How to Rate Espresso Machines

There is a bevy of espresso-based beverages that can be made with an espresso machine, and determining which machine is best for you is made easier with a system for rating espresso machines. Determine which aspects of an espresso machine best fit your beverage-making needs, and you can easily come up with a system for rating them that will help you find your most agreeable options.

Things You'll Need

• Variety of espresso machines of interest
• Espresso machine reviews
• Internet use or stores that carry espresso machines
• Pen and paper or word processing computer program

Instructions

1. Determine your needs. Do you need an espresso machine for personal use? Would you like for it to make two shots of espresso at once, or just one? Think about the drinks you plan to make to determine what features the espresso machine should include. If you are a latte enthusiast, chances are you will want a machine that has an attached milk steamer. Even though you might like a milk steamer, you might be willing to buy an espresso machine that meets other needs and buy a milk steamer separately.

2. Consider quality. An article on CoffeeGeek.com stresses, "Think about how long you want this product to be working. Think about the cost broken down over five, ten, and even fifteen years of ownership." CoffeeGeek.com asserts that even though you may be drawn to the cheapest on the market, consider the quality of the parts and the potential life of the machine. Sacrificing quality for price may end up costing more in the future if the espresso machine doesn't hold up.

3. Read reviews. CoffeeGeek.com suggests reading reviews from people who have actually used the machines you are considering purchasing. The site warns, however, to look for reviews that appear to be honest. In explanation, CoffeeGeek.com says that there are pros and cons to everything, so a review that doesn't give you both the good and the bad will likely not be very beneficial in your search to rate espresso machines.

4. Create a chart. Once you have narrowed your preferences for machines and their features, create a chart based on such factors. Think about things like quality, affordability, included accessories, appearance and anything else that will help you effectively rate one espresso machine above the next. Consider placing the names of the espresso machines you have in mind down the left side of the chart and the requirements across the top for easy scoring and comparison.

5. Create a rubric. Now that you have a chart, create a simple scoring system. Depending on how many requirements you have in your chart, you may want to keep the scoring simple like "one to five with five as the highest." For each requirement in your chart to rate espresso machines, write down your assigned score in each box. Combine the scores for each espresso machine to rate each one in relation to the others and, in turn, to determine which espresso machine best meets your qualifications.

References

• CoffeeGeek.com: How To Buy an Espresso Machine