How to choose a home lever coffee machine

WILL A HOME LEVER COFFEE MACHINE BE SUITABLE FOR YOU?

You just lovecoffee . You shop for fine coffee, collect advice from the professionals at your favorite coffee shop, have at least one coffee lover's book in your library , and read new coffee information on our blogevery day. You make your morning coffee in your Chemex and you're looking forward to the weekend because you're about to take a barista course for which you received a voucher from your sweetheart for your birthday.

Congratulations, you're well on your way to being a home barista. As such a semi-professional in coffee making, you also need a semi-professional coffee machine. That's why you're still browsing the pages of our e-store at night before bed , where you head to thelever home coffee maker section . Yes, you're right. This category is where you'll find your future espresso or cappuccino companion.

HOW TO CHOOSE A LEVER COFFEE MAKER

If it was just a matter of choosing a coffee maker based on looks, you'd bet on your taste and just buy one. But what do these machines have "under the hood"? When choosing a coffee machine, look at these specifics:

boiler
pump
location conditions (size, water supply)
the possibility of whipping milk
design
grinder (integrated/separate)

CHOICE OF HOME COFFEE MACHINE: TEMPERATURE AND WATER VOLUME

One of the essential components of a coffee machine is the boiler. All coffee machines have at least one. It draws hot water to extract the coffee and steam to whip the milk. Some coffee machines also have a hot water dispenser, for example for tea. It is therefore important to have a sufficiently sized boiler.

When you prepare your Chemex, you use certain water temperature levels depending on thecoffee you have or the recipe you are following. With espresso, it's no different. You need water of a certain and, more importantly, a constant temperature. To ensure this constancy, quality coffee machines use thermostats with a proportional integral derivative algorithm, PID for short. If you want certainty about the temperature of the water in your coffee machine for your great espresso - you want a coffee machine with a PID system.

CHOOSING A HOME COFFEE MACHINE: THE RIGHT PRESSURE

The next item on the list of a quality espresso machine is pressure. The constant marketing rumor of all vendors: 'The more pressure - the more espresso! Buy this machine, it's the best because it has up to 19 bar and it's a must-have!"

Don't be tempted, after all , you've already read in our espressomakingarticle that you need9 bar to make espresso . With a talc strength below that, the machine will make you a cup of hot brown water instead of espresso. However, more bars will not improve your coffee. The important factor is the ability of the coffee machine to maintain this pressure, and with this idea we come to the pump.

THE HEART OF THE MACHINE: THE ROTARY OR VIBRATING PUMP

The coffee maker pumps water through the pump, which passes this pressure through the finely ground coffee in the lever, where it picks up the best of the ground beans and transfers those flavours and aromas into your cup. The number of bars indicated is therefore the pressure exerted by the pump and at the same time this number is the maximum value. The pumpsfor coffee machines come in two technologically different versions.

The most suitable is the rotarypump . In this component, there are rotating blades that propel water into the coffee maker's piping. Rotary pumps can keep the pressure exerted at a constant value. However, it is more expensive to manufacture and is also more bulky.

That is why vibratingpumps are largelyfound in home coffee machines . These work on the principle of an oscillating piston. Although vibrating pumps develop the necessary even higher pressure, they only achieve this at a certain stage of espresso preparation and then the pressure drops again. However, even with a vibrating pump, today's coffee machines are capable of decent extractions.

THE IDEAL ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR THE HOME

We'll finish this technological look at what's not visible with a summary of the features that are visible at first glance. Theactual dimensions ofyour future espresso machine should fit the space possibilities of your kitchen counter. You decide on the appearance according to your aesthetic sense.

In the list of parameters of the coffee machine, you should also be interested in the size of the water tank. Its appropriate volume is related to the number of coffee drinkers in the household and your willingness to refill the water. Some coffee makers have the option toconnect directly tothe water supply. What you will notice at first glance is the control of the coffee maker. In addition to buttons, indicator lights or a pressure gauge, it is useful for the coffee maker to have a display for better communication between you and your machine.

