A buyer’s guide to Coffee Machines

What are coffee machines?
A coffee machine is a device that process’ fresh or ground coffee beans into a delicious cup of hot steaming coffee.
What kinds of machines are there?
There are two types of coffee machine, Pods and Capsules, automatic espresso and manual or semi-automatic espresso machines.
Pod Coffee Machines
A pod is a small disc of coffee compressed in thin paper which is placed in the machine, the water is passed through the filter paper and coffee down into the cup. Pods are short lived and should be used quickly. These small machines are a major part of the home buyers’ market. They are usually found in homes, offices and small bars or chops that want to add a quick coffee for their customers. Capsules are usually sold by a local supplier and you usually buy them in bulk, choosing the flavor you prefer but making sure you don’t buy too many since they don’t keep their freshness as much as capsules do.
Price: These machines come in a range of $80 to $500
Capsule Coffee Machines
A capsule of coffee in a vacuum sealed capsule is inserted in the machine, this capsule is pierced by the machine and water is passed through the capsule to collect the water and then flowed down into the cup. Pods are long lasting and can even last as long as 9 months before being used. These small machines are a major part of the home buyers’ market. They are usually found in homes, offices and small bars or chops that want to add a quick coffee for their customers. Pods are usually sold by a local supplier and you usually buy them in bulk, choosing the flavor you prefer.
Price: These machines come in a range of $80 to $500
Automatic Espresso Machines
Espresso machines use freshly ground coffee, you can experiment with different flavors and blends creating the perfect mix for every palate. These machines are easy to operate and maintain. If your machine is not connected to a water source you must make sure you fill the water reservoir before usage. You put the ground coffee in its place, put your cup under the spout and press the start button. Some models come with a milk frother, this is basically a spout that pushes at high speed hot air into the milk causing it to froth up. You might also want to add an adjustable grinder if you prefer to control the grind, giving that extra aroma of freshly ground beans.
These machines can be found in homes and offices where the owner prefers a more personal flavor and control.
Price: These machines come in a range of $500 to $3,500
Manual Espresso Machines (Semi Automatic)
These machines can come in varying sizes, styles and options. They are found in restaurants, bars and coffee shops aimed at giving their customers a full coffee experience. They allow the operator to grind and mix, dose and tamp the coffee in a professional manner. The semi-automatic machines have pre-set amounts set in so the machine will stop poring when the pre-set amount is met. Manual machines are fully manual, you have to stop the flow of coffee.
Take into account space, these machines are usually big.
Price: These machines come in a range of $200 to $1,500
Special considerations
You might want to add a cup warmer, this keeps the coffee warm whilst it stands near the machine before serving. Add a double shot addition, this means that the machine will use fresh coffee for each shot rather than pass water through the same coffee twice. Another feature that is useful is for machines with a water reservoir, you might want an alarm to sound notifying you the water is low.