How to choose a coffee machine for home and not be disappointed

Decide on the type of device

At the moment, there are four types of coffee machines available on the market that are suitable for the home: automatic, capsule, carob and pod.

Automatic coffee brewers use high pressure steam. They have built-in coffee grinders that greatly simplify the process. A model of this type is suitable for lovers of latte, cappuccino, ristretto, lungo, hot chocolate and other drinks.

The automatic coffee machine does almost all the work without direct user intervention. It is enough to load grains into it, pour water and milk into the appropriate tanks. Freshly ground coffee enters the brewing unit, where it is pressed and then preheated water is forced through it under pressure.

If only coffee beans are suitable for the device, then the result will depend entirely on the automatic grinding programs. But there are more versatile models that can brew a drink both from beans and from already ground coffee. In this case, you can manually prepare the powder in advance for a more accurate selection of the strength. Rather, only gourmets who are willing to spend time getting the perfect result will do this.

Capsule coffee machines use pre-prepared semi-finished products, which may contain coffee, milk, chocolate, even tea or fruit mixes. The user only needs to put a tablet in the machine and press a button.

Sealed capsules with pressed coffee retain the taste of the product for a long time. In the machine, the packaging is pierced, the contents are inflated with a stream of air, and then boiling water from the tank is passed through the product.

Capsule-type devices work fast enough, and the drink always turns out exactly the way you expect. In addition, they are quite compact and do not require complex maintenance. The disadvantages include a limited number of flavors in capsules, as well as their high cost compared to grain and ground coffee.

Carob machines are more often used in coffee shops, but connoisseurs of the drink can choose one for the home. To prepare, you need to tamp the ground powder into a horn - it depends on what taste you get. Some models have a built-in coffee grinder.

You will have to adjust the coffee grind and regulate the flow of boiling water. Gourmets will love to control every step of the preparation to get their perfect version. But for beginners in this business it will not be easy.

Pod coffee machines are devices with the same horn, but coffee is placed in it in an already compressed tablet. The pod is a filter bag for one serving of the drink. The package is made of perforated two-layer paper, in which the crushed powder is placed.

To preserve the taste and aroma, the pods are additionally packed in foil. In most carob models of coffee machines, pods can also be used.

Which coffee machine to buy

• Krups EA8170 automatic coffee machine, from 48,739 rubles →
• Capsule coffee machine Krups Dolce Gusto Genio S Touch KP440E10, from 13,190 rubles →
• Rondell RDE‑1105 carob coffee machine, 43,608 rubles →
• Pod coffee machine Espresso Aroma X, from 14 949 rubles →

Learn about the management method

In coffee machines, mechanical controls can be used, for example, for the level of strength and portion size. Modern automatic models for the most part have more convenient electronic control systems with touch buttons and a display. In such devices, you can set precise cooking programs, adjust the number of cups, check filter wear, activate cleaning and other processes.

Estimate the power of the device and the volume of the tanks

The speed of making coffee depends, among other things, on the power of the device. A high value of the indicator allows you to create the necessary pressure in the pump. For a coffee machine with a tank volume of about 2 liters, a power of up to 1,500 watts will suffice. And a model with a larger capacity should be correspondingly more powerful, otherwise you will have to wait a long time for the process to complete.

A couple of liters should be enough for home use. The bean container usually holds about 200 g. A larger volume will be needed only in a cafe or office.

Which coffee machine to buy

• Krups EA895N10 automatic coffee machine with a volume of 2.3 liters and a power of 1,450 W, from 74,990 rubles →
• Siemens TE651209RW EQ.6 plus s100 automatic coffee machine with a volume of 1.7 liters and a power of 1,500 W, from 65,850 rubles →
• Philips EP3146 Series 3200 automatic coffee machine with a volume of 1.8 liters and a power of 1,500 W, from 57,899 rubles →
• Tchibo Cafissimo Pure capsule coffee machine with a volume of 1 liter and a power of 1,250 W, from 7,527 rubles →

Check pump pressure

Espresso is produced by passing hot water under pressure through a compressed powder of ground beans. To maintain pressure in the coffee machine, an electric pump is installed, which must create a pressure of up to 9 bar in the coffee filter and from 15 to 19 bar at the outlet of the pump.

For a strong and good espresso as well as for cappuccino and latte, the optimal pressure is from 5 to 9 bar, but a lower level has a bad effect on the taste of the drink. Most devices provide the right value, but just in case, it's worth checking this point.

Some models have the ability to adjust the pressure level. This option is useful for people who like to drink weak coffee.

