Espresso Machines - The Best Espresso Makers in the UK
Espresso machines are the most effective way to have the best coffee experience. They are an effort of passion, but they also give you complete control over the coffee you drink.
They typically have an espresso tamper to flatten the grinds, and a steamer to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Stovetop
There are around 98 million cups of coffee consumed in the UK every day and we have a fantastic range of espresso makers that can be used on stovetops to help you make a great cup of coffee. Also known as moka pots, these machines make use of pressure to produce an espresso-like cup of coffee without the need for any messy filter papers. They are a simple and user-friendly device that can enhance any coffee and can be used with milk to make cappuccinos and lattes.
The bottom of the moka pot is filled with hot water. The ground coffee is placed in a basket, which is between two pipes that lead to the upper chamber, where the final drink will be served. As the water in the lower chamber boils, it is pushed through the coffee grounds under high pressure. The aromas are released into the upper chamber as the water flows upwards. The result is a smoky, aromatic coffee that can be consumed on its own or paired with sugar and milk.
The most important thing to bear in mind when buying a moka pot is the capacity of the pot. It is important that you examine the dimensions of the bottom as well as the capacity of your basket. A larger pot might require a longer waiting time, whereas a smaller unit might not be capable of building up enough pressure. We recommend that you take a look at the material that the machine is made from. Stainless steel machines are more durable and strong however they cost more.
Other considerations are how the appliance will function with the source of heat you prefer (gas or electric) and any additional accessories that are available, such as steamer wands for milk that are used to heat and froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. You may also want to take a look at the amount of cups you can make at once, as this can be a useful factor in choosing the correct size for your needs.
Lastly, we would recommend checking that the moka pot you are considering has an adequate base that will fit on the burner you are considering. We discovered that certain models, such as the Stelton espresso maker with a collar, had a narrow base and were difficult to place on a gas burner while wider bases, like those of the Bialetti Venus and London Sip stovetop espresso makers, gave better results. We also preferred those with thicker walls as they were found to carry heat more efficiently and prevent it sputtering too quickly.
2. Capsule
In a similar vein to stovetop models there are capsule coffee makers which make cappuccinos, espresso and more by using pods. If you aren't a fan of cleaning grounds, cleaning, and making coffee this is the best solution for you.
You'll need to purchase the coffee pods separately, however there are a variety available from brands like Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. There are best budget espresso machine , so you can choose the size and type of coffee that is best for your taste. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the most compact and is perfect for small spaces. It makes one cup of coffee at one time. You can also get a larger model that can take larger cups, but they're more expensive.
For a more sophisticated option that also produces better tasting coffee, the Illy Iperespresso is an elegant shortcut for coffee snobs. It's not the cheapest machine however it produces a superb cup of coffee, and is easy to use as well. It also comes with a clever feature that lets it recognise the type of pod it's using and automatically adjusts its settings accordingly, making it among the most versatile in our opinion.
If you want to explore the full menu of drinks you can make with a pod-based coffee maker It is worth looking for a model with a milk carafe. This will allow you to experiment with cappuccinos, lattes and a variety of other drinks. You can still make popular drinks using a capsule machine, but it will be a more hit-and-miss affair.
If you're thinking of buying a capsule, check that it is compatible with ESE pods. This typically means it comes with a basket or adapter that can be used to accommodate smaller pods. Some of the machines we offer have this feature, meaning you can use them with Nespresso compatible pods as well as Dolce Gusto or Tassimo pods.
3. Manual
These are manual espresso machines for purists. They look like the OG espresso machine, which was invented in Italy in the early 1900's and operate by pumping water manually into a portafilter before locking it and forcing water to 9 bars of pressure creating a shot of espresso.
A manual espresso maker is usually more of a labour of passion than a capsule machine because they require you to heat the water separately from your coffee, pour it into the chamber over the ground coffee or pods, and then press down on the plunger or lever to create pressure and push the water through into the cup below. This method is messy, time-consuming and a bit frustrating to master, but the end result is worth the effort.
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 type of technology you will find in immersion circulators, top-of-the-line toasters and is designed to stabilize the brew boiler temperature. This is a great method to take away the uncertainty about the optimal temperature for brewing.
There are a few big brands that make 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 produce the massive two or three group heads of commercial espresso machines you'd find in a cafe but in 1997 they came up with the Silvia, an automatic, semi-automatic espresso machine that has some bells and whistles that help alleviate some of the stress out of the brewing process.
Fully automated espresso machines will do all the work for you, they grind the beans, tamp, pull shots and steam your milk too all at the touch of a button, but they can also cost an astronomical amount of money therefore you'll need an adequate amount of cash to be capable of affording one.
4. Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic machines are a great choice when the idea of replicating the perfect espresso shot in your favorite café in your home is appealing to you. These machines let you adjust your preferences over time and also adjust the amount of your espresso drink based on your mood at any given moment.
These machines are equipped with a portafilter, and steam wand. These machines share similar brewing processes to super automatics, however they require manual steps such as grinding the beans and inserting the portafilter. They also require more understanding and skills to operate as the brewing process is not controlled by a computer.
A good semi-automatic machine will include a portafilter that is removable and a tamper that is capable of compressing the ground coffee inside of the portafilter before making. It also lets you to manage the quantity of water and the pressure that is used in the brewing process. You can then customize your shots according to your preferences and the type of coffee beans that you are using.
Another feature to look for in a semi-automatic is the ability to adjust the temperature. This feature lets you to set the brewing temperature for your coffee beans based on the way they taste. This can help you avoid temperature swings. This is important particularly when it comes to the boiling brew. Without a PID controller, the brew temperature can swing by up to 20oF from one cup to the next. With PID controllers the swing is restricted to approximately 0.1oF.
Some of the more premium models also come with a milk frother for creating espresso drinks based on milk. This lets you make delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The frothing pitcher must be able to handle comfortably and an spout to make it easy to pour.
It is also recommended to select one with a filtering basket and an automatic dosing system for the ground. This will prevent you from needing to do grinding and tamping manually on your own. It also makes cleaning the machine easier.