Almost as Easy As It Gets
If it's a satisfying, deep, rich, crema-topped espresso that you're after, and with as little work and knowledge necessary as possible, than it's tough to beat an automatic espresso machine. An automatic espresso machine eliminates nearly all the work for you by requiring you to do nothing more than pour in your preferred choice of espresso beans. It will then grind the beans, tamp the coffee, and extract an espresso shot. No matter your skill level, delicious and efficient espresso will be just moments away at any time.
The Basics
To use an automatic espresso machine, the barista simply pours in whole coffee beans. A built in coffee-grinder than grinds the beans to the exact grind best suited for espresso. It will then dispense a dose between 5 and 16 grams of coffee. A typical shot of espresso is 7 grams, but depending upon the machine, some machines will allow you to choose between 6 and 9 grams per shot. The machine will then tamp the dose down properly into an espresso pellet. Because unevenly tamped or loose coffee causes a poor extraction, this is a crucial step and having it automatically performed is just one more way to achieve consistent quality. Finally, the head will draw pressurized steam through the pellet at a predetermined BAR pressure for the highest possible extraction possible.
Always Consistent
Even the most inexperienced home barista can consistently make high-quality espresso using an automatic espresso machine. All of the variants are instantly eliminated. This is also a benefit for coffee shops that have a high rate of hiring/training, because it requires much less time to familiarize a new barista to espresso making with an automatic machine than with a manual. It also ensures consistent quality that tastes the same every time by eliminating the variations present in tamping, timing and the pressure of a manual espresso machine.
More or Less
Because automatic espresso machines do nearly everything, every automatic espresso machine will grind beans, tamp coffee and extract a shot of espresso. However, there are additional features available, as based on your wants, needs and budget. You can choose to connect the machine to a water reservoir which would even eliminate the need to pour in water, and you can also choose a model with automatic milk frothers and dispensers. Options also include the number of shots you want to make at once, which generally ranges from one to three. The amount of bar pressure will vary, typically from 9 to 18. And, of course, the special features that include things like LCD screens, heated cup warmers, milk steam wands, the option to use pods, pre-grinding, pre-brewing and multi-position flow selectors are all dependent upon personal preference.
Is It For You?
If you don't feel confident in your ability to tamp coffee or pull a good extraction, then an automatic espresso machine is one of the best choices. You'll be able to make good, quality espresso quickly and efficiently, with consistent results. However, if you welcome a challenge and want to be able to control things like the grind and the length and pressure of the extraction, then you'll want a manual espresso machine that gives you freedom to change these variables to meet your specific preferences.
