Espresso is gaining in popularity. With the recent emergence of Starbucks and other upscale coffee houses, people are beginning to stray away from traditional coffee and into more specialized versions of the drink. But, if you have ever visited a Starbucks, you know their prices are ridiculous. It is a lot easier, and in the long run, cheaper, to learn to make your own espresso. Now, it’s not that difficult, but you will need an espresso machine.

Espresso machines work by forcing pressurized water and steam through ground espresso beans, which creates a rich, brown liquid. This liquid is espresso.

There are two main types of espresso machines on the market today: fully automatic espresso machines and stovetop espresso machines.

Automatic espresso machines are quite complicated. The basic premise is this; Water is heated using an internal heating element, then pumped under high pressure through finely ground espresso beans. This whole process happens inside the machine and is done completely automatic. There is no human intervention. Due to their high level of sophistication and engineering, they are often quite expensive, with top models running into the thousands of dollars.

A more cost effective alternative to a fully automatic espresso machine is a stovetop espresso machine.

Stovetop espresso machines come in three parts. There is a small tank on the bottom, a grill on top of that, then a container on top of that. To make espresso, you add water to the bottom, put the grill on top, fill it with ground espresso beans, and then put the container on top. Put this whole thing on top of your stove then turn it on. As the water boils it will turn to steam, and the steam will be pushed upward through the espresso beans, creating a thick, aromatic liquid, which is your espresso. The finished espresso will collect in the container on top until you are ready to pour it into individual cups.

The main thing to consider when choosing an espresso machine is the price. If you have under $100 to spend, you should get a stovetop espresso machine. If you have significantly more than that, you should get an automatic espresso machine. In reality, the espresso made by automatic espresso machines is far superior. If someone has the money to buy an automatic espresso machine, they will, and they won’t consider buying a stovetop model.

Espresso is fun to make and drink. With a basic espresso machine and a little bit of knowledge, you can make them all by yourself.