Choose the perfect coffee machine for you
Do you want to have as good an espresso at home as at the bar? Find out which coffee machine is best suited to your needs. Automatic machines grind the coffee, press and dose it and allow you to choose from many different types of beverages, whereas with manual machines you have to take care of the brewing. If you want an ‘American’ coffee, you can choose a filter coffee machine. If you are a lover of typical Italian coffee, the moka is the right machine for you. Finally, we have the lever machines that allow you to draw your own cup of coffee.
AUTOMATIC COFFEE MACHINE
An automatic coffee machine allows you to automatically manage the entire coffee preparation process from grinding the beans to the drink.
One of the main features is the presence of an integrated boiler water tank with a thermoblock system to quickly boil only the amount of water required for preparation, which is then sent by a pump to the infuser for coffee extraction.
Another feature is the integration of a system for grinding the beans and thus preserving the aroma.
The most modern products are equipped with touch control panels and LCD displays that make it easy and intuitive to prepare and customise a wide variety of drinks.
The first thing to do after switching on the machine is to fill the water tank and the coffee bean container. You then simply select the drink you want via the touch screen display and customise it in length, temperature and intensity of taste.
Some models also offer the possibility of using E.S.E. paper pods to be inserted in the classic filter holder.
To safeguard the use of the coffee machine over time, it is necessary to carry out cleaning operations. Clean internal parts such as the drip tray, coffee grounds container and water tank frequently.
Particular attention should be paid to the milk connection tubes to the steam wand, while external parts should be cleaned with a soft cloth.
Finally, it is necessary to start the liming cycle, which will be performed automatically by the machine when needed, procuring a suitable product.
The different designs allow the machines to adapt to any type of kitchen and save space. The customisation of drinks and time saving in the preparation of a coffee like the one in the bar together with easy cleaning are the advantages of automatic machines.
MANUAL COFFEE MACHINE
Manual coffee machines are designed to be used by coffee lovers, people who prefer to do everything with their hands: choosing the right blend, dosing, pressing coffee.
With a manual machine you can experiment, test yourself and improve your skills day after day.
The main feature is the presence of a filter holder where you can put the coffee ground and dosed by you. With a click or by turning a knob you can start and then stop the coffee brewing at will. The special pump then extracts the coffee naturally for a traditional, creamy espresso.
To ensure perfect operation over time, attention must be paid to maintenance and cleaning. Carefully choose water that is filtered, clean the removable parts such as the reservoir, filter holder and steam wand.
COFFEE PODS MACHINE
Pod and capsule coffee machines operate in a very similar way, the water is quickly brought up to temperature in the boiler and sucked by a pump that sends it under pressure to the infuser, which performs the same task for both but with a different system.
In one case it pierces the surface of the capsule with a needle and injects the boiling water inside, while in the other it passes the hot liquid through the pores of the paper filter of the pod.
The result is a coffee of comparable taste and creaminess.
They are the most practical machines because to make espresso you only have to insert the capsule and wait a few seconds for the water to heat up and then press a button to start brewing coffee.
The reservoir is easily removable to insert water and for cleaning and they have an automatic switch-off after a few minutes of non-use.
The only trick for perfect operation over time is a periodic descaling cycle.
Finally, if you are particularly concerned about the environment, E.S.E. pods are totally recyclable thanks to a porous filter paper casing like that of tea bags instead of being made of plastic or aluminium like capsules, and they also cost less.
LEVER COFFEE MACHINE
Lever-operated coffee machines are an original way to prepare coffee. It is you yourself who, by means of a lever, will have to pump and generate the necessary pressure to prepare your drink. You will have to control every aspect, from the grinding of the beans, to the correct amount to choose, to the pressure to apply and the right extraction time.
These machines are a bit tricky and require a lot of attention and you will have to get the hang of it, but once you perfect your technique you will get a much better coffee than any other.
The operation is like that of automatic machines, once the water is heated in the boiler, it runs through an intricate series of pipes until it reaches the arm. When the ‘barista’ lowers the lever, it reaches the filter holder where the coffee powder resides.
The main aspects to be monitored when preparing espresso coffee are the pressure and temperature of the water, which must comply with precise parameters. In some models there are indicators to have more control over the pressure during extraction.
Another fundamental detail is the density of the coffee powder, i.e. how finely the beans are ground as well as how much is pressed into the filter holder.
This is so that during extraction, the water can pass through the coffee powder without difficulty.
If you are the type of person who wants to explore and fully enjoy the experience of a real espresso coffee then lever machines are for you.
They have a classic look and their design makes them aesthetically appealing to display in the kitchen.
Their mechanical operation makes them more resistant to time and material wear while maintaining high levels of performance and product quality.
FILTER COFFEE MACHINE
The operation of filter coffee machines makes use of a filter that acts as a pass-through and creates a hot brew with water. Falling from above, it passes through the filter with the coffee into the container below.
In order to prepare a good coffee, one must start by carefully measuring the amount of powder to put inside. For approximately 180 millilitres of water we recommend using 65-70 grams of freshly ground coffee. Then pour the water into the special container inside the machine.
The grinding is a very important aspect for the taste of coffee, with a coarser grain the taste will be weaker while with a finer grain it will be bitter.
Filtering the beverage by gravity does not allow particles to pass through and does not promote the complete extraction of all the aromatic components of the coffee.
The result is a drink rich in caffeine, thanks to the longer process, but lacking the body and creaminess typical of espresso due to the absence of pressure.
One last recommendation, filter coffee should be savoured slowly and in a large cup.
MOKA
The moka pot is the classic coffee maker that everyone has at home and is very simple to operate. It has an unmistakable shape, dimensions according to capacity and is made of stainless steel or aluminium; it consists of two screwed parts, namely the lower compartment in contact with the heat source and to be filled with water, and the upper one where the coffee comes out.
The magic of the moka lies in its 3-chamber extraction process.
Placed on a heating plate, the moka needs (fresh) water in the lower boiler. Above, the ground coffee is placed in the filter between the water and the pot.
When the water in the lower chamber boils, the powerful steam causes a pressure of about 2 atmospheres that pushes the water up through the ground coffee in the filter and into the upper chamber, creating a smooth, aromatic extraction.
