Espressos are one of the most popular kinds of coffee out there.
And while you could pop down to your local coffee shop or high street chain, you can easily get the same great results (or better) right at home. Plus, you’ll save a bunch of cash in the long run. Those daily coffee runs add up after all.
So, here are some step-by-step guides to using different espresso coffee machines. From bean to cup, to capsule contraptions and barista-worthy beasts.
How to use a bean to cup espresso coffee machine
Bean to cup coffee machines bring the professional barista experience straight to your kitchen. And that means the same fresh flavour that you can only get from grinding your own beans. There’s a bit more involved when it comes to making your morning brew, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Fill your water tank – it’ll help your coffee taste better if you use fresh, cold water
2. Fill the bean hopper – use your favourite beans (just make sure they’re good quality)
3. Choose your grind settings – this lets you pick how coarse the grind is. More finely ground beans give you a stronger cup of coffee
4. Set the coffee strength – lots of machines will have a bunch of different strength settings. Just go for the one to suit your taste
5. Pick a drink – espresso? Latte? Cappuccino? Your machine will have a few options to pick from. So, brew whatever you fancy
6. Tweak the milk settings – does your machine have a milk frothing wand? If it does, you can adjust your milk settings to add some foam to your drink
7. Start the machine – press a button and let the brewing begin
8. Enjoy the coffee – and now you’re done. You can sit back and relax with your perfect cuppa
9. Clean your machine – it’s worth doing this pretty regularly. That way it’ll keep pumping out high-quality coffee and won’t get clogged with gunk
How to use a capsule coffee machine
Capsule – or pod coffee machines – are incredibly easy to use. And they have to be. After all, it’s all about getting a tasty cup of coffee in the shortest amount of time.
Here’s how to use one:
1. Fill up the water tank – put enough in to match the size of your cup. If you can, use cool, filtered water. This will help to keep your machine running better (and for longer). That’s because it’ll reduce the build-up of minerals on all the inner parts
2. Turn on the machine – place your espresso cup underneath the hot water nozzle
3. Put in a pod – pick your pod and put it in the coffee maker
4. Brew the coffee – close the pod lid and choose the strength of your brew. Depending on the model you’ve got, it might even start doing it automatically
5. Enjoy your coffee – let the machine finish pouring. Once it’s done, your coffee is ready to drink
6. Clean up – remove the pod and wipe off any leftover mess. Most machines will have a cleaning function too. It’s worth doing this as it’ll run water through your machine to clean it
And that’s it. It’s really as simple as that.
How to use a barista coffee machine
A barista coffee machine is also known as an espresso machine. When you pop into your cosy coffee place down the street, this is what you’ll see behind the counter. Barista’s will grind coffee beans fresh, then pack and extract the shot through the machine. Once the milk is steamed, they’ll then pour that into the coffee. And that’s how you get those fancy bits of latte art.
Now though, you don’t need to even leave your kitchen. It might seem a little bit intimidating at first, but you can recreate those coffee shop drinks yourself.
Here’s how:
1. Fill up the water tank – use cold, fresh water. Just don’t overfill the tank as this can make it leak
2. Preheat the machine – switch the machine on. Then let it preheat for 10 to 15 minutes. This’ll make sure your machine is at the best temperature for brewing coffee
3. Grind your coffee – you might need to grind your beans first (but this’ll depend on the machine you’ve got). If you do, use the proper grind size for your machine
4. Get the portafilter ready – take the portafilter out of the machine and fill it with the right amount of ground coffee. Firmly pack in the coffee – that way, you’ll get even extraction
5. Brew the coffee – attach the portafilter to the machine and put your cup underneath. Then click the button to start brewing
6. Steam the milk – if you want some milk in your drink, you can stream some with the steam wand. Put some cold milk under the wand and switch on the steam. When the milk is at the right texture and temperature you want, turn the steam off
7. Pour and serve the coffee – pour the espresso and the steamed milk into your cup. You should serve it straight away for the best flavour
What drinks can be made using an espresso machine?
It’s more like what can’t you make with one. Here are a few different options if you want to mix up your cuppa. There’s even an English favourite you might not have realised you could make with one…
Espresso
Mocha
Cappuccino
Latte macchiato
Espresso macchiato
Café latte
Espresso romano
Double or doppio
Tea
Choose the correct espresso maker
You’re now probably wondering which kind of coffee machine you should buy. The best espresso machine really depends on how you like to make and enjoy your coffee.
Always in a rush for the morning train? You won’t have time to grind beans and froth milk. Go for a capsule machine. That way you’ll have a mug ready in seconds. And because it’s automatic, you won’t have any mess to clean up after. Perfect for when you need to get out the door nice and quick.
If you’ve got more time on your hands though – and love to savour your coffee – then a bean to cup machine is your best bet. It definitely takes a bit longer. But if you’re serious about coffee, then the ritual is half the fun. And spending that little bit longer on your brew really helps with the taste.
And if you really want to go all out like the coffee connoisseur you are, then it might be worth investing in your very own barista machine.
Need some help choosing the perfect coffee machine? Head over to ShopLive. Our in-store experts can help you find one that’s brew-tiful. And you won’t even need to leave the sofa. Nice.
