Coffee makes the world go round, and for many people, it would be almost impossible to get through the day without a cup or two. Whether you are looking to open a business or you just want to be able to make a great brew at home, you will need a high quality coffee machine. These days, anyone can buy a top-of-the-line machine that is able to do everything needed to make the most popular blends. From a milk steamer to double espresso nozzles, choosing the features which you need will help you to purchase the best machine.

Here is what to look for when purchasing a high-quality coffee machine.

Identify Your Budget

We all have different preferences and tastes when it comes to coffee, so a high quality coffee machine to one person may not be the same to another. There are machines ranging from $40 for a quick and easy capsule pour to many thousands of dollars for a professional coffee machine. If you just want a tasty cappuccino first thing in the morning at home, a capsule machine or a “bean to cup” coffee machine may serve you well. But if you want to make your own drinks from scratch like in a proper coffee shop, you will need to shell out some extra money on a real ground machine.

If you are looking for a real high quality coffee machine for your home or your new coffee shop business, be prepared to make a sizable investment. While more expensive doesn’t always mean better, many of the more expensive brands are tried and tested. Choose a few models which you like, check out online reviews, and see if you can try one out at the showroom.

Decide How Much Coffee You Will Need to Make

The number of cups you want to brew is a very important consideration as smaller units may not be able to do the job. If you are looking to buy an instant coffee machine for your employees, for example, you will need to pay careful attention to the volume of the machine’s reservoir to ensure it can provide enough coffee to keep your team energized all day.

Similarly, if you are looking for a high quality coffee machine for your brewhouse, you will need to decide how many group heads you will need. The Baristas at Majesty Coffee explain that group heads are the points into which you plug the individual portafilters to make the coffee. The number of group heads will determine the number of drinks you can make simultaneously. For a busy shop, the more group heads the better as you will be able to serve your customers more quickly. On the other hand, if you are buying a ground machine for home use, a single group head machine should be sufficient.

Look for the Best Features

There are various features which are useful to have in a high quality coffee machine. If you buy a pod machine, for example, you should look for one which can brew every flavor using different pods. While a pod latte won’t be quite as good as one made with a ground machine, there are some excellent pod machines now which can produce some very tasty drinks. When purchasing a ground machine, look for one which has many removable parts so that it is easy to clean. Coffee machines can get very dirty with clogged grains and this will seriously affect the flavor and texture of your drinks. Buy the correct cleaning tools and learn how to flush out all of the tubes and different parts so that your machine is always in top working order.

Purchase a Grinder

In order to capture the maximum flavor and aroma of your coffee beans, it is crucial that you grind them as you plan to use them. If you grind them days before you use them, they will become stale and your coffee will not be of good quality. Pod machines obviously do not require grinders but if you are buying a regular machine, you will need to invest in one. You can buy either a manual grinder or an automatic one but one key feature you must look out for is a variable grind size setting. Different types of beans require more fine or coarse grains so being able to preset the size will help you to make a perfect cup every time.

Invest in Some Quality China and Glassware

If you are going to spend the time and money choosing the perfect coffee machine, the last thing you want to do is present the coffee in any dirty old cup. Purchasing some quality china and glassware will help you to do your coffee justice, whether you are serving it to customers or to your guests at home. If you purchase a ground coffee machine, you can keep the cups on top of the machine so that they always stay hot. The steam wand will also come in handy for cleaning any stains and for polishing your glassware.

Practice

Learning how to make great coffee takes time, and while buying a high-quality coffee machine will give you everything you need to get started, you will still need to practice. As you start to get the hang of making the perfect cappuccinos and lattes, you can start experimenting with different flavor combinations and even trying some latte art. A great coffee machine is often a big financial investment, so match that with an investment of your time, and learn how to do everything perfectly from steaming the milk to getting just enough creme on your espresso.

Choosing the right coffee machine really depends on your needs and budget. If you are a serious coffee lover or you are opening your own coffee shop, you are going to need a professional machine and a bit of practice to learn how to make your lattes and cappuccinos. Follow this guide and it will help you to choose the best coffee machine for you.