Howdy, my name is Steve. I live in Perth, Australia with my wife and our two lovely kids. On this blog, I will be passing on everything I have learnt about servicing household appliances. I should point out that I am not a professional when it comes to this subject, but I have learnt a lot over the past couple of years. I spend my days working for an investment bank, so when I get home, I like nothing more than to spend some time in the kitchen cooking with my wife. I rely heavily on my kitchen appliances so I decided I would learn how to look after them. My brother-in-law is an appliance repairman and he gave me some great tips.
For the true coffee enthusiast a mug of instant granules in the morning will never be enough, and if you want to enjoy a piping hot espresso coffee whenever you want without paying steep coffee shop prices, owning your own espresso machine is the way to go.
Many modern espresso machines are so sophisticated and automated that they can make you a barista-quality espresso at the simple push of a button, but many espresso lovers eschew this modern convenience in favour of more traditional, lever-action manual espresso machines.
These hands-on espresso machines might seem a little dated to the untrained eye, but they can actually have a number of advantages over automated espresso machines. However, they also have some shortcomings, so if you're thinking of buying a lever espresso machine you should familiarise yourself with their pros and cons before investing in one.
What are the advantages of choosing a lever espresso machine?
Coffee quality
Though the point may still be mildly contentious, most coffee aficionados will agree that an espresso created by a lever espresso machine (and a skilled operator) will always beat out an espresso from an automated machine in terms of sheer quality. Most high-end coffee shops exclusively used lever machines to make their espressos for this very reason.
Control
Unlike automatic espresso makers, lever espresso makers allow you to precisely control the speed and volume at which hot water is forced through your chosen coffee grounds. The fine-tuning and control a lever espresso machine offers means that, with practise, you can tailor the size, depth and strength of your espresso to your exact requirements, in stark contrast to an automatic machine that gives you the same cup of espresso every time.
Easy maintenance
With no complex electronic components to worry about, keeping a lever espresso machine well-maintained is far easier than maintaining an automated machine. If your espresso machine does malfunction, the faulty parts of a lever machine can be swapped out relatively easily, unlike a faulty automatic machine which usually has to be sent back to the manufacturer for specialised repairs.
Distinctive looks
With their prominent levers and formidable pistons, lever espresso machines also look fantastic and can be a real conversation starter for any coffee enthusiast.
What are the disadvantages of choosing a lever espresso machine?
More difficult to use
If you'e never used a lever espresso machine before, chances are the first few cups you make with it will be bitter and unpleasant. Mastering the art of using a lever machine takes practise and more than a little dedication, although the end result is well worth it.
Slower than automatic machines
Pulling an espresso using a lever espresso machine also takes more time than simply pressing the go button on an automatic model. If you mainly drink espressos as a quick pick-me-up during your morning routine, you may not have the time (or the patience) to make your coffee by hand.
Reach out to a place that sells things like la marzocco coffee machines for more direction and guidance.
Share13 July 2018
