Cheapest vs Expensive Espresso Machine
Over the course of about two months I tried four different espresso machines to learn about making it at home.
Check out the video for our initial impressions!
Here’s the key things I learned:
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“Fake Espresso” Machines
While all of the machines I purchased claimed to be espresso machines, only one of them truely came out of the box ready to make real espresso. Only two of them were actuallly capable of making real espresso shots with modification. Turns out, real espresso requires an extremely fine grind for the beans AND the large majority of ginders aren’t up to espresso grind standards - they simply grind too coarsely (and somewhat unevenly). To make up for this blind spot in the market, a lot of espresso machines operate at a higher pressure (12-20 bar) over what a normal espresso machine uses, and they use something called a double wall basket to create the proper conditions for crema (carbon dioxide) to form. You end up with more of a concentrated coffee like you’d see in a Bialetti Moka Maker. But it’s not real espresso, it doesn’t taste as fully extracted and lacks the same thickness of a real espresso. The machines that I purchased that made this “fake espresso” were the De’Longhi EC680M and the Mr. Coffee Espresso Maker. To me I don’t think these machines were worth it, but if you can’t afford a high quality espresso grinder then you have no choice unfortunately BUT to use these. If you were to put espresso grind in these machines, then they won’t even be able to push through the espresso. Now the De’Longhi EC680M does have after market single wall baskets you can buy, but you’ll always have the higher 15 bar pressure (9 bar is the norm), which will end up giving you a less appealing, harsher taste no matter what. The Gaggia Classic Pro actually comes stock with a 12 bar pressure spring as well. Gaggia knows most purchasers will only have a regular coffee grinder so they are setting you up for success with the double wall basket and the higher pressure…. but you CAN modify this machine. Once it’s modified with this 9 bar spring (ebay link), you can enjoy real espresso.
Espresso Grinders are expensive
Your bodum coffee grinder won’t be able to cut it for espresso… it’s just not designed for super fine grinds. It’s apparently very difficult to gear a grinder for both espresso fineness and coffee coarseness. However, the grinder I settled on after weeks of research is the Eureka Mignon Facile, you can see it used in all of my coffee videos. There are WAY more expensive grinders out there, but the facile is one of the cheaper ones with stripped out features (they took out the auto grind timer to cheapen it). I find its actually perfect for espresso because it grinds finely, relatively cheap, and QUIET - it’s very quiet and won’t wake anyone up. Compared to my bodum coffee grinder the facile is like a silenced weapon! There’s no way around it, if you want real espresso you are going to have to get a dedicated espresso grinder, with the caveats of getting a machine that actually uses the standard 9 bar pressure.
Be prepared for a learning curve
Great espresso, unlike coffee doesn’t happen overnight. From frothing the milk perfectly, to timing the shots, to weighing your beans it all takes practice. Drip coffee is monkey level easy compared to espresso. Because you are essentially creating a super concentrated version of coffee under specific conditions, any flaws become easily detected. If you coffee is too sour or bitter, it could be due to a multitude of factors including grinding too fine or coarse, the machine not at the right temperature (195-205F), to the roast level of the beans. Not to mention after making espresso for months, every morning’s humidity and temperature changes how the espresso comes out and requires minor adjustments. Most professional coffee shops also dial in their machines in the morning, and by the afternoon their espresso doesn’t taste the same. This is not to scare you - it’s to prepare you. However, once you get a method and practice - being able to produce a lovely americano or latte is a wonderful feeling and your desire for just regular watery coffee will most likely die.
If you’ve gotten this far, you can find my Espresso Starter Page on Amazon to get an idea of machines I’d look at for starting.
