The joy that comes from an espresso shot can be addictive. It’s a feeling you look for during particularly trying days when you aren’t up to accomplishing anything.
The role espresso plays in most coffee lovers’ lives has probably gotten you thinking that regular access to it won’t come cheap. Lo and behold, it isn’t, as fully-functioning espresso machines come with extremely high price tags. Despite this, many are still more than willing to meet such requirements for the daily benefits of an espresso shot.
Still, this doesn’t keep us from asking the question: why are these machines so expensive? You can also discover more about these specialty brewing contraptions by checking out Freshpresso.
What Is an Espresso Machine?
As you probably already know, an espresso machine is a type of coffee-brewing equipment used to make an espresso. An espresso is a caffeine-packed shot of coffee that some enthusiasts prefer as their morning perk-me-up over the regular cup of joe.
These machines work by using pressurized hot water to extract coffee from finely ground beans. A lot of the latest models are also built with a steamer.
Features of an Espresso Machine That Explain Its High Price
While you can find some of these features in other types of coffee makers, the way they’re built and designed in an espresso should tell you why the machine comes with a hefty price tag.
Digital Display
The coffee brewing process becomes considerably easier thanks to the espresso’s digital display. This part remains stable even at high temperatures due to its high-quality composition.
In it, you can also find a ton of useful features, such as temperature adjustment, shot timer, device diagnostics, cleaning programs, filter placement, and delay before infusion.
Quality
While not an espresso feature per se, quality still counts as one of the main reasons coffee lovers put the espresso machine on a pedestal. The device can be made of materials like stainless steel, brass, and metal, and its high-end versions can come with temperature stability features.
Of course, not all espressos are created equal, with some being made of lower-cost materials than others. While these budget-friendly options typically have lower-quality frames and less durable interior parts, some of them can brew as deliciously as their high-end counterparts.
That said, lower-quality frames might also mean that you won’t get as many useful years with an affordable model as you would a high-end one. Cheaper models could also have an issue with brass quality, which might cause temperature changes that negatively affect the taste of your espresso.
When going for lower-cost espresso machines, pick manual or semi-automatic models since they tend to go through less wear and tear through use.
Temperature Adjustment
Advanced temperature control lets you brew different types of coffee using your machine, letting you make a variety of espressos at the same time. It also lets you have complete control of the brewing temperature, profile coffee, and serve different types of coffee at once.
Devices with this feature stand out because of their distinct design, which holds several barista functions, top-notch materials, and a unique digital display. While they’ll most likely belong to the higher range of the price spectrum, they’re also considered worthy investments by most buyers.
Pressure and Profiling
Pressure and profiling are functions we usually don’t concern ourselves with. However, they are the hallmarks of a high-quality espresso machine and should therefore be things to add to our knowledge. Most of the time, they also mean the difference between a decent espresso machine and a poorly functioning one.
With expensive models, you have these features dialed up to another level, allowing you to profile your own coffee through pressure points. With these more precise functions, current espresso models have become more expensive than they used to be. Whether electronic or mechanical, their internal structures have become more sophisticated, warranting their steadily rising prices in the market.
Brand Name
When it comes to manufacturing espresso machines, some brands are leaps and bounds ahead of their competitors. The features and functions that come exclusively with their label are known across the industry.
They also justify the higher prices of their products.
Research and Development
Espressos didn’t get to this point without extensive groundwork. Manufacturing companies usually allocate a considerable budget for research and development to ensure they provide the best products to their target consumers. That said, with the amount of investigation that went into the latest espresso machines, it isn’t a wonder why they’re priced so high in the market.
A Good Espresso Machine Is Worth Every Penny!
Some are apprehensive about picking out an espresso machine because of its high price tag. However, a model you took the time and effort to research about and establish as capable of meeting your specific coffee-drinking needs is likely to be a worthy investment. Not only could it give you the coffee you need, but it also has the potential to do so for many years.
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