it's more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you're considering purchasing a capsule coffee machine be sure that it's marked as compatible with ESE pods. It will come with an adapter or basket that fits these smaller pods. Certain machines in our range have this feature. This means you can use the machine with Nespresso compatible pods as well as Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
As the name suggests these are espresso machines that are for purists. They look like the original espresso machine, invented in Italy in the early 1900s. They are operated by manually pumping the water into a filter, securing it, and then pushing the water under 9 bar of pressure to make a shot.
Manual espresso makers are typically more labor-intensive than capsule machines. It is necessary to heat the water separately, pour it into the chamber above pods or coffee that has been ground up and then press the lever or plunger down to create pressure and force the liquid into the cup. This method of operation can be quite messy, time-consuming and sometimes a bit difficult to get right however the end result is worth the effort.
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 that can be found in immersion circulators, high-end toasters, and is designed to stabilize the brew boiler temperature. The great thing about this is that it takes away a lot of the guesswork regarding the optimal temperature for brewing and allows you to adjust the temperature of your espresso with accuracy.
There are Coffeee that manufacture manual espresso makers. The likes of Rancilio and La Pavoni are familiar names to many who have worked in a coffee shop or cafe. They manufacture the huge commercial espresso machines that have three or two heads that are found in coffee shops, but in 1997, they launched the Silvia semi-automatic espresso machine that has a few bells & whistles that alleviate some of the hassle out of making coffee.
Fully automatic espresso machines do all the work for you, they grind the beans, tamp, and pull shots and steam your milk at the touch of a button. However, they will also cost you quite a bit of money, therefore you'll need a decent bank balance to be capable of affording one.
4. Semi-Automatic
If the thought of replicating a perfect espresso shot from your favorite cafe in your own home is appealing to you and you want to replicate it, then a semi-automatic coffee machine is the right choice for you. These coffee machines allow you to tweak your preferences over time and dial in your espresso drinks according to the way you feel at any given moment.
The machines come with a portafilter and a steam wand. The brewing process in these machines is similar to that of super automatics, however with added manual steps like grinding the beans and putting them into the portafilter. They also require more knowledge and skills to operate since the brewing process is not controlled automatically.
A semi-automatic machine that's good will come with filters that can be removed and a tamper to compress the coffee grounds in the portafilter prior to making. It also allows you to regulate the amount of water and pressure used in the brewing process. This means that you can tailor your shots to your own preferences, and to the particular type of coffee beans you are using.
A semi-automatic machine should have the ability to control temperature that can be adjustable. This feature allows you to set the brewing temperature for your coffee beans according to how they taste. It also allows you to avoid temperature swings which is crucial when it comes to the brew boiler. Without a PID controller, the temperature of brewing can fluctuate by as much as 20oF from one cup to the next. This fluctuation is reduced to 0.1oF using a PID.
Some of the higher-end models include a milk froth to make milk-based espresso drinks. This allows you to make delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The pitcher that froths should have a comfortable handle and an spout that allows for easy pouring.
It is also recommended to choose one with a removable filter basket, as well as an automatic system to dose the grounds. You'll be able not have to do the manual grinding and tapping yourself. This will make cleaning the machine simpler.