HOME LATTE MAKER

Not only the appearance but also the functionality differs nozzles on coffee makers. The chrome steam nozzles allow you towhisk milk and enjoy a cappuccino or latte in your living room as well. Their functions are the same, their use differs slightly.

Some steam nozzles are shorter than others, they are curved or shaped indifferent ways , and the final opening where the steam comes out also varies by manufacturer and type. Some nozzles will whip better than others, or take longer to figure out asuitable technique. If you like milky coffee drinks, you should also look at the steam nozzle when choosing a coffee maker.

HOME COFFEE MACHINES THAT CATCH THE EYE

When looking for your new coffee machine, be sure to check out the range of machines with the Nuova Simonellibrand , a renowned manufacturer of coffee machines and grinders for the home, professional and competition machines at barista world championships.

With interesting machines are the Spanish semi-professional coffee machines Ascaso. They offer a multitude of functions to set up with simple push button controls and an informative display. They are produced in a minimalist design, for example with wooden details such as the lever handle.

A coffee machine with the compact dimensions of a home machine but with professional technical equipment inside is the beautiful machine of the Italian traditional coffee maker Lelit. Its steel body is complemented by wooden parts. It is the wooden lever above the pressure gauge that allows you to regulate the built-in rotary pump and determine your extraction curve. It is therefore a coffee machine for avid baristas who want to play with coffee and explore its hidden possibilities and potential.

COFFEE FOR A LEVER COFFEE MACHINE? ONLY FRESHLY GROUND

For a quality coffee machine, you also need a reliable grinder. One that guarantees a consistent and fine grind for your espresso. Don't underestimatechoosing the right grinder for your coffee machine. Your coffee machine will make your espresso, but it's the grinder and the right grind that will determine how and whether you like it.

Always use a grinder to make coffee, whether it's espresso or another alternative method of preparation. Only freshly ground coffee can give you a cup full of flavour. Grinding for espresso has its own specifics compared to other coffee preparation methods. With filtered coffee, the differences in grinding grades are easy to spot at a glance. With espresso, you need to grind very finely indeed, and moving up the grinding coarseness scale on the grinder is done in micrometric degrees, because even a tiny change in the coarseness, or rather fineness, of the grind is noticeable in the taste of the espresso.

We therefore recommend using espresso grinders that allow for these small changes in setting. While universal grinders can be used for all coffee preparation methods, if you want to get the best out of your espresso, get an espresso grinder. The cheaper option is the manual espresso grinder. They have a high quality grind and you save money thanks to the "vlatnoruction drive". However, if you make a larger number of coffees throughout the day, don't want to add to the time spent grinding your espresso by hand, or simply don't enjoy grinding by hand, choose from electric espresso grinders.

LEVER ESPRESSO MACHINE WITH GRINDER INSIDE

If you don't have enough space in your kitchen, you can save a few inches on the counter by choosing a home lever coffee machine with an integrated grinder. The 2-in-1 coffee machine and grinder saves you the hassle of choosing an espresso grinder in addition to the space. This compact solution looks good and since they are made for each other, the grinder and coffee maker get along great.

HOW TO CHOOSE A LEVER ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR HOME - SUMMARY:

Choose based on what features you want in a coffee maker. What you want from your coffee maker, what you want from it, who will be using it or how many coffees you will be making on a regular basis.
Also look at what advanced features it should be able to handle. For example, whether it has an integrated PID system to adjust the water temperature or a rotary pump. This will give you an almost professional machine so you can achieve the best extractions.
Also take into account what drinks you want to prepare on your coffee machine. Whether you are a strict espresso lover or you want to whip milk to create homemade lattes or cappuccinos.
Of course, thelook and size of the machine also play a big role in choosing a coffee maker.
The most important thing when buying a coffee maker is usually its price, which determines the category of products from which you will choose the best coffee maker.
Don't forget the importance of freshly ground coffee for a delicious espresso and look for a quality grinder or choose from coffee machines with an integrated grinder.