How to Choose an Espresso Machine in the UK

98 million cups of coffee are consumed in the UK every day and you can easily make your own at home using an espresso machine. There are models to suit all budgets, and they come in different price ranges.

It's simple to use using a panel of four buttons, it's suitable for beginners and can use either ground coffee or ESE pods. You can also select between two or one cups.

Automated tamping systems

It is crucial to ensure consistency in the preparation of your espresso. This will keep customers coming back to the cafe. An automatic tamper is the ideal method to achieve this. It won't completely eliminate all the skills required to be a great barista but it will definitely aid in speeding the time you serve.

A tamp that is good quality should be level and apply constant pressure. It is essential to ensure that the coffee is evenly packed. Otherwise it won't be able to be able to pass through. It is crucial to use the right amount of pressure when tamping. This can result in uneven extractions and weaker tasting coffees. There are a myriad of tampers to choose from and some are superior to others. Choose one that gives you a consistent level of tamp.

Automatic tampers are designed to eliminate the guesswork involved in this process. They offer a certain level of accuracy and even tamping each time. This is especially beneficial in high-volume environments where tamping can get complicated. Automated tampers can assist you in reducing time and effort, while also ensuring that your espresso gets properly tamped.

The best automatic tampers have an indicator on the bottom that shows millimetre increments. This makes it easy to set them up to the proper size and guarantee consistency. You can adjust the tamping force to be in line with the force you apply when grinding your beans. Some Tampers come with an optional handle for securing it.

Ninth Phase's Rhino coffee tamper features an elongated stainless steel base that screws into an aluminium handle, making it strong and durable. It is made of materials that can endure the pressures of daily use in a bustling commercial setting. The Puq Press is another option with a similar design to the Rhino tamper, with a weighted base and an indicator on the side of the tamper, which shows millimetre increments that can be adjusted to a precise point.

Thermojet water heating system

Thermojet systems are efficient and fast, allowing you start making coffee right away. They can reach their optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, and are ready to brew immediately. They use up to 32% fewer energy compared to Thermoblocks. This system is utilized on all high-end machines, such as the Barista Touch Impress or the Barista Pro.

The heat exchanger is a crucial element in the espresso machine. It ensures that the water remains at a steady temperature to allow steaming and brewing, even after long periods of time. The heat exchanger not only guarantees consistent temperatures, but also produces the rapid steam that is typical of an espresso machine. It is typically made of brass or copper and is the main water container in an espresso machine.

The majority of modern espresso machines come with an electric boiler that is heated with either a Thermocoil or a Thermoblock. The Thermoblock is more efficient and economical, is the gold standard of professional espresso machines. Thermoblocks have a higher durability and reliability than Thermocoils. However each has its own drawbacks. Thermocoils tend to be more susceptible to blockage than Thermojets to blockage, and require regular descaling. Thermojets come with a built-in system that minimizes the descaler's need.

The thermojet system heats up the portafilter to the right temperature for extraction whenever the next batch is loaded into it. This is an important step in the brewing process, as it will ensure that your espresso has a smooth taste and texture. The Thermojet is also more efficient than Thermoblock. This is a fantastic feature for any espresso maker.

Thermojet is a heating system which makes use of a copper wire coiled inside the boiler to warm the water to prepare for brewing and steaming. It is extremely efficient at keeping a constant temperature and is simple to maintain for better tasting coffee. Thermojet is available on many of the top all-in-one espresso machines, such as the Sage and Breville Barista Express.

Auto MilQ system

The Auto MilQ system automatically texturizes the milk to produce soft, smooth micro-foams for latte arts. It is ideal for people who don't want to waste time frothing milk manually. It comes with three different milk settings, including Dairy Almond and Soy. It will automatically adjust the temperature, pressure and duration to ensure that the milk is properly textured.

This machine also has an automatic tamping feature. It is easy-to-use and will tell you if you have tamped enough grounds or not. This will save you from the mess and ensure you have the correct amount of ground coffee in your portafilter. The machine will also inform you whether it's necessary to grind coarser or finer so that it can make an even espresso.

In addition to the amazing features of tamping, the Barista Touch Impress also comes with a clever auto steam wand. The ThermoJet heating technology lets the machine to reach the ideal extraction temperature in only three seconds. This means that you'll be able to make your morning coffee faster than ever before.


The Barista Touch Impress allows you to choose several drinks unlike other machines that only allow you to make one drink at a time. It also comes with a built-in grinder from Baratza that uses precise burrs made of steel that has been hardened. The machine is simple to maintain and clean, with a quick rinsing process and a handy waste filter basket.

best espresso maker Links to an external site. is also loaded with user-friendly features like barista guidance, real-time feedback, and an LCD color. Its Impress Puck system uses sophisticated dosing technology, precise measurement and assisted tamping to produce pucks that are near perfect.

The Barista Touch comes with a smart auto steam wand which automatically froths the milk to form silky, smooth micro foam. It comes with three different texture settings to suit your personal preferences and is compatible with all milk types such as almond, dairy, soy, and oat. It also comes with a brand new Auto MilQ feature that optimizes the temperature and texture of milks derived from plants similar to a barista.

Multiple steam wands

The steam wand, also known as the steam nozzle, is a nozzle made of thin metal which releases hot steam under pressure into your milk. This is used to make cappuccinos and lattes. It is also a vital component of a coffee machine, because it heats and gives texture to the milk for your beverage. A machine that is well-equipped will have several steam wands. This lets you prepare several jugs at once. This can help you to save time and money.

The number of steam wands in an espresso machine depends on the number of groups within the machine. In general, machines with one group have just one steam wand. Machines with 3 or more groups will have two. Having multiple steam wands is crucial, particularly for operations that are high volume. This will allow you to increase productivity and efficiency in your bar and will allow you to serve more customers at once.

Steam wands are available in a variety of tips with different amounts of holes. The more holes there are, the faster the milk will be heated. The tip should also have an ergonomic grip made of rubber to avoid burning of your fingers. It should also have an ON button or knob so you can switch it on and off with ease.

The majority of coffee machines utilize one boiler to warm water for brewing and to boil milk. This means that the machine needs to be warm for a few minutes before it can switch between steaming and brewing modes. This can lead to problems due to the fact that the temperature needed for brewing isn't always the same as the temperature required for steaming. Additionally the boiler can expel (usually small) quantities of the brewed water into the steam wand which can make the milk taste less watered-down.

The growing popularity of plant-based milks is putting more pressure on coffee shops to make top-quality milk-based drinks. This can lead to backlogs of milk that can impact on the productivity of the coffee shop. A majority of traditional espresso machines have enough groups for one jug of milk at the same time, which can cause delays in the process. However, the advent of modular equipment has allowed to increase the number of group handles and steam wands in coffee shops.