Filipinos are caffeine-lovers – from our favorite breakfast and in-between drink - coffee to tea and soda. The majority would want our coffee hot but a significant number wants them iced. Some with extra flavors and styles – hazelnut, Irish cream, non-fat milk, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and coffee jellies among others.
Who could forget the collection of planners from coffee shops every Christmas and New Year? There is also a growing interest in coffee barista and coffee latte art. This is only possible with the star tool for coffee making – the espresso machine. This article hopes to give you a guide and recommendations on excellent espresso machines that you can purchase online.
Espresso machines are leaning to a more expensive kitchen appliance. But for coffee lovers and barista aspirants, they are worth the investment. They also vary in boiler type and brewing speed.
The more high-tech, the higher the price is so check your budget or allot a budget to make this machine as an investment rather than an expense.
It is important to differentiate espresso machines from coffee makers. Physically, espresso machines look more complex because of their innovative features. One common feature of many espresso machines that coffee makers do not have is milk steamer or frother.
Espresso machines use finely grounded coffee called espresso as compared to coffee makers, which accept any size of ground coffee. In brewing, espresso machines use high pressure to push the water through ground coffee beans. This method brings out the rich and creamy coffee as compared to common coffee makers.
Purchase a fully-automatic or super-automatic machine if you want an effortless creamier coffee. A fully-automatic machine is using a single-touch brewing method – once switched on, the machine controls the whole operation. A super-automatic espresso machine is one notch higher because of its automatic coffee grinder.
But for enthusiasts or aspiring latte artists or coffee baristas, semi-automatic or manual machine is more recommended depending on how hands-on you want to be in making espressos. Metal-based espresso machines are heavier and more expensive but more durable as compared to the plastic-based.
Every machine comes with a user manual but let’s face it, only a few have the patience or will to read it. The convenience or ease of use still weighs heavily as one of the key points in choosing.
The fewer buttons and switches, the better. User-friendliness also means easy to clean - removing the residue and disassembling parts must not be a daunting task at all.
User-friendliness is meant for safety for both the users and the machines. These machines are also sensitive, especially they use electricity, temperature, and pressure. So, searching for some online video tutorials on the use will also be a great help in choosing the best one.
Consider the available kitchen or pantry space that will be allotted for your espresso machine. You may also consider purchasing lighter and handy espresso machines if ever you want to carry it for family bonding or coffee cocktail parties with friends – after the quarantine of course.
A typical water tank of an espresso machine could serve up to 8 cups. So if you are into a big family or an active house party host, you might need to consider a larger tank or would allow plumbing to connect the machine directly to a pipe for easy water refills.
An espresso machine with an attached milk frother can do wonders for coffee enthusiasts. Milk widens the range of coffee flavors that can be done with the machine – cappuccino, latte, and even mocha. Latte artists can practice their caffeinated work with frothed milk.
Moreover, espresso machines can serve kids and non-coffee drinkers because they can use the machines for hot milk and even hot chocolate. For sure, kids will be excitingly curious about this new “toy”. So family bonding can now happen in the kitchen with safety precautions.
