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The introduction of Starbucks and other retail coffee shops has increased the popularity of espresso coffee makers in the past few years. Many of us seek a way to create those wonderfully drinkable Italian creations without the need for a barista.

In 1901 people saw their first glimpse of the espresso coffee maker. There have been several different variations since then. Most, however, include a few of the same basic parts. The portafilter, for example, which uses a small metal basket to hold the grounds. A steam wand on these makers is pretty common as well. The steam wand steams the milk and then froths it for certain espresso based drinks.

There are four common styles of the espresso coffee maker. Each of these will be briefly discussed in the text following. Each one has it’s own unique aspects.

Piston: The founder of the espresso machine maker Gaggia, Achille Gaggia, invented a piston driven version in Italy around 1945. Gaggia’s version uses a handle and manual pumping action to push the heated water through the coffee grounds. The commonly used term, “pulling a shot”, derives from the usage of this coffee maker because of the need to pull the handle several times to complete the task. There are two different styles of the piston espresso coffee makers. The manual version which works by the operator pushing the water through by way of the handle alone and the spring driven version that uses a tensioned spring to build up the pressure.

Pump: Pump espresso machines work by using a motor to build up force to brew the coffee. This style is the popular option for most coffee shops. Business grade coffee machines generally hook right in to the locations plumbing to attain the water needed, but smaller versions for home use come with a built in area to hold water. The ones used in coffee shops tend to work faster then the ones you will find in homes.

Steam: A steam espresso machine is pretty straight forward in the way it works. Steam pressure is used to push the water through the grounds. This style of coffee maker was the mechanism used on the first ones created. The system works well too because this type is still used today. They are cheap to produce and require no moving parts making them ideal to market in the industry.

Air Pressure: Commonly known as the Hanpresso, the air pressure espresso coffee maker was introduced on store shelves in 2007 by the creator Nielsen Innovations. This small coffee machine makes only one cup of coffee at a time though. It uses a hand held pump to push pressurized air through a chamber.

The process of choosing the right espresso maker for your needs is a fairly simple one once you understand the variable of each type. You can easily choose what will work best for you by considering the application you will be using it in. For example, will it be used in a office building, occasional home use or in an actual coffee shop? Brand and added function will effect the price of each one, but the basis of every model is still the same. All are manufactured to provide you and others with great Italian based drinks.

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