Automatic Espresso Machine Buyers Guide

The popularity of automatic espresso machine product launches has been met with mixed sentiments. To the passionate espresso purist they are viewed as a poor imitator to a “real “ espresso machine. But for those looking for the ability to brew authentic coffee house quality espresso without the nasty cleanup and steep learning curve of traditional espresso machines, they are a much-welcomed product.

My interest in purchasing an automatic espresso machine was driven by the desire to economize. I realized that in order to motivate myself to wean off the daily morning trip to the local coffee house (at a cost $4.75, tip included) I would have to be able to make a coffee drink that was at least as good, if not superior to what I was used to. Although a traditional drip coffee maker might seem like the obvious solution, I was swayed to invest a bit more after reading almost universal praise by hundreds of satisfied purchasers of one particular automatic espresso machine.

Cost

There are of course two cost associated with an automatic espresso machine. The initial investment in the machine can vary from just slightly more than a drip machine to over $1000. Most consider the Nespresso line of automatic machines to be a good value for the money. In particular, the Nespresso C100 which currently retails for just under $220 has proven to be a favorite. The other cost, and one that many find objectionable is the cost of the proprietary capsules, which in the case of the Nespresso may only be purchased through Neslie (the actual manufacturer) online through their facility known as“The Club”. The actual cost of their pods works about to about $.50 per drink, which some might consider too dear. Personally, I justified the cost by comparing it to what I would pay for a coffee drink of a similar quality at my local coffee house. Still this probably works out to about double the cost of a cup of coffee brewed in a drip coffee maker. Another often overlooked advantage of single serve espresso makers is that the cleanup is much less involved and quicker than in a drip machine.

ESE (Easy Serving Espresso) Pods

Where the Nespresso automatic espresso makers require the purchase of their capsules through their ordering center, there are a number of manufacturers that have standardized their machines to accommodate
ESE pods, available at retailers (and even Starbucks). The obvious advantage is that one can purchase the pods from different sources locally. Based on my somewhat limited research, the price of the ECE pods is quite comparable to the Nespresso capsules. Almost all automatic espresso machines that do not use propriatary capsules will work with ESE pods. That being said, there are a couple of brands that were optimized specifically for the use of pods. Among the more popular pod optimized home espresso machines are those made by FrancisFrancis! and Breville.

Manual, Semi-Automatic or Super Automatic – Pros and Cons

In addition to the automatic class of home espresso machines, there are other types available. Manual machines are simply traditional espresso makers similar to what you would see at coffee houses (though a home version). The upside to a manual machine is that if one can acquire the necessary skills, it is commonly accepted that the absolute best drinks are made this way. The downside is that few attain this skill level. Cleanup of a manual machine is much more involved
and time-consuming than for an automatic espresso machine. Surprisingly, the price of most manual machines is higher than the automatic variety, with most falling into the $400 to $1500 range.

Semi-automatic espresso machines are similar to automatic but with one exception: the operator controls when to turn off the pump. Some prefer this to the fully automatic machines that only produce drinks of a predetermined size.

Another option is what is referred to as “super automatic”. In essence these machines automate everything; they grind the beans, tamp and brew. For those who prefer starting with raw beans over the ESE pods or capsules, this is a good option to consider. These machines can be pricey, in the range from about $500 to well over $2000.

Here is a video demonstration of a Nespresso Automatic Espresso Machine: