At the head of the class of espresso makers is the "super automatic espresso machine". A more accurate category description might be "the super awesome super automatic espresso machine".

One Touch Ease of Operation

As the name implies, these machines do just about everything you need in order to create a perfect shot of espresso, automatically, at the touch of a button. It will grind your choice of fresh-roasted coffee beans; it'll place the exact amount of coffee grounds in the brew group--based on your taste and strength preferences; it will tamp the grounds just as they should be tamped; it heats the water to the temperatures that you have pre-programmed; it will extract the exact volume of water to be utilized in brewing; and obviously it'll then brew and deliver a shot of espresso just the way you like it. One final thing it does automatically--after brewing it will place the used grounds within the dump box! All automatically!

You Can Learn to become an At-Home Barista!

More and more espresso-drink lovers are becoming increasingly conscientious of the price of paying for their daily fix (occasionally 2X everyday) and are selecting to become do-it-yourself espresso makers. However, they have developed a taste for a nicely brewed espresso drink and aren't willing to give up the taste and aromas which they have become accustomed to. Is this an Issue? Not in the least bit. Thanks to today's nicely designed, engineered, and crafted European espresso machines the home barista can make a latte or a macchiato every little bit as great, and maybe even much better, than at Starbucks.

There are lots and lots of super automatic espresso machines on the market today, created by many various businesses, but quality and price vary quite a bit. This could result in a bit of confusion when you are attempting to choose the very best machine for your spending budget and for your personal requirements.

Following is a brief summary of features that can be found on an espresso machine that fall into the "super automatic" class:

Water Volume Control

This is a feature which allows you to choose and control the amount of water that is used to brew each drink.

Pre-Grinding

This programmable feature will start grinding beans and moving them to the brew group so they're prepared for the next shot.

Pre-Moistening the Ground Coffee

This feature will slightly pre-moisten the grounds just prior to brewing. This begins to leach out the aromatic and flavorful oils from the coffee.

Temperature Control

Some people like their coffee hotter than others. You can control the temperatures to brew at whatever temp pleases you.

Adjustable Dosing

You're able to adjust the flavor and strength of your favorite espresso drink by increasing or decreasing the quantity of ground coffee used for each shot whenever you use this feature.

Cup Warmer

Espresso is best when brewed directly right into a warm cup. Since espresso is typically brewed at a lower temperature than normal drip coffee, a cold cup will drop the coffee temperature even further.

Water Filter Systems

This feature is really great simply because your coffee will taste much better if you're able to get rid of chlorine and minerals from the drinking water. The only manufacturer that offers a built-in water filtration system is Jura-Capresso.

Grinder Settings

Being able to adjust your grind will really allow you to customize the taste of your coffee. If you grind too fine your coffee will probably be bitter; should you leave it too coarse it will result in a weak cup of coffee.

Bypass Doser

When your bean hopper is full of your favorite beans and someone wants a decaf coffee (really?) you're able to pour pre-ground coffee into the bypass doser and make the decaf cup.

Double Boiler System

This function eliminates the typical wait time between brewing and frothing (which enables your just brewed espresso to cool off) that occurs with single boiler machines. With two boilers at the ready you're able to start frothing your milk instantly following your brewing, without waiting. This means that you will appreciate your espresso drinks, lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, at the temperatures at which they were intended to be served.

Digital or LCD Display

The digital or liquid crystal display will show you in plain English what is going on with the machine, and even what needs to be done, like adding water, adding beans, or emptying the dump box.

You'll Pay a little More for a Great Machine

Higher priced super automatic espresso machine will often include all of these features; lower priced machines will include fewer. More functions usually adds up to a greater cost. Don't be fooled by lower priced machines that seem to be feature-rich. Much more often than not they are poorly designed, cheaply made, and really don't produce a quality shot of espresso. In the long run, what may seem like an up-front price savings will end up costing you much more, and you'll never really enjoy the quality of the espresso you make.

About the Author
Enjoy lots of lattes and cappuccinos (and save lots of money) with your own super automatic espresso maker. Learn why you should have your own when you click on this link: the Super Automatic Espresso Machine. If you love coffee like I do then you really should splurge a little bit on yourself--you deserve it after all. Mike Andrews may be contacted at http://espressomachinereviewsblogsite.com. Click here to view more articles by Mike Andrews.