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Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker Whether you like a full pot of drip coffee or an espresso, a coffee maker or espresso maker is essential to your kitchen. At Target we have a wide selection of designs and features that will meet your preferences. High pressure forces water into the ground beans within seconds. The grounds are then tamped in order to compact them evenly and lock them. Features When buying an espresso maker or coffee machine, there are numerous things to take into account. The most important are the characteristics that determine its purpose and its suitability for your needs. Find features that provide convenience, enhance the quality of your brew and allow you to personalize your drink. Espresso- and coffee makers can be simple, like the traditional Bialetti Moka Express non-electric coffee brewer that makes use of a pot to heat water that slowly drips over ground beans. Certain models come with more advanced options, such as dual boilers that allow you to make espresso and steam or frothed the milk simultaneously. Other features include digital displays that notify you when your water tank is low and when it's time to empty the grounds bin or descale, and other routine maintenance tasks. Most modern coffee and espresso makers use a similar brewing process that involves pouring hot water over ground or pre-ground beans that are placed in the filter. Many are designed to stop brewing at the appropriate time, so that you can take a fresh cup of coffee each morning. Some models let you choose the brewing intensity you prefer while others allow you to adjust temperature settings for the best flavor. The most expensive model of espresso and coffee machines is the superautomatic that is designed to do everything. These machines usually come with a built in grinder, which allows them to grind and brew coffee from fresh beans. They'll usually also have an additional steam wand that can be used to make cappuccinos and lattes. You may also select from a range of drinks including hot chocolate on their menu. If you have small kitchens, you should consider smaller models to reduce counter space. If you have several people in your home with their own preferences for coffee look into a multi-cup device that can accommodate different sizes of cups. If you're a coffee or Espresso connoisseur then look for models that allow you to alter the intensity of your brew and the ratio of water to coffee so that you can create the perfect cup each time. When you are looking for the latest coffee and espresso machine, a long-lasting warranty and a responsive service are important aspects to consider. Depending on the brand, warranties range between one and three years. Easy to Use You need more than a standard drip-filter coffee maker to create a coffeehouse like beverage at home. To make espresso, highly pressurized water is pushed through finely ground coffee beans at high speeds. The result is a brief “shot” of caffeine, with a thick layer of crema on top. The majority of combination espresso and coffee machines use a portafilter, basket and steaming arm for this process, while others use pre-packaged pods or filters, or permit the user to grind and measure beans manually. The type of machine you select will depend on how hands-on you'd like to be and the amount of space you have. A manual machine gives you the most control however it does require an enormous amount of work: You'll have to grind the beans, then hand-tamp the coffee and pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines skip several steps, such as grinding and tamping. However they will require more effort than automatic machines. Fully automatic coffee and espresso makers can make a full pot of drips or an entire cup of espresso with the push of the button. Consider whether you are brewing for one person or a group of people. Certain models, such as the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of espresso or coffee at a time. This is a great way to meet your morning coffee requirements however it might not be the best choice when you're serving an audience. Dual boilers let you brew coffee and steam milk simultaneously to ensure that you don't have to wait until one function cools down before starting the next. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who plan to make cappuccinos or lattes. It is less likely that a coffee and espresso machine with a removable reservoir will accumulate mineral deposits. It is necessary to wash your reservoir regularly, but it will also save you time as you don't have to pour out and re-fill the entire pot of water. Another factor that contributes to mineral build-up is the hardness of the water you drink: A water that is harder to soften produces more dissolved minerals, which makes your machine require descaling more frequently. Soft or filtered filtered water is less harsh on your machine and will decrease the frequency of descaling. Cleaning is easy For many homeowners who own a coffee or espresso machine is a major investment. It requires regular maintenance to ensure that it performs at its best and lasts for as long as it is. Cleaning the carafe along with other parts that are removable from an espresso machine or drip coffee maker is an essential part of maintaining. Using vinegar or a specialized descaling solution at least once per month is essential to keep your machine in good condition and certain models might have light-up sensors that alert you when it's time to clean. While vinegar is great for countertops and sinks however, the acidity can harm the rubber seals and components of your espresso and coffee maker, which could limit its life. Many brands — including Lavazza and Smeg, also recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your machine, since it could invalidate the warranty. To clean your espresso or coffee maker, first take the portafilter and basket from the group. Utilizing a nylon brush or scrubby pad, remove any grounds from the portafilter as well as the basket. Clean them thoroughly with hot water, and then dry them with a clean towel. Next, sanitize the brew group by putting a cleaning tablet into the blind filter and running a backflush software. You can also manually backflush your machine by placing a tablet of cleaning solution in the portafilter and turning on the brewing software after which you will have to stop for 10 seconds. Repeat machine espresso until you notice a steady flow of water—this signifies that the machine has been descaled. As water flows through the espresso machine, it has to go through the mesh that makes up the brew group. This mesh can become clogged with old coffee residue when it gets dirty. This can adversely affect the extraction. Calatrello suggests that you unscrew the mesh every month and clean it with brush. Then, soak it in hot water overnight using a tablet for cleaning. If you own a fully-automatic coffee and espresso maker, you can clean the machine by removing the reservoir of water and refilling it with fresh water, adding a cleaning tablet and running a backflush program. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the pot and the water reservoir to get rid of any residue and staining. Before reassembling your appliance, you'll have to clean and dry the carafe as well as the reservoir of water. Easy Maintenance If you want to make a quick espresso or cup of coffee at the go, search for an automatic model that doesn't require any action from you. They typically use an insulated basket that holds ground coffee beans as well as water that's warmed to the ideal temperature and is then released into the grounds and made into one shot. These machines are ideal for those who love the process of making a cup of coffee but don't have the time to study the techniques and skills that create the best tasting drinks. They are easy to use and clean and the results are like those produced by traditional drip coffee makers. To maintain your machine make sure you dump the grounds that have been used and clean the portafilter and grouphead after every use. Also, you'll need to backflush your machine regularly. This is accomplished by locking the filter in the grouphead, then running the brew cycles a few more times until the water runs clean. Coffeehouses do this at the end each day, but home users can do it every couple of days, or every week, with detergent to give the machine a deeper clean. You'll also have to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir and other components of the machine on a regular basis. We suggest cleaning them once every week. You can do this by cleaning all areas of your machine with the vinegar-soapy solution (check the manual before starting as some manufacturers don't recommend vinegar). It is also recommended to change your filter frequently since hard water tends to build up more mineral residue than soft or filtering. This can cause the coffee maker and espresso maker to get blocked and taste different or not function at all. Get a coffee maker and espresso maker that has a water-hardness tester to avoid this.