Automatic home espresso machines

Designed to be convenient, quick and easy to use and maintain, automatic espresso machines can create a variety of coffee drinks, including delicious cappuccino and latte.

There are three degrees of automation:

semi-automatic espresso machines – an electric pump creates the required pressure and pumps water through the coffee, only stopping when the machine is turned off by the user.

fully-automatic espresso machine – similar to the semi-automatic except it doesn't require the user to turn it on and off.

super-automatic espresso machines – combines the fully-automatic machine with a coffee grinder and other special features.

The main issue with choosing an automatic espresso machine is the bar pressure. Pressure forces water through the coffee, drawing out flavour and aroma, making the degree of pressure vital to the finished product.15 bars of pressure is recommended

Other considerations to take into account when choosing your automatic espresso machine are the amount and type of features included. Timers, digital displays, the ability to automatically adjust the coffee dosage and the type of portafilter the machine has. The portafilter is the handle holding the basket with the coffee in it and there are two types:

pressurised – which takes the guess-work out of how fine the ground coffee need to be; and

commercial-style – which will give a more professional brew, more like the espresso in coffee shops.

So, can a home-made espresso really taste as good as commercially-made coffee?

Yes. Made in an automatic espresso machine with commercial-style portafilter, and with a bit of practice and patience, your espressos will soon taste just as good as those made by a professional Barista.

Cleaning your machine

Automatic espresso machines were originally designed to be a convenient, inexpensive and simple alternative to professionally-made espressos. As a consequence, cleaning tends to be much easier than you may think. Major manufacturers compete incessantly to be the best, regularly adding features to create the most convenient machine. The main beneficiary of these advancements is the super-automatic espresso machine which can now dispose of the coffee grinds itself, into an internal bin. They offer automatic cleaning and de-scaling making the whole process a wonderfully tasty experience.

Popular models

There are many models on the market, ranging in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Manufacturers include Expobar, Gaggia, Francis Francis, Saeco and Capresso. Some of the popular inexpensive models include:

The Gaggia Classic is an attractive, stainless steel machine offering 17 bars of pressure. At around $600, this is an affordable addition to any kitchen.

For $760, the Rancilio Silvia makes a great cup of coffee. Made of solid stainless steel with a commercial filter handle, this is a robust and popular machine.

Just $500 can buy you the semi-automatic Mokita Junior II with stainless steel body and 15 bars of pressure. How about the Mokita Napolitana II, with 15 bars of pressure and built-in conical grinder, all for just $750.

For less than $500 you can pick up the Solis SL70, with large water tank and 19 bars of pressure, this is a true bargain brewer.