Popular articles
Recent discussions on forum
Best Fully Automatic Espresso Machines Review
Find out all that you need to know before you buy and an auto espresso machine.
Published November 24, 2021
Select language
Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
A fully automatic espresso machine is an excellent investment to make in your home if you want to easily start making your favorite coffee beverages such as cappuccinos and lattes without coffee shop prices. While they do have a reputation for being rather high-maintenance and expensive to obtain, if you tend to drink a lot of coffee that you buy from coffee shops, the machine will quickly begin to pay for itself when you start making your coffee from home instead. Along with this, as fully automatic espresso machines begin to grow in popularity and demand, you can now find lots of different model options that are both more affordable and easier to maintain. If you are considering buying a fully automatic espresso machine for your home, keep reading to find out more about the things you’ll need to know before you buy and to read auto espresso machine reviews that will help you find the best one for your home.
What You Should Know About Automatic Espresso Makers
Are coffee machines worth it? If you drink a lot of coffee that you buy from Starbucks or another rather pricey coffee shop and want to save money by brewing your own at home without sacrificing on the taste or quality, they are definitely worth the investment. The main characteristic of an automatic espresso machine is that the machine generates the brewing pressure for you, unlike when using a manual espresso maker, where you will need to pull a lever to build the pressure. A fully automatic espresso maker will be programmed to deliver just the amount of pressure to provide the perfect brew when you press the button.
Semi-Automatic Machines
If you want to retain some more control over the brewing process, you may want to consider a semi-automatic machine. When it comes to the differences with a manual espresso machine vs semi-automatic, the brewing pressure and temperature are automatically controlled with semi-automatic unlike a manual machine. However, everything else will be up to you, including grinding the coffee beans, dosing, and tamping your coffee shot, along with steaming the milk that you want to use for making a latte or cappuccino. It is the best option to choose if you want to recreate the coffee shop experience at home; however, it does require some barista skills.
Fully-Automatic Machines
In a similar fashion to a semi-automatic coffee machine, the brewing temperature and pressure are controlled electronically when using a fully-automatic machine. It will also control the length of the brew and the water dosing, while the user is required to grind the coffee and tamp the shot. One of the main advantages of a fully-automatic coffee machine is the consistency, along with the fact that they do not require quite as much of your attention. Once you begin the shot, you can focus on preparing your steamed milk, while the machine will automatically stop once the correct volume is reached. Many fully-automatic machines also offer the option to use a semi-automatic option, which is great if you want to take back some control over the shot timing.
Super-Automatic Machines
If you’ve ever used a commercial coffee machine in a gas station or similar where all you need to do is push a button or select an option from a touch screen and your drink is prepared, then you’ll know what to expect from a super-automatic machine. These work in a similar way, but with a better coffee taste and foam texture. A super-automatic espresso machine uses a bean-to-cup system that also includes a grinder. Once you are ready to brew your coffee, it will dispense the correct amount of beans, grind them, tamp them, and begin extracting.
Some even come with automatic milk frothers, allowing you to make your coffee with the push of a button. These machines are ideal for those who don’t want a lot of control over their coffee or simply prefer the added convenience of being able to sit back and let the machine take care of it all. These machines are used by popular coffee shops like Starbucks, so if you want to recreate that experience at home or even open your own coffee shop it might be worth checking out some commercial super automatic espresso machine reviews.
So, what’s the best automatic espresso machine, whether you want a semi-automatic or the best super automatic espresso machine for your home? Let’s take a look at some reviews.
Seaco Xelsis Espresso Machine
This machine provides all the convenience of a fully automatic espresso maker without compromising your ability to customize your coffee. It comes with fifteen different drink recipes programmed in, making it easy to recreate all your favorite coffee shop drinks at home. You can also program a range of different drink parameters including the shot volume, temperature, milk texture, and the grind and dose of beans. Once you find the right settings for you, you can save them to one of the six user profiles. This machine is also a very low maintenance option, with automatic line purging after you make a coffee, which keeps the milk system effortlessly clean. The built-in water filter prevents any scale building up in the water lines, which results in less descaling required compared to other espresso machines. The grinder is made from high-quality ceramic, which prevents build-up along with keeping as much flavor as possible from your beans in your brew.
De’Longhi ESAM3300 Super Automatic Espresso
This super automatic espresso machine is great for those on a budget, offering a compact size, user-friendliness, and excellent value. It uses a direct-to-brew system from the grinder that limits the amount of mess, making it easy to keep clean and well-maintained, too, with around half the cleaning time compared to most other automatic espresso machines. If you are concerned about energy waste in your home, you will love the automatic shutoff feature. The coffee that this machine produces is consistent with a full crema and a rich flavor. The built-in milk frother provides a decent amount of steam whether you want to make frothy milk for a cappuccino or microfoam for a latte. Bear in mind that the steam wand is manual, which is great for people who want to learn how to make latte art or simply prefer having more control over the milk texture.
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine
This espresso machine can produce microfoam that’s just like what you’d expect from a coffee shop, providing the smooth texture and sweet flavor that most people want when drinking a latte. The steam wand comes with temperature control and a dedicated boiler. When brewing espresso shots, there are various features such as digital temperature control and heated grouphead that ensure a flavorful and even extraction every time. The pre-infusion feature will ensure that all of the subtle notes are brought out from the grinds and into your cup, and an Over Pressure Valve is in place to make sure that the brew pressure remains optimal at all times. You can use it to make a variety of espresso-based beverages including Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, and espresso shots. It comes with eight customizable settings that you can easily adjust and save. Along with being easy to use, it is also quite low maintenance, with an automatic cleaning system included to prevent build up and reduce bacteria growth.
Espressione 8212S Fully Automatic Espresso
If you want an automatic espresso maker on a tight budget, this could be a good option for you to think about. It’s also a great option for small kitchens, boasting a compact design that measures just seven inches across. The grouphead and steam wand share the same boiler, but this machine still does a good job of regulating the pressure and temperature. It offers excellent brewing pressure and temperature, resulting in aromatic and rich espresso shots for each drink. However, it can be worth bearing in mind that the machine is prone to issues with certain types of beans – you may want to avoid oil dark roasts as this can lead to feed issues with the grinder.
NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Esperta 2 Coffee Machine
If grinding coffee beans isn’t something you want to do when making espresso at home, a pod machine such as this one could be a good alternative option for you. This machine takes a different approach to brewing compared to the grind-and-brew automatic coffee makers. Instead of brewing shots and frothing milk, the ground coffee, milk, and any flavorings come inside pre-packaged pods that you can purchase online and in most grocery stores. The coffee grounds are contained inside the pods, making it simple to use and easy to clean and maintain. However, one disadvantage of pod coffee machines is that you are unlikely to get full-bodied espresso shots and café-quality microfoam.
From super automatic machines that will do everything for you to semi-automatic machines that control the pressure and temperature but leave everything else under your control, there’s an automatic espresso machine for every coffee-lover who wants to start making café-quality coffee at home.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
Add comment
More on the coffee lab
Sign up and contribute now