Coffee Machines and Accessories - Coffee Makers Guide

Coffee machines come in a number of varieties from many manufactures. Whether you want a simple filter coffee maker, a fully automatic bean-to-cup cappuccino machine, or a convenient capsule coffee system, there is a coffee maker designed for you! We have a range of coffee machines compatible with Nestle's Nespresso capsule system, which makes espresso making straightforward. Fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines from Jura, the ultimate in espresso and cappuccino. Gaggia, innovators of home espresso making, produce traditional style machines that work with ground coffee. If your tastes are a little simpler, see Bodum for a great selection of filter coffee makers. For more information on making your choice, and to list the available machines and accessories please see Choosing a Coffee Machine, Coffee Grinders, Coffee Types and Coffee Making Tips.

Coffee Machine Brands

	Jura Coffee Machines Jura's Impressa range are the 'Rolls Royce' of automatic espresso and cappuccino makers. We are one of the very few UK companies who have been selected to sell Jura coffee machines.		Krups Coffee Machines Fine coffee machines by Krups, from simple filter coffee makers to fully automatic bean to cup machines. We also supply Krups Nespresso machines, that utilise Nestlé's unique system for the perfect espresso every time.

	Magimix Coffee Machines Magimix produce a wide range of compact Nestlé Nespresso coffee machines that are ideal for the home, which is why they are one of our best selling coffee making brands.		Gaggia Coffee Machines Achille Gaggia produced the first modern steam less coffee machine on 5th September 1938. Gaggia's ingenious idea of forcing water pressure to flow over the coffee grounds produced the 'crema' that has made espresso coffee world famous.

	Dualit Coffee Machines The Dualit Espressivo marks the company's return to the world of coffee machines. This fully featured espresso maker is constructed from quality stainless steel and cast aluminium. A hard working, reliable machine, just like the toasters Dualit are famous for.		Bodum Coffee Makers Bodum is a Swiss manufacturer well known for creating sleek and aesthetically pleasing products at affordable prices. For more than two decades Bodum has aimed to produce articles that are designed and manufactured to the highest level of functionality and quality.

	DeLonghi Coffee Machines DeLonghi produces machines that are compatible with Nestlé's Nespresso capsule system and a top of the line, bean to cup espresso machine.		Cuisinart Coffee Machines Cuisinart's range of small kitchen appliances brings together professional style products, engineered for long life, and affordable prices! Their coffee maker range is no exception to this rule.

Choosing a Coffee Maker

While tea is probably the nation's quintessential drink (at least here in the U.K.) more and more people are drinking coffee, and there are now a huge variety of coffee types and blends available to the coffee enthusiast. Many people desire the best coffee at home or in the office, and with modern domestic coffee machines it is perfectly possible to create authentic coffee just like those you may drink in high-street coffee bars.

Coffee makers and machines come in a large number of varieties from many manufactures with a considerable variance in price. If you are choosing a coffee machine we suggest you read the machine information below.

Espresso Machines

For the true coffee connoisseur we recommend an espresso machine, designed to deliver perfect espresso time after time.

Espresso machines must work at the optimum pressure (around 8 - 10 bar) and temperature (85 - 90ºC) to deliver true espresso. Most espresso machines come with frothing attachments to allow cappuccino and latte coffee to be made. Some of the more advanced models carry this out automatically and also feature dual boiler systems to minimise delays between each usage. These machine will usually have coffee bean grinders built in, hence the term 'bean to cup' that you may have heard being used to describe fully automatic espresso machines.

When choosing an espresso machine you should check the pump pressure of the machine. You will only require 8 - 10 bar pressure to produce real espresso but may need higher pressure to produce controlled steam. Usually a machine with around 15 bar nominal pressure is more than adequate. Also make sure the espresso machine can achieve the correct temperature with minimal heat loss as this is critical for perfect espresso.

Click to list all espresso machines or only bean-to-cup coffee machines.

Nespresso Machines

Nespresso is a system, developed by Nestle, for supplying coffee in sealed capsules (see right) for use with specially equipped machines. It is ideal for the office because it is quick and easy to use and it delivers perfect espresso consistently. Nespresso capsules come in a variety of flavours and strengths. These capsules are loaded into a Nespresso machine, giving the user an instant choice of flavours at the touch of a button.

The capsule means that you can achieve an espresso that suits you. Depending on the time of day or indeed your mood you may feel like a stronger coffee or a smooth, lighter blend... Nespresso offers 12 premium coffee varieties (including decaffeinated blends), each with its individual characteristics and flavours, so that you can always choose the espresso that best suits the moment.

