Please note thatthis guide has beenreproduced with kind permission of Brasilia, renowned manufacturer of espresso machines.

Manual: These handsome and expensive machines have a lever that you pull to deliver a shot of espresso. With a manual espresso maker, you have complete control and can produce your ideal cup but also have the best chance of messing up. We think that they’re best left to professionals or serious coffee connoisseurs.The sleek and glamorous look of the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine means it will suit any modern kitchen. It features a compact design and at 15 lbs it’s easy enough to move around. My original classic is a 2003 model, which to an old fart like me seems like yesterday, but was of course 18 years ago at the time of writing – and there's nowt wrong with it, it'll still churn out lovely espresso and great textured milk. Fully Automatic: With a fully automatic espresso maker, even the amount of water is determined by the machine. All you have to do is fill it with beans and press a button and the machine delivers your drink of choice whether it’s an espresso or a latte macchiato. Many do give you the opportunity to customize the grind, the temperature, the strength, and/or the amount to your liking. Virtually all feature steamers and burr grinders. Because they have so many features these machines will take up the most space in your kitchen and come with the highest price tags. I'm trying to think of an analogy that works for this, there aren't many that spring to mind other than boats. A rubber dingy, and a wooden rowing boat, a sailing yacht and a super yacht could all be described as “boats”, but they're clearly very different beasts.

Again, this is essentially the same espresso machine as the Dedica EC685, with some minor aesthetic differences BUT, with one major difference in the form of a pro steam wand!

If you're not bothered about upgrading the basket, then don't worry about it, just use great coffee beans and how impressed you are with the espresso it'll produce will just depend on your palate, and if it doesn't cut the mustard you can upgrade the portafilter, or upgrade the machine.