Do you want to drink delicious a espresso or cappuccino at home, just like they serve you in the café around the corner?

With a good coffee machine, you can make as much quality coffee as you would like, from your own home. It can sometimes be hard to know what to look for in a machine, since there are so many on the market.

With the right basic knowledge about coffee machines, this task can be simplified, something we would like to help you with! 

Different kinds of coffee machines

There are different kinds of coffee machines: full-automatic coffee machines, half-automatic coffee machines, pad systems and cup systems. Each kind has it’s own advantages, depending on how you use the machine.

What to look for when buying a full-automatic coffee machine

When buying a full automatic coffee machine, it is a big investment. The machine provides quality coffee for a fair price, depending on which brand you use. The price for the coffee machine itself can vary from 300 euros to over 1200 euros. The material has the biggest influence on the price. While a cheaper machine will function just fine, the outside of the machine is usually made out of plastic. With the more expensive machine, the outside is made out of RVS, which is easier to clean and usually looks a bit better as well.

Another important factor is the boiler. Some machines have one boiler, others use two. If you would like to make a espresso and at the same time froth your milk, it would be smart to invest in a machine which has a double boiler. A machine with a single boiler doesn’t have enough power to provide pressure for the espresso as well as lots of power for the frothing of the milk.

What to look for when buying a half-automatic coffee machine

When buying a half-automatic coffee machine, you guarantee yourself of a authentic cup of espresso or lungo. But only if you master the technique. With a half-automatic coffee machine you can really feel like a barista at home! You have to grind the beans yourself, froth the milk with a steam wand and make sure the machine adds the right amount of water. Before buying a half-automatic machine you should consider if it is worth the practice for you, especially with making cappuccino or latte drinks.

If you do decide to buy a half-automatic machine of good quality, this can really be a life long investment, so it is definitely worth the practice.  

What to look for when buying a cup or pad system coffee machine

If you like your coffee quick and easy, a cup or pad system can be the perfect kinds of coffee machines. By pressing a button you have a decent cup of espresso or lungo, with the use of capsules or pads filled with coffee. With these kinds of machines it can be very difficult to decide what kind of brand you want to buy, since every brand offers the same product, just with a different product id. Keep in mind that if the name of the product is for example Gran Maestria, the different brands who offer this product, actually offer the same product. The product might very slightly in design, but eventually it uses the same materials and delivers the same quality.