25 Aug Guide to the different types of coffee machine
A good cup of coffee is an important part of our daily routines. We often travel to our favourite coffee shop just to get one, but what if we could make something just as good at home? In this guide, we look at three of the main types of coffee machines that you can use at home. We hope that this will help you in your pursuit of good coffee.
Capsule machines
In a way, the Nespresso machine has revolutionised how we drink coffee. They offer the immediacy and precision of an espresso machine while doing away with the need to buy expensive equipment. Most of the work is performed by the manufacturer, we simply have to turn it on and place the capsule inside.
Pod machines are affordable and are incredibly simple to use. They are to produce drinks that come close to espresso as they apply a similar method of pressure by pushing hot water through a small piercing in the top of the pod.
If you’re short of time and are looking for coffee with a crema, this is a great choice. While it is true that Nespresso machines don’t quite replicate barista-level machines, they do provide an affordable option for drinking coffee at home.
While most major coffee companies make pod machines, many smaller roasteries now offer capsules. There is a huge choice: everything from dark-roasted flavoured coffee to specialty-grade Panama gesha is available. The ease at which you can switch between coffees sets the Nespresso machine apart.
Espresso machines
The majority of coffees offered in cafés are espresso drinks. Whether you are ordering a flat white or an iced latté, the base of most of our favourite coffee drinks is espresso. Arguably, cafe culture as we know it came about through the rise in popularity of espresso coffee.
Its distinct rich, viscous coffee is difficult to confuse and even harder to replicate through other methods. Espresso machines are designed to be quick and to handle large volumes.
Despite this, they have become increasingly popular at home and most of the major manufacturers now make smaller machines designed with a domestic audience in mind.
Due to their specialised purpose and expensive components, espresso machines are generally very expensive. While commercial machines can apply 9 bars of pressure during extraction, most domestic ones can’t achieve this. Similarly, commercial machines have powerful steam wands that can aerate and heat your milk with precision.
While many domestic machines offer this, they struggle to produce that textured microfoam that you’re used to. Another consideration is that espresso machines require a grinder and tamper. Espresso machines require finely ground coffee — grinders that are capable of this are equally expensive.
While it would be a real luxury that drinks espresso at home, the reality is that it is hard to replicate that frothy cappuccino from your favourite coffee shop without spending a lot of money.
Photo: coffeefriend.co.uk
Filter machines
Automatic filter machines are popular both at home and in cafés. They are particularly good at producing a large volume of coffee, although they are relatively slow at brewing.
Depending on the machine, they often have thermos flasks or hotplates that can keep your coffee hot for a few hours. Domestic machines are generally smaller and suit brewing coffee for 2-6 people. They are perfect for brewing coffee in the morning for the whole family, or for drinking coffee with friends.
Filter machines are essential brewers that pour hot water over a bed of coffee. The brewed drink passes through a filter and into a vessel below. The filter is there to stop coffee grounds passing through with the brewed drink, it also filters out some of the coffee oils and gives the drink clarity.
There are many different types of filters, such as metal, cloth, or paper, the latter of which is the most popular. Though paper filters are generally reasonably priced, they do need to be restocked regularly. This can be frustrating if your local coffee shop doesn’t stock the right filters for your machine.
The kind of coffee that filter machines make is very different from espresso. It is far less acidic and intense. Filter machines are particularly suited to lighter, fruitier coffees. Unsurprisingly, this means that not all coffee drinkers like the taste of filter coffee. We would recommend you try it in a coffee shop and decide for yourself.
As there is no pressure involved, filter machines are much slower and typically take between three and eight minutes to finish brewing. If you’re on the patient side and prefer a cup of coffee with more clarity and less oomph, a filter machine may be perfect for you.
Conclusion
There has never been more ways of making a good cup of coffee at home. With so many companies selling barista machines, and capsule models like Nespresso machines, it can be hard to decide what would suit you best.
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense option that is similar to espresso, Nespresso machines are a great choice. Alternatively, a filter machine is great for drinking from low-intensity mugs of coffee with family or friends. While espresso is great, we think that it is both hard and expensive to replicate at home. We hope this guide has inspired you to try out these methods and decide for yourself.
