8 Best Coffee Maker Espresso Combos: Enjoy The Brewing Versatility

A coffee machine has been a ubiquitous appliance for a very long time. However, people wanted to try out different brewing styles and espresso machines quickly took over. If you want the option of enjoying both brew styles but do not have enough room for 2 separate appliances, a powerful coffee maker espresso combo is just what you need.

To choose the best one, you need to consider everything from their design and capacity to performance and coffee compatibility. This is where we take over. We took the time and gathered the answers to all the questions you might have.

The Rundown

What Is A Coffee Maker Espresso Combo?

This is a machine that can brew both drip coffee and espresso. Each part of the machine comes with its own brewing system, water reservoir, and features and functions you can adjust. The combo refers also to the steamer/frother, that is included in all machines, as well as grinder that is built-in in some models.

Different Coffee Types

The great thing about these machines is that they are versatile. The ones that come equipped with a grinder are suitable for use with whole coffee beans (and also pre-ground coffee if they have a bypass doser). Others are made for use with store-bought pre-ground coffee or coffee pods. Therefore, expect for espresso, they can brew also various types of coffee such as americano and doppio and also milk-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, macchiato, and flat white.

How Do These Machines Work?

Since these combos consist of two separate machines, each one works the way it is supposed to. The espresso machine pulls a perfect shot using extraction pressure.

On the other hand, drip coffee maker uses gravity and lets the coffee drip from the filter into the carafe.

Benefits Of Having A Combo Machine?

There are many benefits to having a combo machine:

• you are getting a 2in1 machine so you are saving both space and time (3in1 if you take a grinder into consideration)
• you get to choose wheter you want to drink espresso or drip coffee with every use
• every machine comes equipped with versatile features that make them user-friendly

The downside will be noticed by those who are not so familiar with technology. Since these machines offer a lot of brewing options, there are a lot of programs so you need to learn how to operate with a machine.

Features To Keep In Mind

Here are some important features you should keep in mind when trying to decide which machine is “the one” for you:

Size And Design

Buying an espresso coffee combo machine can save you a lot of counter space. However, you should note that they also come in versatile sizes. You can choose from somewhat smaller 18.9 x 7.87 x 13.78-inch models to a bit larger 20 x 19.5 x 12.25-inch ones.

Durability Level

Since you are investing your money in a coffee/espresso machine, you want to be sure that it lasts as long as possible. One way you can ensure that is to choose a durable stainless steel machine that offers high resistance to versatile exterior damages.

Automation Level

Coffee and espresso combo machines are either semi or super-automatic. The main difference between the two is that the former allows you to adjust its performance to your needs while the latter allows you to choose from pre-set options and settings.

Temperature Control

As is the case for drip coffee, espresso also tastes the best when the brewing water is between 195 and 204 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower than that, you will end up with a watered brew. Higher than that, your coffee or espresso will have a burnt flavor. By choosing a machine with a precise temperature control system (PID), you get to ensure that every brew is made at an optimal temperature level.

Extraction Pressure

While brands love to advertise that their machines use a 20-bar extraction pressure, the truth is that a 15-bar pressure is all you need to make a barista-style beverage. Machines with a lower extraction pressure can still make a good batch but they won’t get you the quality level you seek.

Coffee Compatibility

Most machines are made for use with ground coffee or whole coffee beans. The latter comes equipped with a bean grinder that ensures you can enjoy the freshest brewing results with every single use. Additionally, you can find those that work with coffee pods too.

Milk Steamer/Frother

While some machines come with a milk steamer, others come equipped with a frother. The difference between the two is that the steamer can steam the milk and at the same time creates a thin microfoam layer. A milk frother can only froth the milk by combining it with air at a high speed, there is no steam used in the process.

Brewing Options

Every machine you can find in this category provides you with versatile brewing options. Since most machines come equipped either with a steamer or a frother, you get to enjoy versatile espresso and coffee-milk-based beverages including a lungo, macchiato, cappuccinos and lattes, etc.

Brewing Quantity

Think about how much coffee you consume throughout the day. While some machines only provide a single cup of coffee or espresso at a time, others provide you with multiple cup size adjustments and the option of brewing a full carafe at once.

