No one is surprised when a gearhead spends months picking out her perfect car, or when an interior designer agonises for weeks over the ideal paint colour for his living room; so, it should come as no surprise that a coffee lover’s espresso machine is just as important a decision.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely already in love with coffee. The taste of it, the smell, the ritual of making that first cup every morning. Coffee is likely your love language. Which means, you need the right tools to brew a cup that satisfies. Trust us, we get it.
Home coffee machines are a spectrum all their own, and one worth exploring if you’re picking out a new machine. Whether you’re making this investment for the first time or you’re replacing your old reliable, have a guide to help you select the right espresso machine for those early mornings, late nights, and lazy Sunday afternoons. Let’s dive right in.
Know Your Style
Every espresso machine is suited to a different kind of coffee maker, so make sure to kick things off with an honest inventory of your style. What kind of coffee do you enjoy making? Do you experiment with a lot of different flavours, or are you more of a one-cup person? Is black coffee your go-to, or is your cupboard stocked with syrups, sugars, and different kinds of milk?
All of these things will impact which espresso machine is going to be the best fit for you, both now and in the future. Here are a few quick questions to consider:
· Roughly how many coffees will you be making each day?
· Do you make latte art (or do you want to learn)?
· Where do you source your coffee?
· How experienced are you with making coffee, or how much do you want to learn?
· How fastidious are you with your coffee-making process (i.e. are scales involved, or do you tend to wing it by feel)?
· How much maintenance are you comfortable with?
Altogether, the answers to these questions can guide you to the right vertical of home coffee machines. T
Understand the Main Espresso Machine Types
‘Espresso machine’ is more of a catch-all term for a variety of different machines. So, once you’ve conducted your inventory, you can use your answers to narrow the field and select the right type of machine. Here’s a quick review to get you started:
1. Manual espresso machines are for the purists who want full control and a mechanical pour, to feel out the balance of each cup (like our GS3 MP espresso machine).
2. Semi-automatic machines walk the line between convenience and experience, so you can still experience the ritual of making the perfect cup with a little help from built-in technology (like our GS3 AV).
3. Automatic machines are all about one-touch work, so you do most of the work brewing up a unique beverage after the shot has been pulled.
4. Capsule or pod machines, which are very easy to use, but come with limitations and drawbacks in sustainability and coffee quality.
Dive Into Your Reviews
Finally, no one knows home coffee machines better than other coffee lovers. If you’re still stuck in a sea of potential options and you need a way out, let reviews from fellow home baristas be your guiding light. They’ve taken the time to test out a particular machine, put it through its various paces, and share their opinion with the world. In other words, if there’s anyone you should trust as part of your search, it’s them.
If you’ve already narrowed your search, you can find reviews on websites for particular machines. But if you’re still keeping an open mind, then sites like Reddit, Youtube or coffee-focused forums are great places to look.
Ultimately, there is no wrong answer. Home coffee machines are a lot like vehicles or homes; everyone has their perfect match somewhere. The key is to take your time, explore your options, and find the espresso machine that not only aligns with everything practical but also fills you with that sense of rightness, or familiarity. The ‘ah, I’ve been waiting for you’ moment.
Once you’ve found it, trust us, there’s no going back.
Find your perfect match with La Marzocco
Seeking out the espresso machine that will stay with you for years to come? Trust the generational Italian engineering passed down from the old masters. Explore the La Marzocco range of at-home models to find the machine that’s been waiting for you.
