Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
If you're looking for the ultimate coffee experience, there's nothing better than an espresso machine. They are a labor of passion, but they also give you total control over the coffee you drink.
They also have an espresso tamper for flattening the grinds, and a steamer for frothing milk in 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 make the perfect cup of coffee. They are also known as moka pots. these machines use pressure to create an espresso-like coffee without the need for messy filter paper. These simple and easy-to-use appliances will enhance any coffee, and can be used with milk for cappuccinos or lattes.
Moka pots have an inner chamber that 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 heats up, it pushes through the coffee grounds under high pressure. The aromas are released into the upper chamber as the water flows upwards. The result is an aromatic rich and robust coffee that can be enjoyed on its own or with sugar and milk.
When buying a mokapot, the most important thing to take into consideration is the unit's capacity. It is important that you look at the size of the bottom and the capacity of the basket. A larger model could require a longer wait time, whereas smaller ones might not be capable making enough pressure. We also recommend looking at the material the machine is constructed from, as stainless steel machines tend to be stronger and more durable, but come with a higher price tag.
Other factors to consider is whether the appliance will work with the source of heat you prefer (gas or electric) and any other accessories that are available, such as milk steamer wands that are used to heat and froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos. It is also worth considering the amount of cups you can prepare in one sitting, as this is a good way to determine the ideal size unit for you.
We would also suggest checking that the moka pot you are considering has an adequate base that will be able to fit on your preferred burner. Certain models, such as the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a base that is narrow that makes it difficult to align the machine on a gas burner. However, larger bases like those of the Bialetti venus and London Sip stovetop coffee makers, give better results. We also preferred models with thicker walls since this was found to transfer heat more effectively and prevent it from spreading out too fast.
2. Capsule
There are capsule coffee machines, which make use of pods to make cappuccinos, espressos, etc. This is an excellent option for those who don't want to have to deal with messing with brewing, grounds, and cleaning up afterwards - they provide a quick, simple and hassle-free method to get your caffeine fix in the morning.
You will have purchase the coffee pods separately. There are a variety of brands to choose from, such as Nespresso Dolce Gusto, and Tassimo. There are also a few different sizes to choose from, so you can suit the size of your cup and coffee type to your preference. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the most compact and is perfect for small space. It makes one cup of coffee at a time. You can also get a larger model that can handle larger cups, but they're more expensive.
Illy Iperespresso is a chic alternative for coffee snobs who are looking for a more sophisticated machine that produces better tasting coffee. It isn't the cheapest machine but it does produce excellent coffee and it's easy to use too. It has a clever function which allows it to automatically alter its settings in accordance with the type of pods it's using. This makes it one of the most adaptable machines, in our opinion.
If you're looking to explore the entire range of drinks you can make with a pod coffee machine it is recommended to look for a model that includes a milk carafe. This will let you experiment with lattes and cappuccinos. You can still make the most popular drinks using a capsule machine without a milk carafe, but it'll be more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you're considering purchasing a capsule machine, check that it is compatible with ESE pods. This will usually mean it has a basket or adapter to fit smaller pods. Certain machines in our range have this feature. This means that 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 manual espresso machines that are for purists. They resemble the original espresso machine, developed in Italy in the early 1900s. espresso coffee machines operate by manually pumping the water into a filter, then locking it, and then forcing the water under 9 bar of pressure to make shots.
Manual espresso makers are typically more labor-intensive than capsule machines. It is necessary to heat the water separately, pour it into the chamber over the coffee or pods that have been ground and then press the plunger or lever down to create pressure and force the liquid through the cup. This method can be 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 used in immersion circulators and high-end toasters. It is designed to stabilise the brewing temperature of the boiler. The benefit of this is that it takes away a lot of the guesswork around the ideal temperature for brewing and lets you dial in your espresso with precision.
There are a few major brands that make manual espresso makers, the likes of Rancilio and La Pavoni are familiar names to most people who will have worked in the cafe or coffee shop. They produce the massive three or two group-head commercial espresso machines that you would find in a cafe but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia, a semi-automatic, manual espresso machine with a few bells and whistles to take some of the hassle out of the brewing process.
Fully automatic espresso machines do all of the work for you, they grind the beans, tamp and then pull a shot and some will steam your milk all at the touch of a button but they will also cost you an astronomical amount of money so you need to have an adequate amount of cash to be able to afford one.
4. Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic machines are a great option if the idea of recreating the perfect espresso shot at your favorite cafe in your home is appealing to you. These coffee machines allow you to adjust your preferences as time passes and adjust your espresso drinks according to how you feel at any given time.
The machines come with a portafilter and steam wand. These machines share a similar brewing process to super automatics, however they require some manual steps like grinding the beans and putting in the portafilter. They also require more knowledge and skills to operate because the brewing process isn't controlled automatically.
A good semi-automatic will come with a portafilter that can be removed and a tamper that is capable of compressing the ground coffee inside of the portafilter prior to brewing. It also allows you to regulate the quantity of water and the pressure used during the brewing process. This means you can adjust your shots to your own preferences, and to the particular type of coffee bean that you are using.
A semi-automatic must also have the ability to control temperature that can be adjustable. This feature allows you to decide the brewing temperature for your coffee beans based on their taste. It will also help you avoid temperature swings, which is especially important when it comes to the boiler that brews the coffee. The brew temperature can fluctuate by up to 20oF between cups without a PID controller. With PID controllers this swing is limited to approximately 0.1oF.
Some of the top models will also include an milk frother to create espresso drinks based on milk. This will allow you to make delicious lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. The frothing jug should be able to be held comfortably and have an spout that makes pouring easy.
It is also recommended to choose a model with a removable filter basket and a system that automatically doses the grounds. This will help you avoid having to perform grinding and tamping manually on your own. It also makes cleaning the machine easier.