Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker

If you are looking for a big pot of drip coffee or an espresso, a coffee maker or espresso maker is a must for your kitchen. At Target we offer a wide selection of designs and features to meet your needs.

High pressure pushes water into ground beans within seconds. The grounds are then compacted evenly and interlock them.

Here are a few examples of


When purchasing a coffee maker or espresso machine, there are numerous aspects to take into consideration. The most important are the features that determine its function and its suitability to your requirements. Consider features that offer convenience, improve the quality of your drink and allow for customization of your beverage.

Espresso and coffee makers aren't difficult to make. For instance the traditional Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer which uses an insulated pot that slowly drips water over ground beans. Certain models have more advanced features, like a double boiler that allows you make espresso and frothed or steaming milk at the same time. Digital displays can also alert you when your water tank needs to be topped up or when it's time to remove or descale the grounds bin, and when other maintenance tasks are due.

Modern espresso and coffee makers use a similar brewing method that involves pouring hot water over ground or pre-ground beans. They're usually designed to automatically stop brewing at the appropriate time, so that you can have an iced cup every morning. Certain models allow you to choose the strength you prefer to brew and some come with adjustable temperature settings for optimal flavor.

The top of the line of coffee and espresso machines is the super-automatic, which is designed to do everything for you. These machines usually come with a built in grinder so that they can grind and brew coffee with fresh beans. They'll usually include an additional steam wand to make cappuccinos and lattes. You may also select from a variety of beverages including hot chocolate from their menu.

If you live in smaller kitchens, consider an ultra-compact model to make use of less counter space. If you have multiple members of your household who each have different preferences in their coffee Consider getting a multi-cup machine that can accommodate different sizes of cups. If you're a coffee or espresso connoisseur, look for models that let you alter the strength of your brew and water-to-coffee ratio, so you can have the perfect cup every time.

When you are looking for a new coffee and espresso machine, a good warranty and prompt service are crucial factors to consider. The warranty period varies from one to three years depending on the manufacturer.

Ease of Use

You require more than a basic drip-filter maker to make a coffeehouse style beverage at home. For espresso, water that is under pressure is pushed at a high speed through finely ground beans. The result is a few "shots" of caffeine with a thick, creamy crema that is topped with. The majority of espresso and combination coffee machines employ a portafilter, steaming arm, and basket for this process, whereas others rely on pre-packaged coffee pods or filters, or permit you to grind and measure beans by hand.

The type of machine you pick will depend on how spacious and hands-on you want to make it. Manual machines provide the most control but require a lot of effort: you'll have to grind the coffee beans, hand-tamp it, and then pull your shots. Semiautomatic models can take one or two steps out of the process, like grinding and tamping, but require more work than an automatic machine. Fully automatic espresso makers can make a full pot of drip coffee or an entire espresso cup with just the click of a button.

You'll also want to consider whether you're brewing for just one or more people. Certain models, like the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, can brew up to three cups of coffee or espresso simultaneously. This is a great way to meet your coffee-drinking needs in the morning however it might not be the best option if you're making for crowds.

A coffee and espresso maker with a dual boiler allows you to simultaneously brew and steam milk, meaning you don't have to wait for one process to cool before the other starts. This feature is particularly useful when you are planning to make lattes and cappuccinos.

It is less likely that a coffee and espresso machine that has removable reservoirs will accumulate mineral deposits. You'll need to regularly clean your reservoir but it will also save you time as you don't have to pour out and re-fill the entire pot of water. Another reason that can contribute to mineral build-up is the hardness of the water you drink: A water that is harder to soften produces more dissolved minerals, which makes your machine need descaling more often. Water that is soft or filtered is more gentle to use and decreases the frequency of descaling.

Ease of Cleaning

For many home owners the espresso or coffee maker is a major investment. It requires regular maintenance to ensure it is operating at its peak and lasts as long as is possible. Cleaning the carafe and other components that can be removed from an espresso machine or drip coffee maker, is a crucial part of maintenance. Use espresso machines for home or a descaling solution once every week to maintain the appliance. Certain models have sensors that light up when it's time to clean.

While vinegar is great for countertops and sinks but the acidity could damage the rubber seals and other components of your espresso and coffee maker, thereby limiting its lifespan. Many brands--including Lavazza and Smeg--recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your machine as it could invalidate the warranty.

To clean your espresso machine or coffee maker, first remove the portafilter as well as the basket from the group. With the nylon brush or scrubby pad, clean any coffee grounds from the portafilter as well as the basket. Clean them thoroughly with hot water, and dry them using a clean towel. Next, sanitize the brew group by inserting a clean tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush application. You can also manually backflush your machine by placing a tablet of cleaning solution inside the portafilter, turning on the brewing program after which you will have to stop for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you can see a steady flow of water. This means that the machine is properly descaled.

The brew group mesh must be soaked up by the water as it flows through the espresso machine. If the mesh is dirty, it may get blocked by coffee residue, which can negatively affect the extraction process. To ensure that the mesh is always in good working order, Calatrello recommends unscrewing it once a month cleaning it with a brush and soaking it overnight in hot water using an anti-bacterial tablet that is dissolved in it.

If you have a fully automated coffee maker and espresso maker, you can clean your machine by dismantling the water reservoir and filling it up with fresh water, adding a cleaning tablet and running a backflush programmer. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the pot and water reservoir to remove any residue and stains. Before reassembling the appliance, you'll need to wash and dry the carafe as as the reservoir of water.

Ease of Maintenance

If you want to make a quick espresso or cup of coffee on the go, opt for an automated model that doesn't require any action from you. These models typically have an insulated basket that holds ground coffee beans and water that's warmed to the ideal temperature and is then released into the ground and it is brewed in one shot.

These machines are great for those who love the process of making coffee, but don't want to spend hours learning the techniques and skills needed to create the best tasting drinks. These machines are easy to use and easy to clean. The results are similar to a drip coffee maker.

To maintain your machine be sure to clean the grounds that are used from the portafilter after each use and clean the portafilter and grouphead. In addition, you'll need to backflush your machine every so often. This is accomplished by locking the portafilter in the grouphead and running the brew cycle for a few times until the water runs clear. This is a task that coffeehouses do at the end of every day, but one that home owners can easily perform every few days or alternatively, every week using detergent to give it a deeper clean.

Finally, you'll need to clean the steam wand and the milk reservoir regularly--we recommend this once a month. To do this, you just wipe the entire surface of the machine using vinegar and warm soapy water (check the product manual beforehand since some manufacturers recommend against using vinegar). It is also recommended to change your filter often because hard water tends to create more mineral residue than soft or filtrated. This could cause your espresso and coffee maker to stop working or have a distinct taste. To keep this from happening, buy an espresso and coffee maker with the test of water hardness.