Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines

A semi-automatic espresso machine gives you a lot more to do than an automatic one. Just like the automatic machine, it makes sure that the right temperature and pressure is achieved, but grinding, measuring and tamping the coffee beans into the designated portafilter is up to you. This can be tricky at first, but with patience and experience it will give you more control and a much richer espresso.

The espresso filter is called a portafilter. It has a long arm meant for you to hold and a circular metal filter which is attached to the machine. There are both single and double portafilters and it is useful to have one of each. The single filter is for all the single shot espressos you make and the double filter for all the double shots and other espresso based coffee drinks.

A good tamper is a very important investment. Few realize how important it is that the ground coffee is measured and tamped correctly before brewing, but it is essential for how the espresso will taste. If the coffee is tamped too hard it will take too long for the water to sip through the portafilter, leaving you with a bitter espresso. If the coffee is tamped too loosely the opposite thing will happen and you will get a thin and watery espresso. At the same time it has to be tamped evenly and with the right amount of pressure. The tamper should be made of aluminum or another light metal, all plastic is bad. It needs to have a diameter that fits into the portafilter like a hand in a glove.

On most semi-automatic espresso machines there is also a milk skimmer.

Note that there is no coffee grinder included in the semi-automatic machine, so it needs to be purchased separately unless you buy the coffee pre-ground.

The very first step in making an espresso with a semi-automatic machine is to fill it up with fresh water and push the start button. It usually needs 5-10 minutes to warm up before it is ready to brew. When this is done and the pipes have been flushed with some of the hot water, it is time to click on the portafilter which has been filled and tamped properly. Then you just put the pre-heated cup under the filter and press the start button. It should take between 25-30 seconds for the espresso to sprinkle down into the cup and the jet should be about the thickness of a thin shoe string. Shorter extraction time gives more watery espresso and longer time makes it bitterer.

A semi-automatic espresso machine is usually smaller that the automatic, but you should consider that a separate grind needs to be purchased so a semi-automatic machine usually takes up more space in the end.

The price for a semi-automatic espresso machine starts at around 100 € but ends much higher. Consider that there are some extra costs such as a good coffee grinder, a tamper etc that go with the semi-automatic machine. It is better to invest in something slightly more expensive than the cheapest one on the market.