So it has been raining since morning and you are craving for that perfect cup of coffee that makes you feel like heaven?
Well, you obviously can’t go to the nearest shop and have to sit back and wonder why you cannot afford an espresso machine of your own? Why are espresso machines so expensive!
A common issue that coffee lovers face while shopping for an espresso machine is the unimaginable cost. Not everyone can afford an espresso machine and that makes them all the more desirable as well.
It often seems like Espresso is just forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans. Then why on Earth are these machines so expensive?
Well, the logic is simple. No doubt, it is quite easy to get espresso out of a machine, but the technology that works behind making this task so easy is what costs you! A lot of hard work goes into the designing and implementation of an espresso machine. It just doesn’t get easier by itself, you see!
Let us dig into this further and find out what exactly is there in an espresso machine that makes it so costly.
Quality
The cost of the espresso machine mainly depends on its quality. Cheaper espresso machines are also available, but you see they don’t have the quality. You can’t really predict as to how long would they serve you fine.
Quality espresso machines are manufactured using stainless steel, brass, or metal. All of this contributes to the cost of the machine. In place of metal, industrial plastic may be used for internal parts and frame. But, this may affect the espresso quality and may or may not deliver that world-class experience you are looking for.
Components of the Machine
The espresso machine has a complex design. It has a lot of complex internal parts and components. These include the coffee bean grinder, the thermoblock, the brew group and anything else that contributes towards converting coffee beans into ‘Espresso’.
Apart from that consider all the stainless steel and brushed chrome that goes into finishing up of the machine. While cheaper espresso machines employ more affordable and inferior quality material, quality espresso machines make use of quality components and thus have a higher cost.
Digital Display
Popular espresso machines available today have a digital display. This digital display employed on to conventional espresso machines are a lot different as compared to the ones on the standard machines.
These innovative digital displays are manufactured using high-quality materials to make sure that the stability and temperature constancy is improved.
Add to it all the innovative features like features such as water temperature adjustment, pre-infusion delay, on and off programming, shot timers, filters placement prompts, cleaning programs, and equipment diagnostics.
Brewing Temperature Adjustment
The trademark of a good espresso machine is that it should always put the user in control.
Quality espresso machines which of course are costly as well, are equipped with a temperature controller and adjuster that provides users with more control over the brewing temperature.
The user may find various models available in several operating styles. As the list of features gets more expensive, the cost also shoots up.
Temperature Adjustment – Individual Groups
Costly espresso machines often come with a temperature adjustment to enhance the user experience to yet another level. If you are someone who likes to be in control and want to experience a greater say in what kind of coffee you get, you need to have this feature.
Not just that, these costly espresso machines scream quality in their design and approach towards the drink. No wonder, such espresso machines are the costliest of all!
Pressure Consistency and Profiling
Talking about espresso machines, not many of us may be familiar with pressure consistency and profiling. The features are crucial and add to the cost of the machine as well. Conventional cheap espresso machines may or may not have these features.
But, the newer, costly models come equipped with this pressure consistency feature and let the consumer create their own pressure profiling.
Citing these increasing feature demands by users, espresso machines have got costlier and equipped with new techniques. Featuring a complex internal structure, electronically as well as mechanically, espresso machines have taken the coffee experience to another level.
Research and Development
Research and development is probably what we as consumers don’t care at all about.
Manufacturing of an espresso machine requires a lot of development, research and implementation – more costs which add up over time. High quality machines that function well are a product of great research and thus cost more.
The human resource and the tests required add a considerable cost to a manufacturer’s business resulting in high cost.
Middle Men
Like every other business out there, manufacturing of espresso machines also has some middleman and other beneficiaries. A majority of the coffee machine manufacturers work with distributors around the globe. As a “middle man”, one cannot be expected to work without compensation; every single middlemen involved in the process adds to the cost of the machine!
Import Duties
Import duties vary from country to country and add up to the cost of the espresso machine. Thus, depending on where you live, you need to pay a bit extra due to this as well depending on where the coffee machine is being manufactured.
How Much Are You Willing to Pay for a Great Cup of Coffee?
Finally, we can say that the cost depends on how much one is willing to pay for a great cup of coffee. People who want to have quality coffee as home are often willing to shed some extra bucks for it. Expensive coffee machines are not an issue for them. They look at it as an investment. After all, a coffee fanatic would prefer brewing the perfect cup of Espresso every time they want one. Seeing coffee lovers spend a little extra time to make sure they have the best at hand is nothing new, though.
While you can always save bucks by going for cheaper options, we won’t recommend that you. While buying an espresso machine, it is crucial to analyse all the aspects and go for the best as it is a one time investment.
Buy your machine from a firm that specializes in manufacturing these machines and related equipment. These firms understand the brewing process and invest into the manufacturing through research and analysis. No wonder, they also use the right stuff to manufacture the Espresso maker.
Buying a cheaper, low-quality machine may look like saving money, but costs you more in the long run. Thus make sure that you don’t fall into such traps and invest into the right stuff. You may log on to the blog written by Anthony at Coffee Dorks for additional information on the subject.
Being a coffee lover myself, I understand the fascination associated with coffee machines. Going for a quality espresso machine is the best way to make sure that you keep getting uninterrupted supply of delicious cups of Espresso every time you want. Yeah, you can always rush to the nearest coffee shop but the satisfaction that comes along with preparing your own cup, customized as per your taste is something that no coffee house can give you.