The Dolce Gusto system is a similar development by Nestle, but with the focus on a wider range of hot drinks, not just espresso.

Click to list all Nespresso or Dolce Gusto machines.

Filter Machines

Filter machines use a filter/drip system and are used with ground coffee. Hot water mixes with the ground coffee at the top of the system and filters through the rest of the grounds and filter to be collected in a jug at the bottom of the machine.

A percolator is a filter coffee machine in which boiling water is forced repeatedly up through a central tube to filter back down through a basket of ground coffee beans. The purpose of the process is to use the heated water to filter through the coffee and thus gradually extract its essence. Stove top espresso pots also fall into this category, though the water passes through the ground coffee beans on the way up from the tube and collects in the top container.

A cafetiere, which is also known as a French press, works in a similar fashion to a drip filter coffee maker. Operation is simple and the strength of coffee can be varied. The cafetiere consists of a cylindrical jug usually made of glass or clear plastic, with a lid and a filter 'plunger', which fits tightly in the cylinder and is made of fine wire or nylon mesh. Coffee is brewed by placing the coffee and water together, leaving to stand for a few minutes, then depressing the plunger to separate the coffee from the grounds at the bottom of the jug.

Click to list all filter coffee makers, percolators/espresso pots or cafetieres (French presses).

Accessories

We also stock coffee machine accessories, including milk frothers and cleaning supplies

Coffee Grinding

The grinding of beans is a critical moment in the preparation of a cup of true espresso coffee. Ideally, it should be done immediately prior to the brewing of the coffee itself and must be conducted with maximum consistency and precision.

There are two main types of coffee grinder, the blade grinder and burr grinder.

The blade grinder simply uses a rotating blade to chop the coffee beans but results in inconsistent grounds, though this is fine for filter coffee and cafetieres.

A burr grinder uses two spinning discs usually with an adjustable grinding mechanism to precisely chop beans to the optimum level i.e. your ground beans will be consistent in size making them ideal for true flavoured espresso.

Click to list all coffee grinders.

Coffee Types

Espresso

Espresso is only made from rich coffee beans (usually Arabica or Robusta), which must be very finely ground with care (see Coffee Grinding Guide) and then immediately processed in an espresso machine able to provide hot water at the correct temperature (85 - 90ºC) and pressure (8 - 10 bar). The actual process involves hot water being forced through the coffee grounds once the optimum pressure and temperature have been attained.

The result is a very strong dark coffee with a caramel coloured top layer called the 'crema', which is the indication of a genuine espresso and is what gives espresso its distinguishing flavour. Espresso can be enjoyed at any time of the day though it is often favoured after mealtimes. It is common to drink espresso in small doses because of the strong flavour - it is the quality that counts not the quantity.

Espresso is the basis of other types of coffee, such as cappuccino and latte and espresso machines often have attachments to supply these too. For tips when making espresso see Coffee Making Tips.

Cappuccino Photo

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is made with a part of fresh espresso coffee and a part of steamed milk (or cream), topped with frothed milk and often a sprinkling of chocolate powder or cinnamon. The result is a milky, caramel coloured drink with a delightful frothed milk topping. In fact the original Italian word is derived from the resemblance of the cappuccino's colour to the colour of a monk's habit. As a drink it is suitable for drinking at any time off the day. See Coffee Making Tips for some useful information.

Latte

Latte, like cappuccino, is made with a part of freshly brewed espresso and a part of steamed milk, however the milk is not frothed. The result is milky coffee with distinct milk and coffee layers. Chilled milk may be used with cooled espresso for a coffee that can be served cold.

Coffee Making Tips

When making espresso ensure that the water tank is close to its fill level as this will help to achieve the optimum pressure needed for making genuine espresso. For best results the extraction process should be as quick as possible, to permit this make sure that sufficient pressure has built up before you begin.

When making cappuccino or latte it is preferable to use full-fat milk rather than semi-skimmed milk. It is important that the milk is fresh and has been chilled beforehand for best results. It is sensible to do the actual frothing/steaming just after you have finished making the espresso as the espresso extraction requires a consistent pressure. Using the frother releases steam which reduces the boiler pressure and you will then have to wait till the boiler reaches pressure again before you can make espresso. Some espresso machines have a dual boiler system which allows you to make espresso and froth simultaneously.

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