Find out more about the installed coffee grinder

The most delicious drink comes from whole grains that have been ground right before preparation. Therefore, the built-in coffee grinder is a rather important element of a high-quality coffee machine.

The grinders in a coffee grinder can be metal or ceramic. The former are stronger and do their job quite well, but when overheated, the metal can affect the properties of the drink. Although at home use, steel elements are unlikely to have time to reach such a high temperature. Unless you cook a lot of servings in a row.

Ceramic burrs are quieter and do not affect the taste or aroma of coffee, but they are more fragile. Premium devices typically use this option.

Select heater type

Coffee machines are equipped with two types of heaters - a thermoblock or a boiler. In the model with a thermoblock, water is heated in small portions, passing through a heat exchanger. This method allows you to prepare each cup of coffee quite quickly.

In the case of a boiler, the entire volume of filled water is immediately heated to a predetermined temperature. So the supplied liquid always has the same stable performance. This improves the taste of the drink, especially rare varieties. But heating in devices of this type takes more time.

In addition, a small boiler may not be enough, for example, for a series of portions for the entire families. Then you have to interrupt the process to add liquid and heat, which will eventually spoil the taste of the drink.

In the home model, thermoblocks are much more often installed, and boilers are used in large professional devices.

Familiarize yourself with the available settings

The coffee machine must have a level control fortresses, degree of grinding and temperature. Some devices allow individual recipes to be programmed individually. In this case, it is possible, for example, to choose the ratio of water, milk and latte foam.

Different manufacturers have different methods for regulating the strength of drinks. Coffee machines can change the temperature and flow rate of water, adjust the preparation time, use different number of grains, pass water only over certain areas of the compressed powder or over the entire tablet entirely.

For grinding, four main degrees are distinguished: coarse, medium, fine and extra - powdery. The coffee machine must have a regulator of at least these basic degrees. The coarser the grinding, the weaker the taste of the drink, the sour shade appears. And too fine powder will be bitter, giving a burnt taste.

Water temperature also affects coffee - changes in degrees can reveal additional flavors. The main recommended range for brewing is 90 to 96°C. For dark roasts, a lower option is suitable, and for light roasts, a hotter liquid.

Select cappuccinatore

The cappuccinatore froths milk or cream, creating an airy foam that is used in the preparation of cappuccino, lattes and other similar types of coffee.

The Manual Cappuccinatore is a tube for supplying hot steam under high pressure. Substituting a vessel with milk, you can adjust the temperature, as well as the height and density of the foam. It is this method that allows you to make drawings in a cup.

Devices with an automatic cappuccino maker are more expensive, but they make milk foam at the touch of a button. In this case, milk flows through the intake tube from a separate bag or built-in container.

Some models combine manual and automatic foaming systems, allowing connoisseurs with advanced skills to choose whether to save time or do something original.

Which coffee machine to buy

• Nivona CafeRomatica NICR 930 coffee machine with automatic cappuccinatore, from 127,330 rubles →
• Gaggia Velasca Prestige coffee machine with automatic cappuccinatore, from 82,700 rubles →
• Philips EP2236 Series 2200 LatteGo coffee machine with automatic cappuccinatore, from 47,400 rubles →
• De'Longhi Magnifica S Smart ECAM250.33.TB coffee machine with manual cappuccinatore, from 35,780 rubles →

Learn about additional features

Manufacturers of coffee machines add many useful and pleasant options to the main features of their devices. For example, for a large family, the mode of simultaneous preparation of two cups of a drink is useful. And for the full disclosure of taste, there is a preliminary wetting of coffee before brewing.

The water hardness setting allows the device to determine when it is time to signal the appearance of scale and the need for cleaning. This is where the automatic decalcification system comes to the rescue, which eliminates deposits and coffee oils. This mechanism helps to extend the life of the equipment.

Coffee machines may have a stand for warming cups before brewing, which is important for espresso. In addition, a system for automatically maintaining the temperature of a ready-made drink for several hours will be a nice addition.

The timer is useful in case you want to get ready portions at a certain moment. For example, a machine can make coffee for breakfast. Power saving mode saves electricity consumption by automatically turning off the device when not in use.

To accumulate waste from brewing coffee, special containers were invented. They eliminate the need to throw away waste residues after every cup. And the anti-drip system eliminates the flow of the drink at the moment when you remove the mug from the tray.

Finally, some models are designed to be built into a kitchen cabinet. This helps to best fit the coffee machine into the interior.

Please note: prices are valid at the time of publication of the article. Stores can update the cost of goods during the day.