You are here because you need answers to your burning espresso machine questions.
That means one of two things:
You have taken the leap and decided that an espresso machine is what you need to get your daily coffee fix. Well, good news! You can now officially make coffee a part of your identity.
Or maybe you just like to expand your general knowledge and want to know the ins and outs of an espresso machine in case you are ever invited to a game show about coffees.
Jokes aside, an espresso machine is a big step up from let’s say a French press or a Chemex.
Understandably, you might have many questions about handling this machine. If so, you have come to the right place!
Let’s get started.
FAQs on using an espresson machine
First and foremost, you would want to know the answers to how the machine functions.
The hows and shoulds of how to go about using the espresso machine.
Well here you go:
How does an espresso machine work?
I assume that you are not looking for an engineer’s perspective on this answer.
So I will get straight to the point.
An espresso requires high-pressure water. What the machine does is that it pumps water at a high pressure close to its boiling point.
When you attach the group head filled with tamped coffee grounds, the heat and water pass through to drip condensed, viscous coffee into your cup.
You can now make a cappuccino or latte or any number of drinks
Can I leave the espresso machine switched on overnight?
Let me ask you another question in relation to this, why would you want to waste energy on purpose?
If you use your machine only once a day then turn it on before use and turn it off after you are done.
If you use it multiple times a day then it’s best to turn it off after your last use of the day. Because turning it off and on, again and again, may actually damage the machine more.
So to answer this question, it’s a no.
How long do espresso machines last?
There isn’t a fixed answer to this.
After all, it is a piece of machinery so it will work as long as you maintain it.
A good estimate would be anywhere from five to twenty years.
FAQs on espresso machine prices
Prices play a big role in whichever item you are deciding to buy.
And the truth is that espresso machines are not that cheap.
But don’t be shy to ask those financial espresso machine questions, we have got you covered!
What is the cheapest espresso machine?
Many factors come into figuring out the price of an espresso machine since it’s not a simple, straightforward product.
Your best bet would be to wait for your local stores or Amazon to have a sale on the machine you want or wait for Black Friday and get it then.
Why are espresso machines so expensive?
The materials of the parts of machines determine their price in the market.
If you are deciding to buy one then you might as well go ahead and spend a few extra dollars to get bang for your buck, right?
Expensive doesn’t always mean the best but you should not be stingy when looking to buy an espresso machine.
What is the most expensive espresso machine?
Again, there are many components when it comes to pricing an espresso machine.
The most expensive espresso machine for home and one which is highly praised has to be the Olympia Express Cremina which goes for around $3800.
FAQs on espresso machine maintenance
You have done it, you have spent your hard-earned money to get an espresso machine.
Now you must keep it maintained so it works like a well-oiled machine for a long time.
Here are the frequently asked espresso machine questions for its maintenance:
Do you have to clean an espresso machine after every use?
Nothing is easy with a machine of this many parts and that includes cleaning it.
You should at least do the basics like removing the group heads, cleaning the portafilters every day. And wiping the steam wand after every use.
Then, ideally, do a deep clean every two weeks or per month.
You can put your mind at ease that every time you are drinking that coffee, it’s coming from a clean source.
How do you clean an espresso machine?
The daily stuff is pretty self-explanatory; remove the group heads and clear the portafilters of any coffee particles, use a wet cloth to wipe off the steam wand after each use.
For deep cleaning, allocate some time to give your machine the love and appreciation it needs.
This article gives you a really good overview of how to clean your machine on a daily and monthly.
How often should I service my espresso machine?
Preferably, you should do it annually.
If you notice anything out of place while using your machine such as heat problems or water leakage then you can take it to get checked.
But you will not encounter issues if you are getting it serviced every 12 months.
That concludes the often asked, wide array of espresso machine questions.
I hope that by the end, all your queries have ended. You can use your machine to your heart’s content while being careful with it.
If you want to look further, you can check out our article on the best espresso machines for 2022.