Espresso Equipment Reviews

The espresso machines are not a new concept on the market. They have been around for more than a century. Angelo Moriondo invented the first espresso machine in 1884 in Turin – Italy. The famous La Pavoni improved the design in 1901 and patented it. It took the espresso machine almost 100 years to cross the ocean into America, and become a regular in people’s homes. Espresso is not everybody’s favorite, but it slowly becomes more and more popular, especially as a key component in lattes and cappuccinos.

How to Choose an Espresso Machine

You need an espresso machine for your home. How to choose one? The price range is very wide and you can find machines from under 100$up to over 2000$. All the espresso machines use the same concept: They push force hot water through compacted coffee grounds. There are different ways to accomplish that, and depending of the technology used these machines can be very costly or very inexpensive.

Technology

We can classify the espresso machines in 4 classes by the technology used:

  • Electric Pump Driven Espresso Machines
  • Lever/Piston Espresso Machines
  • Steam Powered Espresso Machines
  • Moka Pots

Manual vs Automatic

We can also classify espresso machines by the amount of automation included into a brewer. We can distinguish here:

  • super-automatic espresso machines
  • semiautomatic and
  • manual espresso machines.

Browse through the articles below to find the perfect fit for your kitchen and lifestyle. If I were to recommend you a machine, I would point you the Breville Oracle. I know it’s not for everybody’s budget, but take a look at the article. This way you have a starting point.

Gaggia Babila Review – Super Automatic Espresso Machine

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gaggia babila review

I’ve spent a ton of time behind the counter at coffee shops, slinging espressos and getting that perfect foam on lattes. It’s pretty cool, but let’s be real—not everyone’s got the time to geek out over pulling the perfect shot with a semi-auto machine. That’s where this bad boy, the Gaggia Babila, comes in. It’s … Read more

Jura X8 Review

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jura x8 review 2

As someone who’s spent years behind the counter of coffee shops, I’ve had my hands on all kinds of espresso machines. While I have a soft spot for semi-automatics, I get it—not everyone has the time to make espresso a full-blown hobby. That’s where super-automatic machines like the Jura X8 come into play. They offer … Read more

The Best Home Cappuccino Makers – How to Choose a Cappuccino Machine

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cappuccino

Learn how to choose your home cappuccino maker. We review the best home cappuccino machines, De’Longhi, Mr. Coffee, Nespresso and Breville from all price ranges. I enjoy from time to time a frothy cappuccino, even though my daily habitual coffee is a neat espresso with a tiny bit of sugar. I prepare my cappuccino using … Read more

Delonghi EC155 Espresso Machine Review – The Cheapest Great Espresso Machine

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delonghi ecc155 espresso machine

Whenever home brewed espresso is mentioned, the De’Longhi espresso machines are normally what spring to mind. De’Longhi is one of the most popular domestic espresso manufacturers on the market, and for good reason. They provide user friendly machines that produce consistent coffee. The Delonghi espresso machine EC155 is a perfect example. In this review you … Read more

Delonghi EC9335 La Specialista – Espresso Machine Review

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delonghi la specialista espresso machine review

DeLonghi La Specialista is relatively recent on the the market. The resemblance with the Breville Barista Express, stirred up some heated discussions. Some felt that the uncanny resemblance was blatant, some others thought that it’s great thing to have some serious competition on that niche. I will discuss more about this in a moment. I … Read more

Rancilio Silvia vs Gaggia Classic Pro – A Classic Review Comparison

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rancilio silvia vs gaggia classic pro

If you are looking for a mid-range semi-automatic espresso machine, for your morning coffee fix, there are a lot of options. However, the Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia are a lot of times compared. There are other machines within the same price range, however, these two coffee machines are the best rated by customers. This … Read more

Rancilio Silvia Pro X Dual Boiler Review

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rancilio silvia pro x

Rancilio Silvia Pro X is the dream of any home barista that aims for perfection. It is rather a prosumer espresso machine, and the price tag on the unit makes it accessible for those with a generous budget. Silvia Pro X is an upgrade of the Rancilio’s domestic espresso machine Silvia, so if you know … Read more

Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso Machine Review

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MrCoffee Cafe Barista pulling shots

We are reviewing her the from Mr. – the Cafe Barista ECMP1000. 

We all like affordable stuff – but unfortunately, the cheap stuff also come at a great price: their quality. At least, that’s what happens 80% of the time. There are some cases when you can actually get high quality for a low price.

Granted, it’s likely that with low-budget makers, you won’t get the quality brought by the high-end ones. Still, some can actually bring you close enough to the result so that you won’t even need a professional espresso maker.

Let’s see if the Café Barista by Mr. Coffee is a suitable choice for a budget espresso machine.

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Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine Review

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breville bes980xl oracle review

The Breville BES870XL Barista Express espresso machine is one of the most impressive devices in the semiautomatic class. With an overwhelming feature set, with a modern look, and a great reliability, the BES870XL is a great choice for any serious espresso enthusiast If you are on the market for a new semi automatic espresso machine, … Read more

Best Cheap Espresso Machines

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For a coffee lover on a budget, buying an espresso machine might be challenging. As a beginner barista, you have limited knowledge in the field. How do you choose the best cheap espresso machine? What are the criteria that separate a good espresso maker from a bad one? We will try to familiarize you with … Read more

Best Cheap PID Espresso Machines

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Lelit PL41 TEM espresso machine with PID

So you decided to step up your espresso game and buy a PID espresso machine. However, when you look at the prices they don’t really match your budget. This is a review of the best cheap espresso machines with a PID. The list include machines from Breville, Ascaso, Lelit, and Quick Mill. Learn what are … Read more