Portafilter espresso machines - Our guide to buying a machine
A high-quality espresso machine is a piece of quality of life. Fine espresso, creamy cappuccino and airy latte macchiato, there is no better start to the day. We offer a wide selection of high-quality portafilters, with individual advice and long-term service. Espresso like in Italy is our passion, we accompany our customers from the first idea to the home espresso bar, with experience and expertise.
Why an espresso machine?
What types of machine are available?
Vibration pump, rotary pump or hand lever, what is the difference?
Which espresso machine suits my needs?
What does PID, shot counter etc. mean?
Why a portafilter machine?
A real espresso machine, also called a portafilter machine in professional circles, can prepare an incomparably aromatic espresso. The perfect espresso requires temperature stability, the right pressure and freshly ground coffee from an espresso grinder. For the optimum temperature, a portafilter with a sufficiently large boiler and a solid brewing group is recommended, as this is the only way to maintain the exact temperature throughout the entire brewing process. This is also the main difference to inexpensive espresso machines, which often only have a flow heater (thermoblock) and have problems maintaining the correct temperature. Another advantage of espresso machines with a boiler is the steam power, which makes it possible to prepare finely creamy milk foam.
Espresso machine - Rocket R58V2
Which espresso machine?
The various types of espresso machines differ in how the water is heated and whether it is possible to make espresso and milk foam directly one after the other or at the same time without switching. Machines with a thermoblock, more or less an instantaneous water heater, are characterised by a short heating time and low power consumption, but the temperature stability is usually insufficient. A thermoblock is usually found in very inexpensive machines. A single-circuit machine is a portafilter with a single boiler; the temperature for espresso and steam must be switched manually. Dual-circuit machines also have a boiler, but with a heat exchanger for espresso, steam and espresso can be made without switching. Dual boilers have two boilers, one for espresso and one for steam. They offer the highest temperature stability, but are unfortunately correspondingly more expensive.
Vibration pump, rotary pump or hand helicopter
Vibration pumps have proven their worth in the household over the years, and the noise of the pumps is also familiar from many fully automatic machines. Rotary pumps are quieter and make it possible to connect the machine directly to the household water supply. They have a more even pressure curve. Hand-operated machines generate the necessary pressure with a spring that is pre-tensioned with a lever, but making espresso by hand requires a lot of experience and practice.
Which type of machine suits my needs?
Single-circuit machine
Perfect for pure espresso drinkers, occasional milk frothing works, but is uncomfortable.
Two-circuit with vibration pump
Espresso, cappuccino, Americano and latte macchiato, all without switching.
Two-circuit coffee maker with rotary pump
Comfortable coffee enjoyment at the highest level, quiet and with the option of a fixed water connection.
Dual Boiler
Highest precision and all the possibilities to get the best out of every bean.
What does PID, Shotcounter etc. mean?
PID - A controller with which the boiler temperature can be regulated, or briefly a display on which the target temperature is set, an algorithm does the rest.
Shotcounter - A display that shows the duration of the draw.
Flow rate - the amount of water per second that flows through the brew group.
Which espresso machine for beginners?
Which espresso machine is right for you depends, of course, on what and how much coffee you drink. Most beginners are well advised to choose a two-circuit machine with a vibratory pump. With these espresso machines, you don't have to switch between espresso and steam and can use both directly one after the other. We will be happy to advise you on site or on the phone.
How do I clean a portafilter machine?
Often one of the first questions is how often you have to clean an espresso machine and whether cleaning is as time-consuming as with a fully automatic coffee machine. Fortunately, a high-quality portafilter machine is very easy and quick to clean. The brew group is freed from coffee residues with the help of the "backwash", which is ideally carried out every 2-3 days. The steam nozzle is cleaned with a cloth directly after frothing and then briefly blown out once. The water tank of most espresso machines can be easily removed and cleaned. More information on cleaning can be found in our Barista 1x1.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Portafilter espresso machines - Our guide to buying a machine
A high-quality espresso machine is a piece of quality of life. Fine espresso, creamy cappuccino and airy latte macchiato, there is no better start to the day. We offer a wide selection of high-quality portafilters, with individual advice and long-term service. Espresso like in Italy is our passion, we accompany our customers from the first idea to the home espresso bar, with experience and expertise.
