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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 maker or espresso maker is a must for your kitchen. At Target we have many different designs and features to meet your preferences. High pressure forces water into ground beans in just a few seconds. The grounds are then tamped to make them compact and then interlock. Features When purchasing a coffee maker or espresso machine, there are a variety of aspects to take into consideration. The most important are the characteristics that determine its purpose and its suitability for your needs. Look for features that are convenient, improve your brew's quality and allow you to customize your beverage. Coffee- and espresso makers can be simple. For example, the traditional Bialetti Moka Express is a non-electric brewer that makes use of the pot that slowly drips water over the ground beans. Some models offer more sophisticated options, like dual boilers that allow you to make espresso as well as steam or frothed the milk simultaneously. Digital displays can also notify you when your water tank requires topping up and when the time is right to clean or clean out the grounds bin and when other maintenance tasks are due. The majority of modern espresso and coffee makers utilize the same brewing method that involves pouring hot water over pre-ground or ground beans that sit in the filter. Some are designed to stop brewing automatically at the appropriate time so that you can enjoy a new 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 top model of espresso and coffee machines is the superautomatic that is designed to do everything. They are typically equipped with a built-in grinder that allows them to grind and brew coffee using fresh beans. They'll usually also have a separate steamer to make cappuccinos and lattes. They may also have a menu which allows you to choose from a range of drinks, including hot chocolate. If you have small kitchens, you should consider an ultra-compact model to make use of less counter space. If you have several people in the household with different preferences in their coffee, consider getting a multi-cup machine that is able to accommodate different sizes of cups. If you're an espresso lover, look for models that allow you to customize the brew strength and water-to-coffee ratio, so you can have the perfect cup every time. A solid warranty and prompt customer service are other important factors to consider when choosing a coffee and espresso maker. The warranty period varies between one and three years depending on the brand. Ease of Use If you want to create a coffeehouse-like beverage at home, you'll require more than just a standard drip filter coffee maker. For espresso, water pressured to high is pushed at high speed through finely ground beans. The result is a few “shots” of caffeine that have an intense crema on top. For this process, most espresso machines and combination coffee utilize a portafilter basket and steaming arm. Other machines rely pre-packaged pods, filters, or let you measure and grind beans by hand. The type of machine you select will depend on how hands-on you'd like to be and how much space you have. Manual machines give you the most control but it requires lots of work: You'll need grind the beans, hand-tamp the coffee, and then pull your shots. Semiautomatic machines can be accomplished in a few steps, such as grinding and tapping. However they will require more effort than automated machines. Fully automated espresso and coffee makers make a whole pot of drip or an entire cup of espresso with the press of a button. Consider whether you are brewing for one person or a group of people. Certain models, such as the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, can make up to three cups of espresso or coffee at the same time. This is a great method of keeping up with your morning coffee requirements, but it may not be the best option when you're hosting a crowd. A coffee and espresso maker that has dual boilers lets you to simultaneously brew and steam milk, so you don't have to wait for one process to cool before starting the other. This feature is especially useful for those who plan to make lattes or cappuccinos. A coffee and espresso maker that has removable water reservoir is less likely to build up mineral deposits than one that does not. You'll have to clean your reservoir periodically but it will save you time because you won't have to pour out and re-fill 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 can cause your machine to require more descaling. Filtered or soft water is less harsh on your machine and will decrease the frequency of descaling. Ease of Cleaning A coffee maker or espresso maker is a major purchase for many homeowners, and requires regular maintenance to ensure its performance and longevity at maximum levels. Cleaning the carafe as well as other parts that are removable from an espresso machine or drip coffee maker is an essential aspect of maintenance. Utilizing vinegar or a specially-formulated descaling solution at least once per month is important to help maintain your machine and certain models might have sensors that light up to alert you when it's time to clean. While vinegar is great for sinks and counters however, its acidity may harm rubber seals as well as other components in your espresso and coffee maker, reducing its lifespan. Many brands — including Lavazza and Smeg—recommend not to use vinegar to clean your machine, since it could invalidate the warranty. To clean your espresso machine or coffee maker, first remove the portafilter and the basket from the group. Clean any dirt or debris from the portafilter and the basket with a nylon scrubby pad or brush. Rinse both thoroughly with hot water and then dry them with a clean towel. The next step is to clean your brewing group. Put a cleaning tablet in the blind filter. Do backflush. You can also manually backflush the machine by putting the cleaning tablet into the portafilter, then turning on the brewing process and then pause it for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you see a steady flow of water—this signifies that the machine has been properly descaled. As water flows through the espresso machine, it has to pass through the mesh that makes up the brew group. When this mesh is dirty, it could be blocked by coffee residue and negatively affect the extraction process. Calatrello suggests you remove the mesh once a month and clean it using brush. Then, soak it overnight in hot water with a cleaning tablet. If you own a full-automatic espresso and coffee maker, you can clean your machine by dismantling the reservoir of water and filling it with fresh water, adding a cleaning tablet and running a backflush application. It is recommended to wipe the inside of the pot and the water reservoir to get rid of any residue and stains. Before reassembling the appliance, you'll need to wash and dry the carafe as as the water reservoir. Easy Maintenance If you're looking to brew an espresso quickly or coffee at the go, select an automatic model. It doesn't need any intervention from you. These models make use of a basket containing ground coffee beans, water heated to the proper temperature and then released into the ground. These machines are ideal for those who love the process of making coffee, but don't want to spend much time learning the techniques and skills required to make the best tasting drinks. Coffeee are easy to use and easy to clean. The results are similar to drip coffee maker. To keep your machine running, be sure to dump the grounds that have been used and scrub the portafilter and grouphead after every use. You'll also need to backflush your machine regularly. This is done by locking the filter into the grouphead and then running the brew cycles a few more times until the water runs clean. Coffeehouses perform this task at the end of every day, but homeowners can do it once every few days, or every week, with detergent, for a more thorough cleaning. It is also necessary to clean your steam wand, milk reservoir, and other components of the machine regularly. We suggest cleaning them once every week. To do this, you simply wipe down all parts of the machine with a mix of vinegar and warm soapy water (check the manual for your product prior to cleaning as some manufacturers suggest against using vinegar). It is also recommended to change your filter frequently because hard water tends to build up more mineral residue than soft or filtered. This can cause your coffee and espresso maker to stop working, or have a different taste. Buy a coffee and espresso maker that has a water-hardness test to avoid this.