Coffee Machines For Sale – There Is One To Suit Everybody

You could be forgiven for becoming confused and daunted at the prospect of so many coffee machines for sale available today.

You can buy everything from the traditional manual espresso makes to the super automatic coffee machines which don’t require you to lift a finger (well, maybe one to press the on button).

You also have to consider how much control you want to have over the coffee making process, or on the contrary how much you want to relinquish.

Basically, espresso machines fall into three main categories; manual, semi and super-automatic.

Manual coffee machines

Check out the best selling manual machines here

Manual coffee machines are generally the cheapest and most labor intensive but also represent the greatest fun factor for those coffee fanatics who enjoy the whole brewing process.

Generally speaking, they are not big or bulky and as a result will not hog precious kitchen bench top space.

While their automation is the obvious limiting factor, they do allow people who are just getting into making coffee what I like to call an experimentation factor.

In other words they are a low cost way to try different types of coffee, strengths and just to sample the coffee making process as a whole.

Notable examples: La Pavoni EPBB-8, La Pavoni EPC-8

Manual machines are not just for beginners

Make no bones about it – manual machines are for the coffee purists too! These are the sort of people who treat coffee making like a hobby and are intensely interested in every step of the coffee making process.

Manual machines can of course trace their origins back to the original espresso machines that were first developed in the 1930s. Since then there has been 7 decades of refinement although the fundamental principles remain the same.

While it is true that for a complete novice the learning curve can be a steep one, the quality of coffee that is produced can be just as good or even better than super automatic machines with a bit of patience and persistence.

They are also usually finished in more ‘rustic’ materials like copper, brass or chrome which can add a certain charm to your kitchen if you like that sort of thing.

One downside is that because they don’t have a built-in water reservoir, it will be tedious to make more than a couple of coffees at once (this would become an especially drawn out process if you were entertaining a group of people for example).

Semi-automatic coffee machines

Check out the best selling semi-automatic machines here

The next group is the semi automatics. They usually require the user to initiate the pumping action and then manually stop it once the process is over, usually after half a minute or so. They are very popular in the home thanks to their ease of us and fantastic tasting coffee.

The milk frothing capabilities vary from model to model, but you should understand that frothing is something that can seem difficult at first and can be learnt and perfected over time. If you are not so confident with the process, then go for machines that have frothing adapters which increase aeration and give you a better froth.

A sub category of semi automatic coffee machines is the fully automatic option. Do not be fooled by the name though – most fully automatic machines are just modified versions of the semi automatic version.

The only real modification you need to worry about is that the coffee extraction is done for you after the push of a button and the espresso machine will stop by itself when the predetermined amount of coffee has been reached.

These types of setups are particularly useful in coffee shops where a lot of tasks are being performed simultaneously and the coffee machine needs to be left unattended. Whether or not this benefit applies to the home user is really a decision for that particular user to make!

Notable examples: Rancilio Silvia V3, Gaggia

Super-automatic coffee machines

Check out the best selling super-automatic machines here

Super automatic coffee machines really are one touch solutions. It is as easy as pushing a button and watching the machine make the coffee for you. They contain built in water containers and grinders and help the user maintain and care for the machine.

As far as the actual process is concerned, the machine will do everything from grinding the beans, to tamping the beans and measuring a predetermined amount of coffee. Some models will even dispose of the excess coffee grounds (known as the puck) for a truly automated solution.

Don’t want to grind your own beans? Some machines allow you to bypass this step completely and add your own pre-ground coffee.

Notable examples: DeLonghi ESAM 5500, Jura ENA 5

Super automatics also require very little cleaning and while most will clean themselves, others will let you know via the LCD interface exactly when and what needs to be cleaned. Such processes as decalcification are usually automatically handled.