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Single Serve Espresso Machine A single-serve espresso machine is a good choice if you want an espresso that's just for you. It is all you need to do is refill the water tank and then add the desired pods or capsules and hit the button. The top coffee pod machines provide convenience, speed and user-friendliness. Some machines provide additional options, such as hot chocolate or tea. Precise Extraction As the name suggests, espresso is made by pushing hot water through finely ground coffee beans under high pressure. This is a different process from brewing drip coffee in which water is allowed to flow freely through the grounds. Espresso extraction requires a precise balance of several factors such as dose, tamp and grind. The first step to a good espresso shot is heating your portafilter (the round metal piece that holds the coffee grounds). Vigil usually weighs her portafilter before she fills it with coffee, which ensures that she uses the correct amount of beans. She then tamps the grounds to create an even puck that is dense enough to extract the flavor notes of her beans. She typically tamps with 30 pounds of force, which is perfect for consistent, flavorful espresso. It's also crucial to pay attention to the consistency and color of your coffee. The first few seconds of a properly extracted shot should be dark gold, and it should change to lighter gold as the 25-second mark is near. This is called blonding. A shot that isn't blonding correctly could be acidic or bitter. A few of the machines we've tested in our tests, like the Keurig K-Supreme Smart and the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, let you set a brew time to control the rate at which the coffee is extracted. This is a useful feature, but it won't make up for a poor-ground or over-roasted coffee. You can control the extraction rate in some machines, like the Gaggia semiautomatic. This can make an important difference in the flavor of espresso, however it is not a fix for a bad grind or roast. A majority of the machines we tested come with built-in options for steam wands or a frother, making it easy to make espresso with steam-frothed or frothed milk. This is especially useful for drinks like cappuccino or latte which are typically served with steaming milk. Certain machines, such as the Nespresso Inissia or the Cuisinart On Demand offer recyclable pods that help reduce the amount of waste. Variety of Drinks Many drinks that are espresso-based require the use of frothed or steamed milk, and the top single serve espresso machines can do the job well. A high-quality machine can make rich creamy cappuccinos and lattes using a simple touch of a button or programmable settings. Some machines include an automatic milk frother, so you don't need an additional tool at the counter. The best espresso makers also offer additional drinks, such as iced drinks. Some models have built-in grinders that grind beans at a high speed, while others use a carafe with multiple servings. Some models have adjustable settings, so you can select the temperature of your water and strength. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the most highly rated model in this category. It can make double or lungo shots and a variety drinks with a touch of a button. If you prefer more sophisticated drinks you can choose the Philips Breville Intuo XS makes it easy to make cappuccinos as well as lattes. It is easy to use and intuitive with five popular drinks available at the touch of the button. The brewing process takes only few minutes and makes an excellent tasting espresso without any effort on your part. It is also environmentally green, reducing the number of coffee pods you need to buy. If you're a fan of experimenting with your own recipes, consider getting a versatile espresso maker that can prepare double-shot or single-shot drinks. The best coffee and espresso maker brands come with a user-friendly interface that lets you customize the size, strength and brew time of your beverage at the push of the button. You can select from a variety of coffee beans ranging from traditional to exotic blends and variations. Some come with a grinder that grinds fresh grounds. This gives you more control over the taste of your coffee than pre-packaged pods. Convenience The ease of single-serve espresso machines is among their primary benefits. They're quick to brew require minimal cleanup and don't require measuring ground coffee or coffee beans. They are designed to make just one cup so there aren't any leftovers. Machines that make use of capsules and pods (like Keurig or Nespresso) that come pre-packaged with the correct amount of ground coffee for a single cup, work in the same way. Simply select the beverage you'd like to drink and then place the pod into the machine, and press the button. Many machines also have the ability to brew tea or hot cocoa, and some also have milk frothers that allow for the easy making of milk-based drinks. They are a great option however, they have a cost in terms of cost and impact on the environment. Pods are typically more expensive than ground or bean-to- cup coffee and, in many cases, they will be plastic-packaged, which means you'll need to figure out an option to recycle them. Over time, this can add up and be an important consideration in the event you're considering purchasing pod coffee makers for long-term use. Other models are more flexible in terms of brewing size and can handle different kinds of grounds. These are sometimes called “ground-to-cup” machines. You'll place ground coffee into an insulated filter basket that sits on top of the machine or in the case of espresso-style machines, into a portafilter, which looks like an espresso machine filter, and is akin to the traditional coffee pot. These machines typically provide the closest thing to the traditional barista flavour, but are typically a bit more complex and expensive than pod or capsule-based models. There are also super-automatic machines and manual machines. They work similarly to the standard coffee maker but with a higher level of automation. They can be programmed to automatically serve beverages, including coffee, and can also perform simple maintenance tasks such as decaffeinating and descaling. They have earned our highest Lab scores for their ease of use and reliability. They can be a challenge to keep in good working condition. Maintenance As professional baristas, your equipment needs to be regularly cleaned and descaled in order to make excellent coffee. You should also backflush your espresso group heads every evening and clean the machine to eliminate any leftover milk or loose grounds of coffee. These tasks may seem mundane but they are essential to the durability and quality of your equipment. Cleaning your single-serve espresso machine is essential not just for hygiene reasons but also to enhance the flavor of your espresso. If you don't clean your machine, it may result in a buildup of impurities and bacterial growing that will affect the taste and aroma of your coffee. Cleaning your espresso machine won't require as much time as you may think. You can keep your machine in tip-top condition for a long time by spending only a few minutes each day cleaning it thoroughly once a month. First, you'll need to empty the drip pan (this is a straightforward task that is usually completed in a single step). Next, you'll need to clean the internal components of the machine. It's a good idea to make use of a mild soap along with water and a sponge especially around the hot boiler and the portafilter. When you're done, wash the exterior and interior of your machine with an unclean towel or cloth. The most crucial part of the maintenance process is cleaning your espresso machine on a regular basis. Backflushing and descalers will eliminate any hard-water deposits from your machine that could affect the taste of your espresso. Read the Full Report , or at least once a week depending on how frequently you use it. For a backflush to be done begin by removing the steam wand and the group head and soak them for at least a half hour in the solution of water and espresso machine detergent. When the baskets and portsafilters are clean and dry, you can run fresh water through them. You can also backflush the steam portafilter and scrub it using nylon brushes. Last but not least clean the draining hose by using a solution of water and cleaner.