Ease Of Use

You don’t want to end up with a machine that offers many amazing features you can hardly use. So, consider your skill level. If you know your way around brewing coffee and espresso, opt for a machine with programmable features. On the other hand, if you are somewhat new in the brewing world, choose a machine with pre-set functions you can switch from with a push of a button.

8 Best Coffee Maker Espresso Combos

While the first machine allows you to brew up to 10 servings at once, the second one is designed to provide a single-serve at a time. Read on to find out more about the differences between the 7 top-rated models.

De’Longhi All-in-One Espresso Machine

Due to its highly practical design, this machine under $300 allows you to choose whether you want to brew a single cup for yourself or an entire carafe. The carafe is designed to hold up to ten cups at once which makes it a great option for occasions when you have company.

It comes equipped with a digital timer you can program up to 24 hours in advance to ensure that a fresh cup of coffee awaits you when you wake up. You can also program the exact time you want the unit to shut down.

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Philips Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

This single-cup, 15 bar brewer is the perfect choice for everyone who wants a machine with a completely customizable performance. Itsuser-friendly interface ensures you won’t have to spend too much time customizing its performance to meet your needs.

Another great thing about this machine is that it comes with a specially designed aroma seal container. It is made to keep your coffee beans in their fresh state for a much longer time. Its grinder provides you with different coarsness options you can adjust to your likings.

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Lavazza Expert Coffee Bundle

This is another machine that provides multiple user-friendly controls. Its control panel is placed on the front side of the unit to ensure that you can easily access it any time you need. It provides six different brewing options including espresso, macchiato, lungo, 8 oz. coffee, latte, and a cappuccino.

Note that this small machine is compatible for use only with Lavazza Expert Capsules. The great thing is that a welcome kit of 36 capsules comes included in the package. Thanks to this feature you won’t have to purchase additional capsules straight away.

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Mr. Coffee All-in-One Espresso Machine

This German machine provides you with a precise temperature control system. It is designed to heat up the water at the ideal temperature for every brewing option that the model provides. It also comes with a smart water system that automatically dispenses the right amount of water for each brewing cycle.

Included with this coffee maker, comes a 10-cup thermal carafe that will allow you to brew a larger amount of coffee at once. Because of its stainless steel construction, it will maintain the temperature of your brew at its optimal level for a long time after the brewing process is done.

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Gaggia Cadorna Super-Automatic Machine

This Italian machine offers 10 different pre-programmed brewing options. These include coffee, americano, espresso, espresso lungo, a ristretto, cappuccino, café au lait, latte macchiato, frothed milk, and hot water you can use to make versatile infusions.

It also provides 4 additional profiles you can completely personalize according to your likings. Once you adjust all brewing parameters make sure that you save the settings. That way you will be able to brew a desired beverage with a simple push of a button.

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De’Longhi Dinamica Coffee & Espresso Maker

This is another machine that provides you with a fully automatic brewing performance. Its bean-to-cup brewing system ensures perfectly fresh brewing results with each use. You will always get a full-flavored cup of your favorite beverage.

The best thing is that it can also provide you with a delicious iced brew. Most importantly, the coffee won’t have that watered-down taste. It will have a full-flavored taste of all coffee oils and flavors from the beans you use.

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Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine

This machine features a six-level aroma grinder. It preserves all the delicious flavors of the coffee beans you use. Additionally, it is capable to grind beans up to two times faster than conventional grinders on the market.

Just like the rest of these models, this coffee and espresso maker combo with grinder comes also with a milk frother. Thanks to this feature you will be able to use it to brew versatile beverages including a latte, cappuccino, etc. Its specially designed fine foam technology ensures exceptional results with every single use.

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Hipresso Espresso Coffee Machine

This model has both a pre-ground funnel and a fresh whole bean coffee container. Due to this feature, you can use it to brew with ground coffee and while beans. Additionally, because of its milk frother, you will be able to use this brewer to make a delicious cappuccino and versatile coffee and milk-based beverages.

