Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK

Espresso machines are the best way to have the best coffee experience. They're an act of passion, but they also give you complete control over your coffee.

They have an espresso tamper that can flatten the grinds, and steamers for frothing milk in cappuccinos and lattes.

1. Stovetop

We offer a variety of stovetop coffee makers to assist you in making a perfect cup. In the UK, approximately 98 millions cups of coffee are consumed every day. Known as moka pots, these devices utilize pressure to make espresso-like coffee without the need for messy filter papers. These simple and easy to use appliances will enhance any coffee and can also be used with milk to make cappuccinos or lattes.

The lower chamber of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The coffee beans are placed in a basket between two pipes that lead to the upper chamber where the final drink will be served. When the water is boiling in the bottom, it forces itself through the grounds at high pressure, and then flows into the upper chamber, where the aromas are released to you to enjoy. The result is a fragrant, rich and strong coffee that can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with sugar and milk.

When you are buying a mokapot the most important thing to take into consideration is the unit's capacity. It is important to make sure that the size of the bottom chamber and the capacity of the basket will be sufficient for your needs as a larger unit will require a longer wait time, while a smaller one may not be able to create enough pressure. We also suggest looking at the materials the machine is constructed from since stainless steel machines are more robust and durable, but they also come with a higher price tag.

You should also consider whether the appliance is compatible with your chosen heat source, whether it's electric or gas. Also, espresso home machine may want to look at any other add-ons that are available, such as steamer arms for milk that are used to heat and foam milk in cappuccinos and lattes. It is also worth considering the amount of cups you can prepare in one go, as this is a great method to determine the best size for your needs.

Lastly, we would recommend checking that the moka pot you are considering has a base that is wide enough to fit on your chosen burner. Certain models, such as the Stelton collar coffee maker have a very narrow base which makes it difficult to align the machine on a gas stove. 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 conduct heat more efficiently and avoid it from sputtering out too quickly.

2. Capsule

There are capsule coffee machines that make use of pods to create cappuccinos, espresso, etc. If you're not a fan of messing with grounds, cleaning, and making coffee this is the ideal alternative for you.

You will need to buy the coffee pods separately, but there is a wide selection on the market from brands like Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are a variety of different sizes available, so you can suit the size of your cup and the type of coffee to your personal preference. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the smallest and is ideal for small space. It can make one cup of coffee at a time. You can also get a larger model that can handle larger cups, however they are more expensive.

If you want a more sophisticated alternative that also makes better tasting coffee it is recommended to use the Illy Iperespresso is a chic shortcut for coffee snobs. It's not the most expensive machine, but it produces a great cup of coffee. It's also easy to use. It has a clever feature that allows it to automatically alter its settings in accordance with the brand of pods it is using. This makes it one of the most flexible machines in our opinion.

If you want to explore the wide range of drinks that you can make using a pod coffee maker It is worth looking for a model that includes a milk carafe. This will let you explore the possibilities of cappuccinos and lattes. You can still make these popular drinks with a capsule machine without a milk carafe but it'll be more of a hit-and-miss affair.

If you're interested in getting a capsule coffee machine be sure that it's marked as compatible with ESE pods. It will come with a basket or adapter that can be used with these smaller pods. Some machines in our range have this feature. This means that you can use the machine with Nespresso compatible pods and also Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pods.

3. Manual

They are manual espresso machines for those who prefer a more traditional approach. They resemble the original espresso machine invented in Italy in the early 1900s. They operate by pumping the water manually into a filter, securing it, and then pushing the water under pressure of 9 bar to create shots.

Manual espresso makers are typically more labor-intensive than capsule machines. It is necessary to heat the water separately, then pour it in the chamber above the coffee or pods that have been ground and then push the lever or plunger down to create pressure and push the liquid through into the cup. This process is complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to master, but the final 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 is a piece of technology you will find in immersion circulators, high-end toasters, and is designed to stabilize the temperature of the brew kettle. The benefit of this is that it takes away a lot of the guesswork regarding the ideal temperature for brewing and allows you to adjust your espresso with precision.

Rancilio, La Pavoni and other large names make manual espresso machines. Most people who have worked in a coffee shop or cafe will be familiar with these names. They make the large two or three group heads of commercial espresso machines you'd see in a coffee shop but in 1997 they created the Silvia, which is an automatic, semi-automatic espresso machine that comes with some bells and whistles to help alleviate some of the stress out of the coffee making process.

Fully automatic espresso machines do all the work for you, they grind the beans, tamp, and pull one shot, and steam your milk too all at the push of a button but they also cost a pretty penny so you need to have an adequate balance in your bank to be capable of affording one.

4. Semi-Automatic

If the thought of re-creating a perfect espresso shot from your favorite cafe at home is appealing to you and you want to replicate it, then a semi-automatic coffee machine is the right one for you. These machines let you alter your preferences as time passes and also adjust the amount of your espresso drink according to your mood at any given time.


They include a portafilter as well as steam wand. These machines have a similar brewing process to super automatics, however they require manual steps such as grinding beans and inserting the portafilter. They also require more knowledge and skills to operate since the brewing process is not controlled by a computer.

A good semi-automatic machine will have a removable portafilter and a tamper for firmly compressing the coffee grounds inside the portafilter before making. You can also adjust the amount and pressure of water used in the brewing process. You can then customize your shots according to your preferences and the kind of coffee beans you are using.

Another feature to look for in a semi-automatic machine is the ability to adjust the temperature. This feature allows you set the brewing temperatures for your coffee beans according to the way they taste. It also allows you to avoid fluctuations in temperature which is crucial in the case of the brew boiler. The brew temperature could vary by 20oF between cups if there is no PID controller. This fluctuation can be reduced to 0.1oF with a PID.

Some of the more premium models may also include the milk frother to make milk-based espresso drinks. This will allow you to make delicious lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. The frothing pitcher must be able to handle comfortably and an spout that allows for easy pouring.

It is also recommended to choose an option with a detachable filter basket and an automatic system to dose the ground. This will save you from needing to do manual tamping and grinding on your own. This will make cleaning the machine easier.