Here are 10 excellent espresso machines that we recommend:
BES870XL
From ₱40,049
Machine Type | Flexible: Manual, Semi-automatic and Super-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 1.98 L (67 oz.) |
Features | Conical Burr Grinder Dose Control Precise Espresso Extraction Micro Foam Milk Texturing Grind Size Dial Hands Free Operation, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) |
HD8651/01
From ₱42,096.25
Machine Type | Super-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 1 L |
Extra Features | One-touch Function, Stainless Steel Grinder, Frother Nozzle |
PE3320
From ₱9,000
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 800 mL |
Extra Features | Constant Temperature Extraction, Removable Transparent Water Tank, Milk Frother, Adjustable Steam Knob, Cup Warmer, Detachable Drip Tray |
From ₱20,500
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 1 L |
Extra Features | Manual Capsule Insertion and Ejection, Automatic Off Mode |
EC 680
From ₱19,800
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 1 L |
Extra Features | Two-tier Drip Tray, Milk Frother, Self priming operation, Stainless Steel boiler system |
ECP35.31
From ₱27,231
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 1.1 L |
Extra Features | Dip tray, Self-Priming Operator, Removable Water Tank, Stainless Boiler System |
From ₱18,500
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 700 mL |
Features | Folding Drip Tray for Latte Macchiato glass, Energy Efficient, Milk Frother |
H102W
From ₱6,690
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 240 mL |
Extra Features | Milk Frother, Instant Boiler, One Safety Switch, Cup Warmer |
MD-2005
From ₱6,448
Machine Type | Semi-automatic |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 240 mL |
Extra Features | Adjustable steam nozzle, Function knob, Stainless steel filter, Coffee machine top cover, Automatic filtering |
A80
From ₱6,889
Machine Type | Manual |
---|---|
Water Tank Capacity | 2 - 4 cups |
Extra Features | Eco-friendly, French Press |
Image | 1 ![]() Breville | 2 Philips | 3 ![]() Petrus | 4 ![]() Nespresso | 5 ![]() Delonghi | 6 ![]() DeLonghi | 7 ![]() Nespresso | 8 ![]() Fotile | 9 ![]() Fxunshi | 10 ![]() Aeropress |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Barista Express | Super-automatic Espresso Machine | Espresso Coffee Machine with Steam Milk Bubble | CitiZ & Aeroccino 3 | Delonghi Dedica Pump Espresso Maker | Espresso and Cappuccino Machine | Nespresso Pixie & Aeroccino 3 | FOT Espresso Machine | Espresso and Milk Bubble Machine | Portable Coffee Maker Kit |
Features | Coffee Barista's Dream Machine | Premium Machine for The Busy People | Great Starter for Aspiring Baristas and Latte Artists | Sleek Look for Delightful Coffee Moments | An Italian-inspired Coffee Experience | Aroma from Roma | A Magical and Dainty Coffee Experience | A Fancy Coffee for a Budget Friendly Machine | Foamy Milk for a Rich Espresso | For Hands On Travel & Coffee Enthusiasts |
Price Starts at | ₱40,049 | ₱42,096.25 | ₱9,000 | ₱20,500 | ₱19,800 | ₱27,231 | ₱18,500 | ₱6,690 | ₱6,448 | ₱6,889 |
Machine Type | Flexible: Manual, Semi-automatic and Super-automatic | Super-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Manual |
Water Tank Capacity | 1.98 L (67 oz.) | 1 L | 800 mL | 1 L | 1 L | 1.1 L | 700 mL | 240 mL | 240 mL | 2 - 4 cups |
Features | Conical Burr Grinder Dose Control Precise Espresso Extraction Micro Foam Milk Texturing Grind Size Dial Hands Free Operation, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) | One-touch Function, Stainless Steel Grinder, Frother Nozzle | Constant Temperature Extraction, Removable Transparent Water Tank, Milk Frother, Adjustable Steam Knob, Cup Warmer, Detachable Drip Tray | Manual Capsule Insertion and Ejection, Automatic Off Mode | Two-tier Drip Tray, Milk Frother, Self priming operation, Stainless Steel boiler system | Dip tray, Self-Priming Operator, Removable Water Tank, Stainless Boiler System | Folding Drip Tray for Latte Macchiato glass, Energy Efficient, Milk Frother | Milk Frother, Instant Boiler, One Safety Switch, Cup Warmer | Adjustable steam nozzle, Function knob, Stainless steel filter, Coffee machine top cover, Automatic filtering | Eco-friendly, French Press |
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To show how helpful to have an espresso machine, we have two recipes in preparing drinks using them: one for adults and one for kids and non-coffee drinkers.
This video above from Breville shows you how to easily make a cappuccino. Cappucinos have three layers - espresso, steamed milk, and some milk froth on top. To make a cappuccino you'll only need your espresso machine, coffee beans, and some milk.
Espresso machines are for kids and non-coffee drinkers too! Check out the video above from A2B Production's Youtube page that shows how to easily make a hot chocolate using a Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother. For this recipe, you'll need chocolate chips or bar of your choice and some milk.
Bring out the barista in you! Click the article links below to see our recommended milk brothers and other coffee stuff.
Espresso machines are designed for both convenience, and innovative and creative coffee-making. This is not just for the sake of drinking coffee but also giving coffee-lovers an additional excitement as they can experience to be baristas as they serve coffee to their guests.
This can be a springboard of an opportunity for a barista career or café business. Besides, we have witnessed an exponential growth of coffee shops, whether new brands or new branches, is evident in the country in the past 15 years. With a wise investment, passion for coffee and art, this can be an open door for a new venture.
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
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