A coffee machine is a welcome addition to all spaces—residential and commercial. If you are a coffee lover, chances are you must be making the cafes around your rich.
Why not switch that habit by brewing your coffee?
It is both fun and saves a lot of money. Don’t believe us? Just do the monthly math on the money spent on takeout coffee, and you’ll know what we say is right!
The million-dollar question that one needs to answer then is;
Which coffee machine to go for?
To begin with, many choices are available in the market. Just look at the number of coffee lovers around you, and you’ll know!
The two most common choices are a bean-to-cup machine and a traditional espresso machine. Which one of the two should you go for? Does one have a significant advantage over the other? Let us find out!
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Espresso vs Bean To Cup: Which Is Better?
There are some similarities and differences between these two most commonly available coffee machines. However, each has its merits that may swing your decision in its favour.
Bean To Cup: What Is This Machine All About?
These are fully automated machines that can give you a cup of coffee in a few minutes by merely touching a couple of buttons. It is tasty, instant and easy.
The bean-to-cup coffee machines have seen a lot of advancements lately and can be credited for whipping up a tasty cup of coffee, almost like the Barista next door, in a matter of minutes.
What the machine needs from you to continue doing its job correctly is consistently replenishing coffee wares, including milk, coffee beans and other ingredients.
If you have this covered, you will get great coffee at short notice. No more getting late because of long queues at the Barista! Life-changing, let me tell you.”
If you go for an advanced bean-to-cup machine, you may also get additional features, such as the option to customize recipes and make your drink frothier, more robust and as you like. What’s not to like?
Pros Of Getting A Bean-To-Cup Machine
- You can create a good cup of coffee without requiring special skills when you get this home.
- Easy to use, and one machine handles everything without requiring extra equipment.
- It is hands-free, which makes it multifunctional.
- A bean-to-cup coffee machine is one of the most consistent and will create the same flavour every time you use it.
Cons Of Getting A Bean-To-Cup Machine
Some of the disadvantages of a bean-to-cup machine:
- These are expensive, and you may need to make a big investment upfront.
- They may not be the most ideal for people with small kitchens as these are large machines and take up a lot of space.
- They create a loud grinding noise while making your coffee, which might irritate many people.
- You may need to put in some extra work when it comes to cleaning and maintaining them. This may not be for everyone.
- There is not a ton of variety that you can produce with these machines.
The Good Old Espresso Machine
If you love all things coffee, chances are you must have encountered this machine more than once in your life. You can easily find it in coffee shops, offices and even parlours these days.
This is one of those typically large water boiling, milk frothing and coffee pouring machines that take care of your headache by pumping out a hot steaming cup of coffee.
They allow you to play with the quantities of milk and water and create rich expressos befitting your liking and preferences.
Skilled baristas better operate them and may often require additional equipment to help dish out a fine cup of coffee.
Pros Of Getting An Espresso Machine
There are some great advantages of getting an espresso machine. Here are a few you must be aware of:
- A good espresso machine can help you create an almost professional standard coffee. So, with some rounds of practice with the new machine, you can get Starbucks-type coffee in the comfort of your home and half the price.
- It has a traditional look, can go with most decors, and can easily fit anywhere. It will also make the onlookers aware of your love for coffee.
- It offers a great degree of control and autonomy. This is why you can get customized drinks and truly enjoy coffee in the truest sense.
- They are cheaper and come in several varieties ranging from $150 and $700 and more. If you don’t want many features, you can buy a cheaper model and still enjoy a great cuppa!
- They are easy to maintain and clean and spare you stress and hassle.
Cons Of Getting An Espresso Machine
Like any other machine, an espresso machine, no matter how great or premium, has a few shortcomings you need to know before making your final choice.
- Whipping up a great cup of coffee using an espresso machine requires some skills that you will take some time to amass. Do not expect to make fabulous coffee as soon as the machine lands on your door.
- You may need some extra equipment that could both add to the cost and noise and may require some time to get used to it.
- You may generate more waste using this, as espresso machines are not fully efficient.
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Espresso
Bean To Cup
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Price
Cheaper
Expensive
-
Skills Needed
Needs to practice to get Starbucks-type coffee
No special skills required
-
Efficiency
X
✓
-
Convenience
✓
X
-
Maintenance
Easier
Needs to put some extra work
Espresso vs Bean To Cup: Which One Should You Go For?
Both espresso and bean-to-cup coffee machines have their merits and demerits. You need to go with one that best suits your needs and temperaments. If you want convenience, go for a bean-to-cup machine; if you want taste and variety, an espresso will be better suited.
