By Peter Kelsch
So you want coffee shop quality espresso drinks at home. If you're like many
coffee addicts, you're spending up to $10 a day on specialty coffee drinks
anyway. If you were to eliminate only your morning stop on the way to work for a
double tall latte, you could save $2 per day on coffee. In a 250-day work year,
that's $500 savings ‚ $500 that may be a good investment in a home espresso
coffee machine.
It's not all that simple, but roughly doing the numbers proves that anyone who
enjoys good
espresso coffee drinks out, can certainly afford to enjoy them at home.
Regardless of your reasoning, if you are interested in buying a home espresso
machine there are several things you should know.
Before making a decision on how much to spend on a machine, consider the
following. Those big, beautiful commercial espresso coffee machines are big and
beautiful for a reason. The process of making espresso requires certain
technical capacities for both quality and for consistency. The generally
accepted industry guidelines for professional espresso preparation are 130 lb.
PSI (pounds per square inch) of water at roughly 195 degrees Fahrenheit, with
the goal of extracting 1.5 ounces of coffee from 7 grams of finely ground
coffee. To produce these same conditions in your kitchen is neither easy nor
cheap, but it can be done. With this said, cost is usually the limiting factor
when shopping for a home espresso coffee machine. As with anything, you
generally get what you pay for.
There are generally two kinds of home espresso machines: steam pressure and pump
pressure. The steam pressure method is the simplest and oldest method of making
espresso coffee. One can find these machines in either the stovetop version,
commonly known as Moka pots, or in inexpensive electric versions. The electric
versions are generally what you see for the under-$100 price range. Essentially,
these machines work by boiling water and forcing the resulting steam through a
chamber of packed coffee. As the steam passes through the coffee, it condenses
back into hot water, extracting the coffee that is then collected in a separate
chamber. The result is a fairly high quality, concentrated coffee beverage that
is similar to traditional espresso coffee, yet is not of the same quality
achieved with a commercial espresso machine. The benefit of going this route for
home espresso is definitely cost, but because you will get some variations in
both pressure and temperature the taste can vary. Steaming milk is also an
issue. These inexpensive machines either don't have steaming capability, or they
have such low steam pressure, that making one good cappuccino is a major
undertaking.
Using the pump method is far better. This is the way commercial espresso
machines work. Before we look at machine variations and pricing, it's important
to understand the basics of how a pump-style machine works. A water pump forces
cold water into a hot water boiler, or through a water heat exchanger, which
displaces near boiling hot water. This water is then forced through the coffee,
hopefully at the specified pressure and temperature. If your coffee grind and
quantity is correct and the machine is set up properly, the result will be a
beautiful looking and delicious traditional espresso coffee.
Sounds easy, but now lets look at cost differences, manufacturing quality, and
performance. The reality is that, unless you invest in a low-end commercial
machine, espresso machines designed for domestic use have only one boiler. What
this means is you can only steam a limited quantity of milk at any given time.
If you're only interested in making one drink at a time for yourself, it will be
fine to look into the $200 to $600 range of pump-driven home machines. In this
range also, you get what you pay for. Plastic construction generally means
limited life. Look for machines that are made with commercial parts, with all
metal construction, and have obtainable replacement parts. The plastic versions
of these machines usually found at retailers can produce acceptable espresso
coffee and steaming, but are considered disposable after a few years of heavy
use.
If you're interested in truly making coffee shop quality drinks at home, you
should invest in a low-end commercial machine. These machines begin in price at
around $800 and go up to $3,000. They are available in pour-over models that do
not require water hook up, but will require a designated electrical circuit when
in operation. All commercial machines have active steam boilers with heat. What
this means is you can steam milk at the same time you are making espresso. It
also means you can make espresso coffee drinks almost continuously. Most
commercial espresso machine distributors have these machines available. Look in
your local yellow pages for such a company, and ask about replacement parts and
service. Generally speaking, these machines will last a lifetime.
One last point to consider is mess. It is my experience that most daily
consumers of espresso coffee beverages actually own a home machine, often one of
good quality. What generally happens is they get tired of the morning mess. Like
many home appliances, the devices are better showpieces than functional
equipment, so consider this in your decision making process.
Now, be sure to do your research. Make sure you get the espresso machine that
fits your budget and your needs. Most of all have fun using it!
Peter Kelsch is president of Espresso Services, Inc., a distributor of espresso
equipment and related items, in St. Louis Park, MN. He can be reached
at 612.924.0622; peter@espresso-services.com
.
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