Best Espresso Maker - Automatic Espresso Maker, Pump Driven Or Steam Driven?

If you're spending hundreds of dollars every month on espresso, gourmet coffee and cappuccino then it may be high time that you invest in an espresso machine for your home! With the average cup costing roughly five dollars for a grande made by your favorite barista, just think of how much money you would save by making your own cup!

With the increase in popularity of gourmet coffee houses and Starbucks, manufacturers have begun making espresso machines for the home. Not only do these machines look great, but they are also capable of making espresso that is equally good if not even better than your favorite coffee shop!

There are several different types of espresso machines, I will go over them in detail for you:

Automatic espresso maker: If you want all the espresso but without all the fuss, then an automatic machine is for you. You don't have to bother with grinding your beans or tamping them down because it does the work for you. Solis, Gaggia and Saeco are some of the top brands, they are usually easy to clean and have larger water tanks as well.These are really top of the line, so be prepared to spend money on them. If you're looking for a budget model, then the automatic espresso maker is not the one for you.

Steam Driven Espresso Makers: Steam driven machines are on the cheaper end of the spectrum, and believe me - it's for a reason. The general consensus on this style of home espresso maker is that they aren't really powerful enough to make a decent shot of espresso. Most consumers report a bitter, burned taste. If you are an espresso enthusiast, then you know that a bitter tasting shot is a huge no-no.

Piston Driven Makers: If you can get you can get your hands on an original piston driven espresso machine, hold on to it! The original espresso maker invented by Gaggia in the late 1930's was driven by a piston. They are considered antiques today, and while they are not used often -they make the best foamy tops.

Pump Driven Espresso Makers: The pump driven maker is like the modern day relative of the piston driven models. If you really enjoy the process of making espresso at home, from the grinding of the beans to the tamping down - then pump driven models are best for you. They are more powerful than steam driven machines and hit pressure up to five times greater than their steam counter parts.