Why an espresso machine?
What types of machine are available?
Vibration pump, rotary pump or hand lever, what is the difference?
Which espresso machine suits my needs?
What does PID, shot counter etc. mean?
Why a portafilter machine?
A real espresso machine, also called a portafilter machine in professional circles, can prepare an incomparably aromatic espresso. The perfect espresso requires temperature stability, the right pressure and freshly ground coffee from an espresso grinder. For the optimum temperature, a portafilter with a sufficiently large boiler and a solid brewing group is recommended, as this is the only way to maintain the exact temperature throughout the entire brewing process. This is also the main difference to inexpensive espresso machines, which often only have a flow heater (thermoblock) and have problems maintaining the correct temperature. Another advantage of espresso machines with a boiler is the steam power, which makes it possible to prepare finely creamy milk foam.
Espresso machine - Rocket R58V2
Which espresso machine?
The various types of espresso machines differ in how the water is heated and whether it is possible to make espresso and milk foam directly one after the other or at the same time without switching. Machines with a thermoblock, more or less an instantaneous water heater, are characterised by a short heating time and low power consumption, but the temperature stability is usually insufficient. A thermoblock is usually found in very inexpensive machines. A single-circuit machine is a portafilter with a single boiler; the temperature for espresso and steam must be switched manually. Dual-circuit machines also have a boiler, but with a heat exchanger for espresso, steam and espresso can be made without switching. Dual boilers have two boilers, one for espresso and one for steam. They offer the highest temperature stability, but are unfortunately correspondingly more expensive.
Vibration pump, rotary pump or hand helicopter
Vibration pumps have proven their worth in the household over the years, and the noise of the pumps is also familiar from many fully automatic machines. Rotary pumps are quieter and make it possible to connect the machine directly to the household water supply. They have a more even pressure curve. Hand-operated machines generate the necessary pressure with a spring that is pre-tensioned with a lever, but making espresso by hand requires a lot of experience and practice.
Which type of machine suits my needs?
Single-circuit machine
Perfect for pure espresso drinkers, occasional milk frothing works, but is uncomfortable.
Two-circuit with vibration pump
Espresso, cappuccino, Americano and latte macchiato, all without switching.
Two-circuit coffee maker with rotary pump
Comfortable coffee enjoyment at the highest level, quiet and with the option of a fixed water connection.
Dual Boiler
Highest precision and all the possibilities to get the best out of every bean.
What does PID, Shotcounter etc. mean?
PID - A controller with which the boiler temperature can be regulated, or briefly a display on which the target temperature is set, an algorithm does the rest.
Shotcounter - A display that shows the duration of the draw.
Flow rate - the amount of water per second that flows through the brew group.
Which espresso machine for beginners?
Which espresso machine is right for you depends, of course, on what and how much coffee you drink. Most beginners are well advised to choose a two-circuit machine with a vibratory pump. With these espresso machines, you don't have to switch between espresso and steam and can use both directly one after the other. We will be happy to advise you on site or on the phone.
How do I clean a portafilter machine?
Often one of the first questions is how often you have to clean an espresso machine and whether cleaning is as time-consuming as with a fully automatic coffee machine. Fortunately, a high-quality portafilter machine is very easy and quick to clean. The brew group is freed from coffee residues with the help of the "backwash", which is ideally carried out every 2-3 days. The steam nozzle is cleaned with a cloth directly after frothing and then briefly blown out once. The water tank of most espresso machines can be easily removed and cleaned. More information on cleaning can be found in our Barista 1x1.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)