Note that this machine features a powerful dual heating system. Due to this feature, the brewing water will be heated at a precise temperature and provide the most delicious and rich flavors no matter which hot beverage you decide to make.

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Difference Between Espresso And Regular Coffee

While both are made using ground coffee, their similarities end there. Espresso uses finer ground coffee powder than drip coffee. Moreover, espresso is much stronger than drip coffee, meaning, it has more caffeine. However, it is always served as a 1.5-ounce shot that has about 90-100 milligrams of caffeine while drip coffee is served in a 6-ounce cup and has about 80 to 200 milligrams of caffeine (in this case, the drip coffee is stronger). The difference is also in their brewing process:

How Is Espresso Made?

Espresso is made by forcing pressurized hot water through a coffee puck inside the filter. While this is done only in a few seconds, due to the high extraction pressure (that a pump inside the machine creates) all the coffee oils, flavors, and aromas are let down into the brew. As a result, you get a thick and creamy coffee shot with an intense flavor.

How Is Regular Coffee Made?

Regular coffee, also known as drip coffee, is made by hot water dripping over ground coffee in a cone-shaped filter. There is no pump that rushes the water through. Once it saturates all the grounds inside the filter, it starts to drip out from the filter into the carafe. The filter (paper or a permanent one) keeps the grounds from dropping into the brew.

Is It Better To Buy A Combo Or Two Separate Machines?

This solely depends on the performance you expect from a machine. While a combo provides good results both while brewing espresso and making drip coffee if you want a machine that provides a bit more sophisticated performance and authentic results, consider buying a specialized espresso machine or a drip coffee maker.

What makes combo machines so desirable, is their price point. Most models are reasonably priced so you get to enjoy amazing results without spending too much money. However, keep in mind that you don’t have to spend too much money if you decide to buy 2 separate machines either. You can find amazing espresso brewers for less than $150, while a decent drip machine can be found for $50.

Do All The Best Coffee And Espresso Maker Combos Come With A Grinder?

No, but the best ones do. If you opt for a machine without a grinder, buy one separately. That way you will get to enjoy the freshest results (such as you would get in a professional cafe) every time you use your machine.

Can You Brew An Espresso Using A Coffee Machine?

No, unfortunately, you can not. This is because of the brewing difference we explained above. Drip machines do not use the pressure that is needed to extract the espresso shot.

Can You Brew Regular Coffee Using An Espresso Machine?

The closest you can get to a drip coffee flavor using an espresso machine is the americano. While it is not the same as drip coffee, it is the best next thing.

How To Properly Clean These Machines?

Coffee and espresso combo machines are fairly easy to clean. They need to be descaled regularly to ensure that they have a lasting lifespan. The ones with more advanced designs may even have automatic cleaning functions (each) that make the whole process hassle-free. Some machines even come with light indicators that inform you when the machine needs to be cleaned.

It is worth knowing that the machines that come equipped with a traditional espresso group head need to be backflushed at least once a week (if used in domestic environments, daily in professional). To do this you only need to:

1. Rinse all the coffee grounds out from the portafilter.
2. Brush underneath the group head to remove excess grounds.
3. Lock the portafilter back in its place and run a brewing cycle a few times.

That is it. If you want to make the process even easier, you can use a cleaning solution or single-use tablets that are specially designed to help you clean the machines.

What Exactly Is Descaling?

The descaling process helps you remove the mineral residue that builds upon the machine due to its constant use. While some manufacturers say you should do this once a month, you can do this about every 3 months.
To do this, you can simply combine a bit of vinegar with warm water.

Make sure that you check the machine’s manual as some manufacturers advise not to use a vinegar solution. In this case, there are versatile specialized cleaning solutions you can try out. If you do not descale your machine regularly, you might face some issues such as:

• clogging
• bad coffee/espresso flavor
• low brewign temperature
• versatile malfunctions

Why Is Water’s Hardness So Important?

Hard water has a much higher amount of dissolved minerals than soft or filtered water. As a result, it leads up to a faster mineral buildup inside the machine. This means that if you use hard water, you will need to descale your machine more often. However, you can avoid this by adding water filters to the reservoir itself.