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Type of Machine

Advantages

Disadvantages

Best For

Super Automatic Espresso Machines

Easy, fast, no separate grinder required, consistent quality when maintained properly, can use any kind of espresso beans including home roasted beans

Expensive, difficult to clean, complicated machine, reliability is not as good as other options

Coffee lovers who wants convenience, the ability to use coffee beans, and don't mind paying a premium

Pump Driven Espresso Machines (traditional)

Capable of producing the best quality espresso possible in the hands of a skilled barista, excellent reliability, can use any kind of espresso beans including home roasted beans, double shot size portafilters available

Requires substantial skill and effort to produce top quality espresso, requires fresh roasted beans and high quality burr grinder for best quality, spent grounds are messy

Coffee enthusiasts who are interested in learning to make espresso as a hobby or want to be able to make the absolute best espresso possible

Pump Driven E.S.E Pod Espresso Machines

Extremely simple to operate, fast, no messy spent coffee grounds, provides consistent quality, excellent reliability, wide selection of E.S.E. pods available

Limited to E.S.E. pods, E.S.E. pods cost 3 to 4 times the cost of whole roasted beans, easy cleaning. 

Coffee lovers who want convenience and don't mind being limited to only using E.S.E. pods

Pump Driven Combo Espresso Machines

Conversion kit enables function as traditional pump driven machine or E.S.E Pod espresso machine

Conversion kit may be expensive, see disadvantages of traditional or E.S.E pod machines

Coffee enthusiasts who want the convenience of E.S.E. pods and the flexibility to be able to convert to a traditional pump driven machine

Lever Espresso Machines

Same as pump driven when used by experienced barista, simple machines with excellent reliability

Most difficult type to operate, difficult to achieve constistency due to manually controlled pressure, requires fresh roasted beans and high quality burr grinder for best quality, spent grounds are messy

Coffee purists who want a machine that is also a work of art and want manual control of everything

Stove Top (Steam) Espresso Makers

Cheap, easy

Does not make true espresso, takes more time, messy grounds

Someone who wants something better than drip coffee but doesn't want to make the investment required for true espresso