Espresso Machines

Why can't I just push a button for my coffee?

Machines which "do it all for you" are referred to as super-automatic machines. These will grind and extract the coffee. Some will also heat and add milk automatically. These machines are complex by nature and are produced by companies like Saeco, Jura and Delonghi. Sadly, they will not produce coffee at the standard you would expect to find in a decidedly average café. Many purchasers are ultimately disappointed with their performance and come to realise that far better coffee can be obtained from a semi-automatic coffee machine when supplied with freshly ground coffee.

Talk Coffee does not sell super-automatic machines because we promote great coffee.

How about capsules/pods?

This style of coffee is everywhere. Whilst the machines are often inexpensive, the pods to operate them are very expensive and frequently end up in landfill. Pod machines might be likened to cheap printers from the local store - you purchase the printer for a tiny sum but are then locked into high-priced consumables for the life of the printer. With pods, the coffee can often be in excess of $100/kg.

In our opinion, pod coffee is even less desirable than coffee from super-automatic machines as pods contain pre-ground coffee. Coffee beans stale within minutes of being ground, regardless of claims pod manufacturers may make. We do not sell pod machines either.

Do I need a grinder?

In a nutshell, yes! As coffee stales rapidly once ground - regardless of packaging and marketing spin - a grinder is essential. In fact, whilst many purchasers consider a machine first and a grinder second, we would strongly recommend that a quality coffee grinder should be the first purchase. A satisfactory entry-level grinder will cost a minimum of about $250 and in general will not have the longevity nor performance of a small commercial grinder which may be $500 or more.

Many companies manufacture combination grinder-machine units. In general, we recommend against them. Coffee beans are best kept cool and should the grinder or machine section fail, there is no way to make coffee at all.

Single Boiler Machine

From ~$1,000

Best for: Singles or couples. Primarily espresso/long black with occasional milk coffee. Never more than 2–4 coffees in a session.

Single boiler machines will produce an espresso and, if milky coffee is required, the user pushes a button to further heat the boiler to produce steam. These machines do not have an internal control board and if the steam control is left on, the element may fail.

More precise temperature control can be achieved with a PID - as employed in the Profitec Go, which is our recommended best buy in this class. If you prefer an e-61 group, the La Pavoni Cellini Mini is a well-built, robust example.

Due to the many limitations of these machines, we do not generally recommend this style for untrained novices, offices, busy families or heavy milk drinkers. They *can* however produce great coffee in the hands of a careful and/or advanced user.

Baby Leva Machine

$1,000–$1,300+

Best for: Espresso purists who love tradition.

In this price range, La Pavoni produce gorgeous little piston lever machines. These are great for a couple of coffees - allow a 10-minute warm-up and enjoy the amazing espresso they produce! After about 3 coffees, you will need to switch off for a while to allow the machine to cool. Milk texture performance is adequate but can be a little slow.

Whilst we don't actively range La Pavoni Levas, we can source them in a day or two on request.

Heat Exchanger (HX) Machine

From ~$2,500

Best for: Families, offices, singles. Higher requirements for milk coffee. At times more than 4 coffees per session.

Heat exchanger machines offer the true "café at home" experience. They have the ability to produce espresso and texture milk simultaneously. HX machines will cater easily for families, gatherings and offices. All have water tanks of over 2 litres and more expensive models have commercial rotary pumps.

You're spoilt for choice in this category. Examples include the Stone Lite by Rocket Espresso, ECM Mechanika VI Slim, ECM Mechanika Slim Digital PID, Profitec Pro 400, Profitec Pro 500, Profitec Jump, Rocket Espresso Appartamento OG or Appartamento TCA, and the Rocket Espresso Giotto Cronometro and Mozzafiato Cronometro ranges.

The "cooling flush" you may have read about is largely a thing of the past. Reputable Australian importers have their HX machines configured to idle in the ideal 92–94°C range. Talk Coffee will not sell poorly configured machines.

Upper Level HX Machine

Around $4,000

Best for: Serious home users wanting commercial rotary pump performance.

Machines in this category will cater for any size gathering and can generally operate from their internal water tank or be plumbed into a mains connection. They have commercial rotary pumps and are much quieter in operation.

Popular examples include the Rocket Espresso Giotto Cronometro Evoluzione R, Mozzafiato Cronometro Evoluzione R, and the ECM Mechanika Max - our pick of this class.

Dual Boiler Machine

$4,000+

Best for: Advanced users requiring maximum control over espresso quality.

Dual boiler machines offer ultimate control and flexibility. Most are classified as small commercial machines, although they can be quite compact. They generally have rotary pumps and can be plumbed or run from an internal water tank. All have PID control of shot temperature - significant for black coffee drinkers who like to experiment with roast depth and light roast coffees.

Popular e-61 examples include the Rocket Espresso R Cinquantotto and Profitec Pro 600. The Profitec Drive and Profitec Move are rapid-to-heat examples worth considering. Our picks in this class are the ECM Synchronika II and ECM Technika VI (ETA 2026) for overall build quality, rapid heating and functionality. The Profitec Ride also delivers rapid heating and excellent functionality for those not requiring a rotary pump machine.

Lever Pull Machines

$5,000+

Best for: The purist. Advanced skills, looking to produce exceptional coffee.

What's old is new again with these machines. They are silent as there is no pump. As a result, they require a mains connection. Shot quality is outstanding as the waning pressure profile minimises the likelihood of unpleasant tertiary extraction. Many of our clients purchase a variety of espresso machines and then ultimately settle on a lever machine - forever.

The romance and beauty of these machines combines with some of the best espresso possible. They are, in a nutshell, coffee nirvana. Examples include the ACS Vesuvius EVO, Profitec Pro 800, and the Olympia Express Cremina and Olympia Express Cremina SL20.