Coffee Machine Buying Guide

To summarise we will divide the Coffee Machines in 3 groups

Single Boiler Coffee Machines

The Single Boiler Coffee Machines are the first step in the line-up designed for people who don’t want to sacrifice quality to budget. They pack premium features and build quality to recreate café quality performance at home in a very compact footprint.

As the name suggests, a single boiler machine has only one boiler that serves both functions: brewing espresso and steaming milk. This means the machine must switch between these two tasks, and there may be a delay in transitioning from brewing to steaming or vice versa.So these units are designed for people who drink mainly straight espresso and occasionally desire to steam milk.

They are definitely going to be smaller and more affordable than some other options, typically single boiler machines will only function off the internal water tank thanks to a Vibratory Pump.

Heat Exchanger Coffee Machines

The Heat Exchanger Machines are the most popular options. Here’s where we really step up in the game! A combination of simplicity, consistency and powerful performance make these the preferred machines for the regular latte and cappuccino drinkers or for someone who’s looking to buy a machine as a definitive investment.

They will allow you to simultaneously brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. They have large boilers designed to cater to larger demands and needs.

The brew water constantly circulates in and out of the boiler through a separate circuit called Heat Exchanger Pipe (here’s where the name comes from). The thermal stability of these machines are regulated by a thermo-syphon system which is simple and reliable.

With the adoption of PID equipped machines you can also adjust the temperature for the boiler but there is a correlation between both steam and coffee temperatures and cannot be adjusted individually. With a bitof time, you can find the right temperature for you. You also get a Shot Timer with it which you can use to monitor the extraction time of your espresso.

The versions without PID utilises a mechanical Pressure Switch in order to control the heat and they are essentially a ‘plug and play’, perhaps they are designed for people who are looking for something easy to use without any additional adjustments.

Nearly all machines in this category are equipped with the E61 group head. E61 groups are easily recognisable since the group is exposed from the machine and most of the time it is equipped with a brew lever instead of buttons.

Some machines can be also equipped with Volumetric Programming, they offer an additional level of convenience since you can pre-set to automatically stop the shots once they have reached a specific amount of coffee.

Dual Boiler Machines

As the name suggests Dual Boiler Coffee Machines have two separate boilers, one for brewing coffee and one for steaming. Dual Boiler Coffee Machines are ideal for those who prioritize precise temperature control and full commercial performance with the ability to tweak your machine as you wish. They can be like a good knife in the hands of a good chef!

Having accurate temperature control + better thermal stability will open hundreds of variables to play with during the espresso-making process. If you are into specialty coffee and you are chasing the god shot these are the right machines for you.

These machines can pack up other features like Flow Control Device for Pressure Profiling, Rotary Pump and Saturated group heads.

Like with the Heat Exchangers machines, Dual Boiler Coffee Machines are equipped with the E61 group head. E61 groups are easily recognisable since the group is exposed from the machine and most of the times it is equipped with a brew lever instead of buttons.

Some machines can be also equipped with a Volumetric Programming, they offer an additional level of convenience since you can pre-set to automatically stop the shots once they have reached a specific amount of coffee.

Dual Boiler Coffee Machines are often more expensive, so your budget may play a significant role in the decision-making process. Consider the physical size of the machine and whether you have enough space for a larger dual boiler system or if a more compact Heat Exchanger Coffee Machine is preferable.

In summary, the choice between Single Boiler, HX machine and Dual Boiler Coffee Machines depends on your specific preferences, budget constraints, and the level of convenience you desire in brewing and steaming operations.

All types can produce excellent coffee, so it ultimately comes down to your individual needs and priorities. All machines can produce an amazing cup of coffee as long as you use good and freshly roasted coffee beans and you utilises good skills.

Please pay attention to this important rule. – ALWAYS fit a good Coffee Grinder in your budget. The grinder is as important as the coffee machine and ultimately will give you the edge performance in producing an amazing cup of coffee every day. There’s no point investing in a premium coffee machine if you are ending up using a basic consumer grinder.