Automatic Coffee Machine Reviews: How To Make Your Own Automatic Coffee Machine
Whoa! Yes, this is a genuine article – not some spoof. But also, no, we’re not about to explain in painstaking detail how to build an actual automatic coffee machine.
An automatic coffee machine is a rarely afforded luxury in life, but it offers some amazing product. Not everyone is able to afford the associated +/-R 7000.00 price tag associated with even an entry-level Automatic machine, so we’d like to tell you how you can get beautiful, quality coffee and cappuccino’s, without forking out your life savings.
Automatic Coffee Machine Parts
It’s important to understand exactly what an automatic comprises of, before we can fully understand why it’s so expensive. An automatic coffee machine houses an internal coffee bean grinder, an automatic coffee-grounds tamping mechanism, a coffee brewing system and some sort of milk-frothing device. The last part is what separate an Espresso Machine from an automatic machine – and an automatic from a super-automatic.
The milk frother can either be one-touch button, meaning you have your coffee and milk come out of the same spout. Also, it could be a pipe fitting which you will insert into your milk container, or it could be a free-standing external jug.
Back to the components, though. If you take into consideration what each separate component may cost as a stand -alone, you could begin to understand why an automatic machinate costs so much.
Manufacturers have costs to cover, and retailers need to factor in profit, transportation, branding etc.
At the end of the day, you press a button, coffee is dispense, frothed milk is dispensed, and you’re happy.
But, there is a much cheaper way to do it.
Using a Drip Coffee Maker
After you’ve ground your coffee beans (you can either use pre-packaged, ground filter coffee or grind your own whole coffee beans), simply add it to your filter coffee machine and allow it to start brewing.
Remember that proper Cappucino’s are made from Espresso – essentially the same coffee used in your filter machine – but it is brewed at pressure. Filter coffee machines or “Drip Coffee Makers” use a gravitational method to brew and extract your coffee, so you, unfortunately, will not get the same beautiful Crema on your coffee as you would from a true Espresso shot.
However, for the price difference you can expect to see, you might want to consider if this is truly important to you.
Electric Milk Frother – Coffee Making Steps
Once your coffee has begun to brew, and the intoxicating aroma of Arabica fills your nose, it’s time to get cracking on your milk froth.
There are numerous ways to “whip up” your milk froth, but we are aiming for budget-friendly options, and as such, will be focussing on the two cheapest options.
Wand-Type Electric Milk Frother
This is your cheapest, easiest to use milk frother type. It looks like an electric and, with a wound and coiled spring at the end of the wand. This is inserted into your milk and essentially aerates your milk to a point where it gets frothy. It’s most effective in that it costs around the R 100.00 mark, but it does not heat up your milk. You will need to heat your milk separately, either in a pot on the stove or in the microwave before adding it to your coffee.
Automatic-Type Electric Milk Frother
This option definitely is more pricey, generally retailing around the R 300.00 – R 1000.00 mark (depending on brand, material, place of purchase etc.), but it serves the two main functions necessary for cappuccino froth.
The automatic-type electric milk frother has a heating element inside, much alike a kettle, which heats up your milk. It then aerates the milk inside with a similar type of mechanism you could expect to find on your Wand-Type Electric Milk Frother, except it gets the job done a whole lot quicker, with a lot less effort required from your side.
Cappuccino Recipe – How To Make a Cappuccino at Home
So, your filter coffee pot is sitting pretty, waiting to be indulged in. Your fresh milk froth is staring at you lovingly.
Simply pour out your milk froth into your cup, and then add your coffee.
This is a generally overlooked, but important part of making a beautiful cappuccino.
The reason we suggest making it in this order is because coffee is much denser than frothed milk, and as such, will drop straight to the bottom of your mug. This allows for a beautiful mixing of the two ingredients, whereas adding your milk after your coffee might make your drink mix strangely, and not allow for the milk to mix in full.
There you have it – you’ve made your very own cappuccino at home without spending your life savings!
Tell us what you thought in the comments section!
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