Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK

If you're seeking the ultimate coffee experience, there's no better than an espresso machine. They're a labor of passion, but they also give you complete control over your coffee.

They usually have an espresso tamper to smooth the grinds and steamers to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

1. Stovetop

There are 98 million cups of coffee consumed in the UK every day. We have a wide selection of espresso makers that can be used on stovetops to help you brew a great cup of coffee. Also known as moka pots, these machines use pressure to create an espresso-like cup of coffee without the need for messy filter paper. They are a simple, easy-to-use device that can be used to improve any kind of coffee and can be combined with milk to make cappuccinos and lattes.

Moka pots come with a bottom chamber which is filled with water and the coffee is placed in a basket between two pipes which lead to the upper chamber where the finished beverage is served. As the water boils in the bottom, it forces itself through the grounds under high pressure, and then flows into the upper chamber, where the aromas are released for you to take pleasure in. The end result is a fragrant, rich and strong coffee that is delicious on its own or mixed with milk and sugar.

When buying a mokapot, the most important factor to think about is the pot's capacity. It is crucial to make sure that the size of the bottom chamber and the capacity of the basket are adequate for your needs since larger units will require a longer waiting time, while a smaller one may not be able create enough pressure. We also suggest looking at the material that the machine is made of since stainless steel machines tend to be sturdier and more durable however they come with a higher price tag.

Other things to consider is how the appliance will function with your chosen heat source (gas or electric) and any extra accessories that are available like milk steamer wands that are used to heat and froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos. You might also want to consider the number of cups you can make at one time and this could be a helpful factor when selecting the right size for your needs.

In the end, we recommend making sure that the moka maker you are considering has a wide enough base to fit on your chosen burner. Certain models, such as the Stelton collar coffee maker, have a base that is narrow 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, provide better results. We also preferred models that had thicker walls, since this was found to transfer heat more effectively and prevent it from spreading out too fast.


2. Capsule

In a similar vein to the stovetop models, there are capsule coffee makers that can make cappuccinos, espresso and more by using pods. If you don't like cleaning grounds, cleaning, and brewing this is the best alternative for you.

You'll need to purchase the coffee pods separately. There are a variety of brands to choose from, including Nespresso Dolce Gusto, and Tassimo. There are a variety of sizes to choose from and you can pick the size and kind of coffee that best suits your taste. The smallest model is the Nespresso Essenza Mini, which is perfect for small spaces and can make one cup at one time. You can also get a larger model that can handle larger cups, but they are more expensive.

Illy Iperespresso offers a stylish alternative for coffee snobs who want a more sophisticated machine that makes better tasting coffee. It's not the cheapest machine, but it produces a great cup of coffee. It's also very easy to use. It also comes with an intelligent feature that lets it recognize the brand of coffee it's using and automatically adjusts its settings to match it, making it one of the most versatile machines in our opinion.

You should choose 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 most popular drinks with capsule machines, but it will be a hit-and-miss affair.

If you're interested in getting capsule coffee machines be sure that it's marked as compatible with ESE pods. It will come with an adapter or basket that can be used with these smaller pods. Some of the machines we offer have this feature, which means you can use them with Nespresso compatible pods, as well as Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods.

3. Manual

Like the name suggests, these are espresso machines intended for those who are a bit more strict. They look similar to the OG espresso machine, which was invented in Italy in the early 1900's. They operate by pumping water manually into the portafilter before locking it and forcing water under 9 bars of pressure creating a shot of espresso.

A manual espresso maker is often more of a labor of passion than a capsule machine since they require you to heat the water in a separate manner from the coffee, pour it into the chamber above the ground coffee or pods and then press down on the plunger or lever to create pressure and push the water through and into the cup below. This method 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 high-end immersion circulators as well as toasters. It is designed to stabilize brew boiler temperatures. The beauty of this is that it eliminates much of the guesswork regarding the optimum brewing temperature and allows you to adjust your espresso with precision.

There are several big names that produce manual espresso makers, the likes of Rancilio and La Pavoni are familiar names to many who have worked in the cafe or coffee shop. They manufacture the huge three or two group head commercial espresso machines that you see in a coffee shop but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia, an automatic, semi-automatic espresso machine that comes with some bells and whistles to help take some of the hassle out of the making process.

Fully automatic espresso machines do all of the tasks for you, they grind the beans, tamp and then pull a shot and some will steam your milk too all at the press of a button. However, they can also cost an astronomical amount of money therefore you'll need an adequate balance in your bank to be able to afford one.

4. Semi-Automatic

Semi-automatic machines are the best choice if the idea of recreating the perfect espresso shot from the cafe you love at home appeals to you. These machines let you adjust your preferences over time, and dial in your espresso drink according to your mood at any moment.

These machines are outfitted with a portafilter, and steam wand. The brewing process of these machines is similar to superautomatics, but with added manual steps like grinding the beans and inserting them into the portafilter. They also require more knowledge and skills to operate since the brewing process isn't controlled by a computer.

A good semi-automatic will have a removable portafilter and a tamper to help in compressing the ground coffee inside the portafilter before brewing. It will also allow you to regulate the quantity of water and the pressure that is used in the brewing process. You can also alter the shots according to your preferences and the type of coffee beans you are using.

Another thing 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. It also allows you to avoid temperature fluctuations, which is especially important in the case of the boiler that brews the coffee. Without a PID controller the temperature of the brew can vary by up to 20oF from one cup to the next. With espresso machine coffee is restricted to around 0.1oF.

Some of the most expensive models also come with the milk frother to make milk-based espresso drinks. This will allow you to make delicious lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. The frothing container should be able to be held comfortably and have an spout that makes pouring effortless.

It is also an excellent idea to select an item with a filtering basket as well as an automated dosing system for grounds. This will help you avoid having to perform manual tamping and grinding on your own. This will make cleaning the machine much easier.