An espresso is a traditional Italian type of coffee and it can only be made with the use of espresso coffee machines. There are also numerous types of espresso coffee machines as there are types of espresso.

The first espresso coffee machines were invented in 1901 and have constantly evolved ever since. Today’s professional espresso coffee machines are efficient and can produce several different types of espresso from the same type of beans.

There are several types of espresso coffee machines, as mentioned earlier, but all of them use the same technique to produce the tasty and enjoyable drink. They use steam under very high pressure to tamp the grinded coffee beans. This process is fast and simple to achieve, but it requires clean steam to make a tasty espresso.

There are also two other types of espresso machines, less used than the steam ones, pump and piston driven. These units use basically the same method, but achieve the effect with another mechanical process. These other types of espresso coffee machines also produce a different taste espresso, a reason for which they are some times preferred to the steam machines.

There are also three different functionality types to an espresso coffee machine. The first one is semi-automatic, meaning that the water is delivered by pump instead of human effort. There is the second type, the fully automatic one. This one turns it self off when the required amount of water has flown through. It does it with the help of a mechanical water meter or a sensor. The third and final type is the super-automatic. This type of espresso coffee machines just need to be turned on and they will grind the coffee, produce the steam and the final product, your very own tasty espresso.

In this category of products the prices start from around 1000 US Dollars, the same as the most expensive home espresso makers. The cheapest espresso coffee machines are not even semi-automatic, you have to do all the work, grind the beans, heat the water and use a hand driven pump to produce the pressure to tamp the beans. They can still provide with a very tasty beverage though.

We would suggest avoiding the very expensive ones if you don’t own a restaurant, because a 20.000 dollar investment will be just too much. A mid range, semi-automatic one should do just fine, even if you have to do some of the work yourself. It is also very important to choose the right type of coffee beans or ESE pods. For the best espresso try different types of beans or ESE pods, taste them and decide on the best one. Don’t forget about the sugar and cream, the other important ingredients in a very delicious espresso.

The best way to buy an espresso coffee machine is to seek a licensed dealer. They will have several models on display and available for testing at any given point. This allows you to test the machine before you pay for it. You might also be benefiting from special offers and installments.

Experience the Saeco Espresso feeling. A well established brand with more than 20 years of manufacture espresso machine. They aren’t cheap but definitely worth the money.

Saeco Talea Giro Super Automatic Espresso Machine

I also looked at just about every other superauto in the $500 to $1,500 price range, and in fact tried a number of them out in person. This particular unit was my favorite by a wide margin!

BUY THIS AND THE OPTIONAL MILK ISLAND AND NEVER GO TO STARBUCKS AGAIN! I’m serious.

-By T. N. “Seattle M.D.” (Seattle, WA United States)

Other things on the good side:
- easy to install and simple to operate
- very fast, a great cup of coffee is always just a minute away

On the downside:
- Although the design is ok, the execution is a bit on the cheap side (for what I’d expect at this price tag) with plastic body and controls not having a feel of precision mechanism
- alarm indicators (too add water, add coffee, empty waste tank) are a bit cryptic and it takes an effort to figure out what this machine wants from you, maybe I’ll get better at it with time.

-By L. Stein “heleleo”

Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machines

My sister has owned an Aroma for years and I’d always been impress with the quality of espresso and cappuccino she could make at home. And one morning, I just decided that I deserved the best coffee too and ordered my own. I picked the chrome model which complements my other chrome appliances in my kitchen. It’s a robust and simple piece of machinery that produces an amazing espresso. The extraction time is small, the creme is thick and their patented gizmo they use to foam milk is fool-proof. Just stick it in an wait a few seconds and you get the best foam.

-By J. White (San Jose, CA, USA)

Overall, the machine is solidly built (for the most part), efficient and so far, reliable. I really would give this unit 4 stars, but for the price, I feel I can’t give it anything else but 5.

-By W. Warshauer “wlwarshauer” (houston, texas United States)

Saeco 00385 Nina Bar Traditional Espresso Machine

For me, this machine does a pretty good job of covering both worlds. I have had it about a month and use it many times each day and have had no problems. I mostly use it for espresso using freshly ground beans and it works well for that.

-By S. Jacobs

Thinking of getting a new set of coffee machine, but still undecided? Gaggia coffee machine – one of the best well known coffee machine manufacturer in Italy. It all happened when Gaggia start manufacturing coffee machine for home use in year 1977 for Italian market. Since then, Gaggia has been developing their range of home use coffee/espresso machine and are available worldwide.

Our collection of review the following Gaggia Coffee Machine:

Gaggia 12300 Baby Class Manual Espresso Machine

The GOOD: Easy to use, looks great, solid, most importantly, it makes great coffee.

The BAD: The steamer falls off all the time, needs better drip tray, bigger than I expected. These are very minor points.

RECOMMENDATION: Definitetly!

- By Michael Lindauer “Mikelindauer” (Germany)

Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine

Great espresso, poor steaming wand

-By Dominika Lepak “nikatoo” (Bakersfield, CA USA)

This machine has a robust build, and high quality parts. Its tank heats the water quickly, and to a proper temperature, and the pump is powerful enough to do the job properly. I would strongly recommend using filtered water, especially with a low mineral content, so that deposits do not build up in the tank.

-By Wayne (Union City, CA USA)

Gaggia 102534 Espresso-Color Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine

After extensive research, I decided to purchase the Gaggia Espresso Color. Although no reviews of this model were available, I really liked the price, the color, the overall design, and the favorable reviews I had seen for other machines in the Gaggia line. This machine is compact, stylish, and includes elements found on higher end machines like a commercial portafilter, a stainless steel boiler, and a Pannarello attachment for the steaming wand. Also, I kept coming across the same brand names over and over again with a sterling reputation in the espresso world, and Gaggia is one of those names.

-By kaden22 (Annapolis, MD USA)

Great value. Does everything as advertised. Best cup-a-joe I’ve had recently. Sure beats $4 for a cappucino.
Shipped on time.

-By P. Broussard Kenzardo (Port Arthur, TX – USA)