How to choose espresso machine?

Pump Espresso machines are used in commercial environment to make Espresso. Hot water is forced through packed ground coffee (about the texture of ground sugar) near 15 atmosphere pressure (220 psi) to extract 1.5 ounces of dark brown thick coffee liquid in 25 seconds. This thick liquid has a foamy head called crema. The pumps get clogged with minerals present in the water and need frequent cleaning. Cheaper and lower maintenance machines use a lever and piston to create the pressure manually. For home use, you have two options: Steam powered Espresso machines and Moka pots.

Steam Powered Espresso Machines

The steam from heated water builds up the pressure. The only problem is that the pressure is not as good as pump or the piston type of machine, therefore it does not make a comparable cup of espresso. A steam wand is built into the machine to heat milk for coffee latte, or froth milk.

Moka Pots

These are stove-top pots. Water in the bottom half of the pot, forces the steam through the coffee to the top half of the pot. These are the least expensive models. The steam pressure is just enough to make the lowest quality of espresso than the other machines. These pots also lack the steam wand.