Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
If you're looking for the ultimate coffee experience, you can't beat an espresso machine. They are an effort of passion, but they also give you complete control over your coffee.
They usually come with an espresso tamper that helps flatten the grinds, and steamer to froth the milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Stovetop
We have a wide range of stovetop coffee makers that can assist you in making a perfect cup. In the UK there are 98 million cups of coffee are consumed every day. These machines, also referred to as moka pots use pressure to produce an espresso-like cup of coffee without the hassle of filter papers. These simple and easy to use appliances will enhance any coffee, and can be used with milk for cappuccinos or lattes.
The bottom chamber of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The coffee beans are placed in a basket between two pipes that connect to the upper chamber where the finished beverage will be served. When the water is boiling in the bottom, it forces its way through the grounds at high pressure and seeps up into the upper chamber where the aromas are released for you to enjoy. The end result is an aromatic strong, rich and robust coffee that is delicious by itself or paired with milk and sugar.
The most important thing to keep in mind when buying moka pots is the capacity of the unit. It is essential to make sure the size of the bottom chamber and the capacity of the basket is sufficient for your needs as larger pots will require a longer wait time, while a smaller one may not be able create enough pressure. We recommend that you also consider the material the machine is made of. Steel machines made of stainless steel are more durable and strong but they can cost more.
You should also consider whether the appliance is compatible with the heat source, whether it's electric or gas. Additionally, you might be interested in any other add-ons that are available, such as steamer arms for milk that are used to heat up and make frothy milk in cappuccinos as well as lattes. It is also worth considering the number of cups you are able to make in one sitting, as this is a good way to determine the right size for your needs.
We would also suggest checking that the moka pot you are considering has a wide enough base to fit on the burner you are considering. Some models, like the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a base that is narrow which makes it difficult to place the machine on a gas burner. However, larger bases such as those of the Bialetti venus and London Sip stovetop coffee makers, yield better results. We also preferred models with thicker walls because they were found to transfer heat more efficiently and prevent it from sputtering too fast.
2. Capsule
There are capsule coffee machines, which make use of pods to make cappuccinos, espressos, etc. If you're not a fan of making mess with grounds, cleaning and making coffee, this is the perfect solution for you.
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 various sizes available and you can pick the size and kind of coffee that best suits your preferences. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the most compact and is perfect for small space. It can make one cup of coffee at a time. A larger model is available that can also take larger cups but will cost more.
Illy Iperespresso is a stylish alternative for coffee lovers who are looking for a more sophisticated machine that produces better tasting coffee. It's not the cheapest machine however it produces a superb cup of coffee and is simple to use as well. It comes with a clever feature which allows it to automatically adjust its settings based on the brand of pods it is using. This makes it one of the most flexible machines in our opinion.
You should look for a model that comes with a milk cup if you want to try out the various drinks you can make with a pod machine. This will let you experiment with lattes and cappuccinos. You can still make the most well-known drinks using a capsule machine without a milk cup, but it's more of a hit-and-miss affair.
If you're considering buying a capsule, check that it is compatible with ESE pods. This usually means it comes with a basket, or adapter to fit these smaller pods. Some 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
These are manual espresso machines for those who prefer a more traditional approach. They resemble the original espresso machine, created in Italy in the early 1900s. They operate by manually pumping water into a filter, then locking it, and then forcing the water under pressure of 9 bar to make a shot.
Manual espresso makers are generally more labor-intensive than capsule machines. It is necessary to heat the water separately, then pour it into the chamber above pods or coffee that has been ground up, and then press the lever or plunger down to create pressure and push the liquid through the cup. This process can be complicated, time-consuming, and difficult 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 present in immersion circulators and high-end toasters. It is designed to stabilise the temperature of the boiler used to brew. The benefit of this is that it eliminates a lot of the guesswork around the optimum brewing temperature and allows you to adjust your espresso with accuracy.
There are a few big names that produce manual espresso makers, the likes of Rancilio and La Pavoni are familiar names to most people who will have worked in a coffee shop or cafe. They manufacture the huge three or two group-head commercial espresso machines you'd find in a cafe however in 1997 they introduced the Silvia which is a semi-automatic, manual espresso machine with a few bells and whistles to ease the burden out of the brewing process.
Fully automatic espresso machines do all of the work for you. best espresso maker grind the beans, tamp, and pull one shot, and steam your milk too all at the touch of a button. However, they can also cost quite a bit of money, so you need to have a decent bank balance to be capable of affording one.
4. Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic machines are a great option for you if the idea of recreating the perfect espresso shot from the cafe you love at home is appealing to you. These coffee machines allow you to tweak your preferences over time and dial in your espresso drinks based on the way you feel at any time.
The machines come with a portafilter and steam wand. The brewing process of these machines is similar to super automatics but with some added manual steps like grinding the beans and inserting them into the portafilter. These machines require more skills and know-how to operate because the brewing process is not automated.
A semi-automatic machine which is good will come with a removable filter and an tamper to compress the coffee grounds in the portafilter prior to making. It will also allow you to manage the amount of water and pressure that is used in the brewing process. You can then alter your shots based on your preferences and the kind of coffee beans you are using.
Another feature to look for in a semi-automatic coffee maker is an adjustable temperature control. This feature allows you to set the brewing temperature for your coffee beans in accordance with the way they taste. This will also allow you avoid temperature fluctuations. This is important particularly when it comes to the boiling brew. Without a PID control, the temperature of the brew can vary by as much as 20oF from one cup to the next. With a PID controller the swing is restricted to around 0.1oF.
Some of the more premium models may also include an milk frother to create espresso drinks that are based on milk. This will allow you to make delicious cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos. The frothing jug must be comfortable to hold and have a spout to make pouring easy.
It is also a good idea to choose an item with a filtering basket as well as an automated dosing system for the grounds. You will be able to not have to do the manual grinding and tapping yourself. This will make cleaning the machine much easier.