Single Serve Espresso Machine

If you would prefer a cup of coffee that is made just for you, a single serve espresso machine is an excellent choice. Simply refill the water container and add your desired capsule or pod, then press the button.

The top coffee pods provide convenience, speed and ease of use. Some machines offer extra 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 very different process than drip coffee brewing, in which water is allowed to flow freely through the coffee grounds. The exact extraction of espresso requires a precise balance of several factors such as dose, tamp and grind.

Preheating your portafilter is the very first step to making a great espresso shot. Vigil typically weighs her portafilter before she fills it with coffee, which makes sure that she's using the right amount of beans. She then tamps the grounds to create an even puck that's dense enough to draw out the flavor notes in her beans. She uses 30 pounds of force to tamp the grounds, which is perfect for a consistent, flavorful espresso.

It's also crucial to be aware of the consistency and color of your espresso. An espresso that has been extracted correctly should be dark golden for the initial few seconds, and then shift to a light gold when it approaches the 25-second mark--this is referred to as blonding. A shot that hasn't been blonding correctly could be acidic or bitter.

A few of the machines in our tests, such as the Keurig K-Supreme Smart and the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, let you set a brew period to control the rate at the time the coffee is extracted. This is an excellent feature, but it won't be able to compensate if the beans aren't properly ground or roasted.

You can regulate the rate of extraction in certain machines, like the Gaggia semiautomatic. This can make a big impact on the flavor of your espresso, however it's not the best solution for poor roast or a bad grind.

Many of the machines we tested come with built-in options for steam wands or a frother, making it easy to make espresso with steam-steamed milk or frothed. This is particularly useful for drinks like cappuccino and latte, which are often served with steamed milk. Certain machines, such as Nespresso Inissia or the Cuisinart On Demand provide reusable pods to reduce the waste.

Variety of drinks

Many espresso-based drinks require the use of frothed or steamed milk, and the top single serve coffee serve espresso machines can complete the job efficiently. A quality machine can make rich creamy cappuccinos and lattes using a simple touch of an electronic button or with programmable settings. Some models even come with an automatic milk frother, which means you don't need to buy a separate device on the counter.

The top espresso and coffee makers also provide other drink options, like drinks with ice. Some models come with built-in grinders that grind beans fresh, while others utilize a carafe with multiple servings. Some models have adjustable settings, allowing you to select your preferred water temperature and strength. The Nespresso Essenza Mini is the most popular model in this class. It can brew double or lungo shots as well as a variety of drinks with a touch of a single button.

The Philips Breville Intuo XS is an excellent choice for those who prefer a more sophisticated drink. It makes it easy to make cappuccinos or latte. It is simple to use and intuitive with five popular drinks accessible at the touch of a button. The brewing process only takes about a minute and will produce a great tasting espresso without any effort on your part. The machine is also environmentally green, reducing the number of coffee pods you need to buy.

If you like to experiment with your own ideas look into a multi-functional espresso maker that can make double-shot and single-shot drinks. The top espresso and coffee makers feature an easy-to-use interface that allows you to customize the size, strength and brew times of your beverage with the click of a button. You can also pick from many different coffee beans, ranging from traditional to exotic blends and varieties. Some even come with a grinder for fresh grounds, which can offer greater control over the taste of your coffee than pre-packaged pods.

Convenience

One of the major benefits of single pod coffee maker serve espresso machines is their convenience. They are easy to use, don't require much cleaning and don't require measuring coffee beans or ground coffee. Because they're made to make only one cup, there's no leftovers.

Pod and capsule machines (like Keurig and Nespresso) work by using capsules or coffee pods that are pre-packaged, which contain the perfect amount of ground coffee to make a single serving. You just need to choose the beverage you'd like to drink, insert the pod in the machine, then press the button. The majority of machines also have the ability to brew tea and hot cocoa, and some include milk frothers to make it easy to create of milk-based drinks.

But while these machines are extremely convenient, they come at an expense in terms of cost and environmental footprint. Pods are more expensive than ground coffee or bean-to-cup, and are typically packaged in plastic, so you'll need an alternative to recycling. This can increase over time, and is something you should think about when purchasing a pod-based coffee maker.

Other models are more flexible in terms of brewing sizes, and can handle various types of beans or grounds. They are often called "ground-to-cup" machines. The ground coffee is placed in a coffee in a basket that is placed at the top of the machine or, if you have an espresso-style machine, into the portafilter. It looks like a traditional coffee pot and is akin to the filter of an espresso machine. These machines are the closest to the traditional barista's flavor, but they are more expensive and complicated than models that use capsules or pods.

There are also super-automatic machines and manual machines. They function similarly to your typical coffee maker but with a higher degree of automation. They can automate the dispense of coffee and other beverages and can also handle routine maintenance tasks like decaffeinating or descaling. They have earned our highest Lab scores for their ease of use and reliability. However, they can be difficult to keep in good condition.

Maintenance

As a professional barista you are aware that your equipment should be cleaned and descaled regularly to make excellent coffee. It is recommended to backflush your espresso group heads every night and wipe down the machine to remove any milk residue or loose coffee grounds. These routine tasks might appear tedious, but they're essential to the long-term durability and efficiency of your equipment.

Cleaning your single serve espresso machine is crucial not just for hygiene but also for the taste of your espresso. If you don't take care to clean your machine, it could cause a build-up of bacteria and impurities growing that will alter the taste and flavor of your coffee. Cleaning your espresso machine won't take as much time as you may think. A few minutes a day and a thorough cleaning every month will keep your machine in top condition for many years to come.

First, you'll need empty the drip tray (this is usually a simple task that can be done in just one step). Then, wipe down the machine's internal components. Use mild soap and water with a sponge to wash the machine, especially the portafilter and hot boiler. After you've finished, wash the outside and inside of your machine using a clean cloth or towel.

The most important aspect of the maintenance process is to clean your espresso machine on a regular basis. A couple of tablespoons of descaler along with a backflush will keep your machine free of any hard-water deposits that can negatively affect the flavor of your espresso. Descale your coffee maker at least every 300 cups, or at least once every week, based on how frequently you use it.

To perform a backflush begin by removing the steam wand and group head and soak them for at least one cup coffee makers hour in the solution of water and espresso machine detergent. Once they're clean, run fresh water through the baskets, portafilters and steam wand. It's also recommended to backflush the steam portafilters with the solution and scrub it with a nylon brush. Finally, sanitize the draining hose by using a dilute solution of cleaner and water.