My evaluation process for a home espresso machine is similar to how I test standard drip coffee makers. First, I hand-wash and dry all removable parts and accessories. For most espresso makers, that includes the filter basket, metal portafilter inserts, water tank and so on. Next, I run one brewing cycle with just hot water to flush away any residual material from manufacturing.
Most automatic espresso machines, save for fancy super-automatic models, lack an integrated coffee grinder and I prefer testing espresso machines with freshly ground coffee, not preground coffee, so I supply my own grinder: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I chose this conical burr grinder for two reasons. First, it’s calibrated more for espresso than for drip or other brewing styles. That means it produces a coffee bean grind that’s quite fine. Second, its grind size is consistently uniform. Both…
