Home coffee machines are definitely the best way to be able to enjoy a good espresso without necessarily having to go to the bar. There are really so many models on the market, and it might be difficult to choose from all of them! In short, you cannot buy a coffee machine at random, otherwise you may not get the desired coffee, but only a feeble imitation of espresso. But how to buy a lever coffee machine and what distinguishes this from other models? Let's find out together!

Lever-operated coffee machine: the features

The lever coffee machine, unlike those with capsules or models with powdered coffee, allows you to insert the pod inside the special department, and to press the mixture contained within it as best as possible, lowering the lever at the moment you make coffee.

The lever system is also widely used in café espresso machines, as well as in home espresso machines. The reason for this decision is very simple, the lever creates a pressure system that does not depend on the manual dexterity of the person using the machine, in this way you can always get a coffee with the same aroma and smooth and creamy consistency.

In the case of home lever machines, this has the same function as those for the bar, so it manages to ensure a coffee with a more intense and creamy flavor, thanks to the pressure that is generated on the pod. Machines without a lever, in fact, often fail to keep the pod very still, and as a result there is a risk of water getting inside, ruining the next brew of coffee.

So, if you are going to buy an espresso machine you should definitely opt for a lever model, to get a better product with the same taste as when you drink coffee at the bar.

Lever coffee machine: choosing the best one based on pump bars

Lever-operated home coffee machines, as mentioned, although much smaller, have a very similar operation to that of the coffee bar. So they manage to make coffee thanks to the exploitation of a pump that creates the right pressure and then lets out the drink. It is precisely in the pressure pump that lies the "secret" that makes it possible to prepare coffee while managing to ensure an aromatic and intense taste. High pressure is necessary to be able to improve the release of essential oils, aromas and characteristic taste.

But how does the pump work? This is located inside the coffee machine and creates the right pressure in the water tank to make the water reach a temperature of about 90 degrees. Once the right temperature is reached, the water is then sent to the filter, which consequently allows the coffee to flow out. As you can see then, the heat pump and its power are extremely important in a lever espresso machine.

However, to understand which one is the best, you need to know that when you buy a machine you need to consider the bars (i.e., what the power of the pump indicates). So to get good coffee, how many bars does a coffee machine need to have? According to experts, for a home machine the bar pressure exerted by the pump should start from a minimum of 12 bars, however, to get better coffee, the best pressure is between 15 and 18 bars. In fact, the higher the pressure the better the quality of the coffee you drink.

Choosing a lever coffee maker based on the electrical output

When the value in bars is not expressed, another method you can use to understand whether a lever coffee machine is right for you is based on the electrical power. In this case therefore, it is necessary to check the watts. Choosing a machine with the right wattage is very important and is not as simple as choosing coffee cups because if the voltage is too low the water does not heat well and the coffee comes out badly, if on the other hand this is too high you risk consuming too much power and increasing the indirect costs of home coffee. So if you choose to opt for a lever coffee maker, you should avoid models with very low wattage between 350 and 500w, and those with excessively high wattage that exceeds 1500w. To achieve good performance while saving power, the best machines are certainly those that feature wattage between 600 and 850w.

Lever-operated coffee machines: the best models and prices

On the market, as you may know, there are many models of lever and leverless machines. In this case, however, I want to focus on which are the best ones equipped with a lever, and why their features make it possible to obtain excellent quality coffee.

Among the first brands to consider we found Faber, this offers first of all very aesthetically pleasing coffee machines with chrome and stainless steel parts. In addition to the aesthetic advantages and the presence of the lever, Faber espresso machines also offer optimal pressure for the preparation of this drink, the pump with which they are equipped is in fact equal to 16 bar, ideal for a creamy and aromatic espresso.

A second recommended brand, on the other hand, is Frog; in this case we are faced with a lever machine, which works with pods, and offers an excellent quality/price ratio. Frog espresso machines are also distinguished by their optimal wattage for the preparation of a good espresso coffee. In both brands, moreover, we find the possibility of using pods from various companies, without being obligatorily bound to the use of a specific brand. Whatever the pod used, the lever coffee machines will still be able to offer all the aromatic, beneficial and tasty characteristics that only a well-made espresso can give.