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Espresso Coffee Machines and Cappuccino Makers

There are two main types of traditional espresso coffee maker: pump machines and steam machines. However, you can also buy stove-top espresso makers, Nespresso makers and Beans to Cup espresso coffee makers.

Traditionally, espresso coffee machines could only be used to make espresso coffee, but most modern espresso machines can also be used to make cappuccino, as they have a separate spout for frothing milk.

Types of Espresso Coffee Machine – Pump Machines

Pump-operated espresso machines work by heating the water in a separate tank using a thermostatically controlled boiler. They then use an internal pump to force the hot water through the ground coffee.

Pump machines tend to produce better quality espresso than steam-operated espresso machines. You can also add more water to pump-operated espresso makers at any time, rather than needing to wait for the machine to cool down.

Espresso Coffee Makers – Steam Machines

Steam-operated espresso makers (or pressure espresso coffee machines as they are sometimes known) boil the water in an internal chamber. The steam-pressure then forces the water through the ground coffee.

However, the water has to reach boiling point in order to produce steam, and many espresso lovers claim that this is too hot for a perfect cup of espresso.

Another disadvantage of a steam-operated espresso machine is that you need to wait for the chamber to cool down before you can open it to add more water.

Stove-Top Espresso Coffee Makers

Stove-pot espresso coffee makers are still popular as a way of making espresso at home, particularly in Italy. They are also sometimes known as machinettas, espresso pots, Moka pots or Napolitana pots.

You simply fill the base of the stove-top espresso maker with water and put ground coffee in a central section and place it on the stove.

Stove-top espresso makers have the advantage of not needing electricity and they tend to be cheaper than other types of espresso coffee maker.

However, the coffee they produce can be quite strong and bitter-tasting. Although they are available in different sizes, you also need to allow them to cool down before using them again so they aren’t ideal for making large amounts of espresso regularly.

Types of Espresso Machine – Nespresso Coffee Machines

Nespresso machines are a relatively new development in espresso makers. They are really combination coffee makers as they can be used to make cappuccino and latte as well as espresso.

Nespresso machines use pods – pre-packaged sealed capsules of roasted ground coffee. These capsules help to ensure that your coffee is fresh and high quality, and you can buy them in different flavours and in caffeinated and decaffeinated versions. Nespresso coffee machines are easy to use and produce great tasting coffee.

Types of Espresso Coffee Maker – Bean to Cup Machines

Bean to Cup machines allow you to use coffee beans rather than ground coffee. They automatically grind the amount of coffee that you need before brewing it. Although some bean to cup machines are advertised as espresso makers, most of them are really combination coffee makers as they allow you to make cappuccinos and lattes as well as espresso.

Further Information

You can find some hints and tips on what to look for when choosing an espresso machine on our How to Choose and Buy an Espresso Coffee Maker page.

You can find out about specific brands and models of espresso/cappuccino machine in our Brands of Coffee Machines section and on our Popular Models of Espresso Coffee makers page.

For information about some of the top online suppliers, including details of their delivery times and post and packaging costs, visit our Where to Buy section.