Semiautomatic, Fully Automatic, & Pod Espresso Machines

In this section, we highlight what are "standard" espresso machines. These all have handled portafilters with portafilter baskets into which you put ground espresso, and then operate the controls to do the extraction.

In the "Semiautmatic" espresso machine, extraction is done by turning the water flow on (using a switch), and then off, when you are satisfied with the amount espresso extracted. The "Fully Automatic" espresso machine is the same machine, except that the control is a set of push-buttons that you simply push for a single or double shot, and the machine "knows" how much water to push through.

And the "Pod Machines" use prepackaged pods instead of ground coffee. This makes less of a mess, and takes a little less fuss. Some of the Pod Machines can also use freshly ground coffee, but use a different filter basket for pods.