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Buying a Coffee and Espresso Maker If you are looking for a big pot of drip coffee or espresso, a coffee and espresso maker is essential to your kitchen. We have a wide range of styles and features at Target to suit your needs. Espresso machines high pressure, water is forced through ground beans in seconds. The grounds are then tamped to evenly compact them and interlock. Features When you are looking to purchase an espresso maker or coffee machine, there are a variety of aspects to take into consideration. The features will determine the machine's capabilities and suitability to your needs. Find features that are convenient and enhance the quality of your drink and allow you to customize your beverage. Coffeee – and espresso makers can be simple. For instance, the traditional Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer which uses a pot that slowly drips water over ground beans. Some models have more advanced options, like a dual boiler that allows you to make espresso as well as steam or frothed milk at the same time. Other features include digital displays that inform you when your water tank is empty and when it's time to empty the grounds bin, or descale, and other maintenance tasks. The majority of modern espresso and coffee makers employ the same brewing procedure that involves pouring hot water over pre-ground or ground beans that are placed in the filter. They're usually designed to stop the brewing process at the appropriate time, so you can enjoy an iced cup every morning. Certain models let you select your preferred brew intensity, and others have adjustable temperature settings to ensure the best flavor. The top tier of coffee and espresso machines is the super-automatic one, which is designed to do everything for you. They usually have a built-in grinder, so they can grind and brew coffee using fresh beans. They'll typically have an additional steam wand for making cappuccinos and lattes. You might also choose from a variety of drinks including hot chocolate from their menu. If you have a small kitchen, opt for a compact model that doesn't occupy much counter space. Consider a multi-cup coffee maker that can be used with different sizes of cups if you have several people in your household who have different preferences in coffee. If you're an Espresso or coffee connoisseur, then look for models that let you customize the brew intensity and the ratio of water to coffee so that you can create the perfect cup each time. A good warranty and responsive customer service are also crucial aspects to take into consideration when shopping for an espresso maker and coffee maker. The warranty period varies from one to three years dependent on the brand. Simple to Use You need more than a basic drip-filter maker to make a cafe like beverage at home. To brew espresso, high-pressured water is pushed through finely ground coffee beans at high speeds. The result is a few “shots” of caffeine, with an intense crema on top. In this manner, the majority of espresso machines and combination coffee use a portafilter basket and steaming arm. Other machines depend on pre-packaged pods and filters, or allow you measure and grind beans manually. The type of machine that you select will be based on how spacious and hands-on you want to make it. Manual machines provide the most control, but take a lot of work: you'll have to grind the coffee beans, then hand-tamp it and pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines skip some steps, such as grinding and tamping. However they will require more effort than automatic machines. Fully automated espresso and coffee makers can make a full pot of drips or an entire cup of espresso at the push of the button. It is also important to think about whether you're brewing for just one or more people. Certain models, like the Nespresso Vertuo Plus can brew three cups of coffee or espresso simultaneously. This can be a convenient method of keeping up with your morning coffee requirements but it might not be the best choice when you're hosting a crowd. A coffee and espresso maker with dual boilers lets you to simultaneously steam and brew milk, so you don't need to wait for one process to cool before the other starts. This feature is particularly useful when you're planning to make lattes or cappuccinos. A coffee and espresso maker with a removable water reservoir is less likely to develop mineral deposits than one that doesn't. You'll need to regularly clean your reservoir however it will save you time as you don't have to empty and replace the entire pot of water. The hardness of the water can also cause mineral buildup. A water that is harder will result in more dissolved minerals, which will cause your machine to require more descaling. Soft or filtered water is easier to use and reduces the frequency of descaling. Ease of Cleaning A coffee or espresso maker is a major purchase for many homeowners, and it requires regular care to keep its performance and longevity at its peak. Whether you use drip coffee makers or an espresso machine, regular cleaning of the carafe as well as other removable parts is a crucial part of the upkeep process. Using vinegar or a specialized descaling solution at least once a month is important to help keep your machine in good condition, and some models may feature light-up sensors that notify you when it's time to clean. While vinegar is fine for sinks and countertops, the acidity can damage the rubber seals and other components of your espresso or coffee maker, thereby limiting its lifespan. Many brands, including Lavazza and Smeg recommend that you do not use vinegar to clean your coffee maker since it could invalidate the warranty. To clean your espresso maker or coffee maker, you must remove the portafilter from the group. Utilizing the nylon brush or scrubby pad, clean any remaining grounds from the portafilter and basket. Both of them should be thoroughly cleaned with hot water, then dried using a clean cloth. Next, clean your brewing group. Insert an empty cleaning tablet into the blind filter. Run an automatic backflush. You can also manually flush your machine by placing a tablet of cleaning solution in the portafilter and activating the brewing program and then pause for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you notice a steady flow of water—this indicates that the machine has been descaled. The brew group mesh must be soaked up by the water as it moves through the espresso machine. If the mesh is dirty, it can clog with old coffee residue and negatively affect the extraction process. To ensure that the mesh is always in good shape Calatrello recommends removing it every month cleaning it with a brush, and the overnight soak in hot water with the aid of a cleansing tablet that dissolves in it. If you own a fully automatic espresso and coffee machine cleaning it by disassembling the reservoir of water and filling it with water that is fresh adding cleaning tablets, and running a backflush process. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the water reservoir and pot to get rid of any stains or residue. Before reassembling the appliance, you'll need to clean and dry the carafe as well as the water reservoir. Easy Maintenance If you're looking to make a quick cup of espresso or coffee on the go, look for an automatic model that doesn't require any effort from you. These models typically have an insulated basket that holds ground coffee beans and water that has been heated to the right temperature and is then released into the grounds and it is brewed in a single shot. These machines are ideal for those who love the process of making coffee, but don't want to spend long learning the techniques and skills needed to create the best tasting drinks. They are simple to use and clean, and the results are similar to those of traditional drip coffee makers. To maintain your machine ensure that you remove the used grounds from the portafilter after every use, and then clean the portafilter and the grouphead. Additionally, you'll have to backflush the machine on a regular basis—this is done by locking the portafilter in the grouphead and running the brew cycle for a several times until the water is clear. This is a task that coffeehouses perform at the end of each day but that home users can do every few days or, alternatively, once a week with detergent for a deeper clean. You'll also need to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir as well as other parts of the machine on a regular basis. We recommend cleaning them at least once every week. To do this, simply clean all the parts of the machine with a mix of vinegar and warm soapy water (check the manual prior to doing so since some manufacturers recommend against using vinegar). Also, make sure you change your filter regularly—hard water tends to accumulate mineral residues more quickly than soft or filter water. This could cause your coffee and espresso maker not to run, or have a different taste. To prevent this from happening, you should purchase a coffee and espresso maker that comes with a water hardness tester.