<p>More expensive coffee machines typically have better "plumbing", including some and even all of the following:</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>2 boilers / HX</strong> to allow for frothing and brewing at the same time</li>
<li><strong>Preinfusion</strong></li>
<li><strong>Copper boilers</strong> vs. cheaper aluminium versions (guarantees better temperature stability)</li>
<li><strong>Larger boilers</strong>, allowing for more shots to be drawn/ milk to be frothed</li>
<li><strong>Wider portafilters</strong> (which in some peoples' opinion gives better flavour)</li>
<li><strong>3-way valves</strong> to allow back-built pressure to evacuate</li>
<li><strong>a real steam wand</strong>, no gimmicky plastic ones that promise the world and don't deliver</li>
<li><strong>the ability to be plumbed</strong> (connected to your water drain so you don't have to manually clear out the water tray.)</li>
<li>The option of vibration vs. <strong>rotary pumps</strong> (which are quieter, although I think they are more likely to break if there is no water)</li>
<li><strong>Customisability of technical factors</strong> (pressure, temperature) which gives more control for our crazy data-obsessed coffee needs :)</li>
</ul>

<p>Now this doesn't mean you can't get good coffee on a cheaper machine. You're just going to have to put more effort in it and get more variable results. Which is more than fair for most people.</p>

<p>As for the price difference, most of these features will raise the price by themselves and a lot of the more expensive machines are hand-made as well.</p>

<p><strong>Last point</strong> they are also very pretty and a status symbol, not to the extent of let's say a very expensive watch but it does sort of feel that way sometimes.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T15:19:35.690Z
2015-01-28T17:37:26.087Z
2015-01-28T17:37:26.087Z
Stefan Dorunga
<p><strong>Check for coffee related features</strong>. </p>

<p>These are things which make your coffee taste better:</p>

<p><em>Cup heater</em> - if you make your espresso into pre-heated cup, it will taste better</p>

<p><em>Metal steamer</em> - I know you are going to make espresso only, but if you want to do cappucino, heating milk by metal steamer is better than by plastic one</p>

<p><em>Pressure control</em> - The expensiver coffee machines can control pressure bit better.</p>

<p>Anyway, in my own opinion, for <em>good coffe</em> is enough even low end coffee machine (I own one for 200 bucks)</p>

<p>If you want to make <em>great cofee</em> then go to higher end. But for beginner or even bit enthusiast as I am, low end should do the trick</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T12:24:02.997Z
2015-01-28T12:24:02.997Z
Pavel Janicek
<p>There is a huge amount of price variance for coffee machines. Just a quick look in any shop will reveal two espresso machines, made by the same manufacturer, one in the $100 range, and another in the $1000 range. For the purposes of simply making espresso from ground coffee, what is the difference between them?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T19:15:53.293Z
Keep in mind that higher priced equipment does NOT always translate into better espresso. The best analogy is in wines, where many $20 bottles are better than wines that are priced over $100. I'm sure there is a higher percentage of $1,000 espresso machines that make really good espresso, compared to the % of $100 espresso machines that make really good espresso.
Rick G
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T12:35:26.287Z
The 100 dollar model probably does not have enough pressure to make real espresso but instead makes what is technically steamed coffee.
Joshua Aslan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T12:39:21.387Z
@JoshuaAslanSmith How can you tell the difference (before you've bought the machine)?
fredley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T12:58:06.163Z
I believe 9 bars of pressure is the industry standard.. If a machine isn't telling you anything about the pressure, its likely not meeting this.
Joshua Aslan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T12:58:43.323Z
@JoshuaAslanSmith Even budget machines usually advertise a 15-bar pump, so I don't think it's this.
fredley
<espresso-machine>
What differentiates a $100 coffee machine from a $1000 coffee machine?
fredley
# What differentiates a $100 coffee machine from a $1000 coffee machine?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-28)

There is a huge amount of price variance for coffee machines. Just a quick look in any shop will reveal two espresso machines, made by the same manufacturer, one in the $100 range, and another in the $1000 range. For the purposes of simply making espresso from ground coffee, what is the difference between them?

**Tags:** espresso-machine

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The 100 dollar model probably does not have enough pressure to make real espresso but instead makes what is technically steamed coffee.  
> **username_0**: @JoshuaAslanSmith How can you tell the difference (before you've bought the machine)?  
> **username_2**: I believe 9 bars of pressure is the industry standard.. If a machine isn't telling you anything about the pressure, its likely not meeting this.  
> **username_0**: @JoshuaAslanSmith Even budget machines usually advertise a 15-bar pump, so I don't think it's this.  
> **username_1**: Keep in mind that higher priced equipment does NOT always translate into better espresso. The best analogy is in wines, where many $20 bottles are better than wines that are priced over $100. I'm sure there is a higher percentage of $1,000 espresso machines that make really good espresso, compared to the % of $100 espresso machines that make really good espresso.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-28. Score: 16 | Accepted answer

More expensive coffee machines typically have better "plumbing", including some and even all of the following:

* **2 boilers / HX** to allow for frothing and brewing at the same time
* **Preinfusion**
* **Copper boilers** vs. cheaper aluminium versions (guarantees better temperature stability)
* **Larger boilers**, allowing for more shots to be drawn/ milk to be frothed
* **Wider portafilters** (which in some peoples' opinion gives better flavour)
* **3-way valves** to allow back-built pressure to evacuate
* **a real steam wand**, no gimmicky plastic ones that promise the world and don't deliver
* **the ability to be plumbed** (connected to your water drain so you don't have to manually clear out the water tray.)
* The option of vibration vs. **rotary pumps** (which are quieter, although I think they are more likely to break if there is no water)
* **Customisability of technical factors** (pressure, temperature) which gives more control for our crazy data-obsessed coffee needs :)

Now this doesn't mean you can't get good coffee on a cheaper machine. You're just going to have to put more effort in it and get more variable results. Which is more than fair for most people.

As for the price difference, most of these features will raise the price by themselves and a lot of the more expensive machines are hand-made as well.

**Last point** they are also very pretty and a status symbol, not to the extent of let's say a very expensive watch but it does sort of feel that way sometimes.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-28. Score: 5

**Check for coffee related features**.

These are things which make your coffee taste better:

*Cup heater* - if you make your espresso into pre-heated cup, it will taste better

*Metal steamer* - I know you are going to make espresso only, but if you want to do cappucino, heating milk by metal steamer is better than by plastic one

*Pressure control* - The expensiver coffee machines can control pressure bit better.

Anyway, in my own opinion, for *good coffe* is enough even low end coffee machine (I own one for 200 bucks)

If you want to make *great cofee* then go to higher end. But for beginner or even bit enthusiast as I am, low end should do the trick


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