Short Answer: A resounding yes, especially for coffee lovers! Buying an expensive coffee machine is an excellent investment. A good quality machine will keep a constant temperature and pressure (9bar) during the extraction, which is vital when brewing coffee.
It’s wise to look for machines that are repairable since the cheaper ones aren’t made to last but to be replaced.
Appliances always are a wonderful investment. Expensive ones not only have more advanced features but also guarantee durability.
Let’s continue reading to find out if expensive coffee machines are really worth it.
Why are expensive coffee machines better?
Personally, a high-priced coffee machine is worth your money. When I say “expensive,” it’s one that’s SCA (Speciality Coffee Association) certified and costs between $200 and $300.
Choose an expensive coffee maker if you want amazing nuanced coffee notes, full flavor, and the perfect brew temperature. Here are 3 reasons why an expensive coffee maker is preferable to a low-priced one.
Optimal brewing temperature
As per the SCA, the optimal brew temperature is 203 °F, which is just below the boiling point of water (110 °F). Most of the cheaper coffee machines hardly get that hot enough and ultimately burn out.
A larger brew head
A larger brew head or group on an expensive coffee maker evenly showers the ground coffee. This results in better extraction and brings out the best flavor of the drink.
Bloom and pulse function
Expensive coffee machines mimic the steps that baristas make when preparing a pour-over coffee. The bloom function allows the coffee’s carbon dioxide to degas, and the pulse brew adds layers of flavor.
Will an expensive coffee machine make better coffee?
Expensive coffee machines can make your coffee taste better. One of the major differences is that the more expensive coffee machines use burr grinders, whereas the less expensive ones use blade grinders.
The grind quality you receive from a burr grinder is better than a blade grinder.
With a finer grind, there can be a notable difference in the taste of your coffee. A finer grind has a richer taste as it brings out more of the coffee beans’ taste profile.
As I’ve mentioned a while ago, the size of your machine’s brew head or a group also affects the quality of your cup. Expensive machines have bigger groups and that means more beans can be showered equally.
However, even an expensive machine can’t make cheap coffee taste good. A machine is only as good as the quality of beans you put in it.
You can read my post on how bean quality affects your overall coffee experience right here.
How much does a good espresso machine cost?
A dependable espresso machine for your home will cost you around $400 to $700. And they do a good job by brewing high-quality espresso with minimal fuss.
You can also find so-called espresso brewers for less than $50. Many experts and connoisseurs argue that they don’t produce an espresso.
On the other hand, if you want to buy an espresso machine for commercial use, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $40,000.
It’s difficult to pin down a single price for mid-range espresso machines. A semi-automatic espresso machine, for example, can range from $3,000 to $10,000.
How expensive and cheap coffee machines differ
Price
The most obvious factor that differentiates expensive coffee machines from cheap ones is their price.
Prices vary depending on the brand and model you plan to buy plus the kind of features they have, the quality of the built of the machine as well the kind of parts used.
For example, the more features and automation you have on your machine, the more expensive it will be. Though there are good brands out there with models that offer excellent features at a mid-range price.
The following table compares the price of coffee makers:
| Coffee Maker Type | Average Price Range |
| Drip | $40 – $220 |
| French Press | $20 – $150 |
| Siphon | $65 – $200 |
| Single-Serve | $65 – $200 |
| Espresso | $250 – $4,000 |
| Super Automatic Epresso | $900 – $2,200 |
Quality of materials and parts
The quality of the coffee machine and its parts is another factor that distinguishes between expensive and cheap coffee machines, as superior quality parts are used to make it more reliable over time.
When you pay a higher price for your coffee machine, you’d expect it to be more durable.
Coffee machines with plastic parts have a shorter lifespan and are more prone to malfunctions. Plastic is also known to be harmful to your health, despite the fact that some products claim to be BPA-free.
The grinder is one of the parts of a coffee machine that you need to pay attention to when purchasing. Burrs are used inexpensive machines, while blades are used in cheap ones to grind beans. Burr grinders produce a finer grind than blade grinders, resulting in a more flavorful cup.
Maintenance and serviceability
When it comes to expensive coffee machines, their parts can be replaced when they break and can be maintained and serviced by their brand’s service providers.
Meanwhile when cheap machines with plastic parts are damaged, they’re more likely to be discarded. That means you’ll have to spend money and buy a new one, which is less sustainable in the long run.
What is the most expensive coffee machine?
The Javabot is the world’s most expensive coffee machine that has caught the attention of coffee lovers worldwide. It’s invented by a company named Roasting Plant.
It’s currently the only walk-in coffee machine in the world and costs $1 million. You can find it in New York City or Detroit.
In 30 seconds, it can roast, grind, brew, and blend a cup of beans from up to 7 different types. The design is impressive because you can see the coffee-making process as well as the majestic columns filled with coffee beans.
It’s a dream coffee machine for coffeeholics like you and me because it blends quickly and produces a perfect cup of coffee. If a barista would be a bot, Javabot would be it.
Aside from Javabot, you can see more of the most expensive coffee machines in this video.
To sum it all up
Expensive coffee machines will surely deliver an exceptional cup of coffee as long as you use high-quality coffee beans. However, if you choose the right model and brand, lower-to-mid-tier machines can also make pretty excellent coffee depending on the beans you put in.
The brand of the machine you choose has a vital impact on the quality of the drink you get in your cup.
An expensive coffee machine will last longer because it’s made of high-quality materials, whereas cheap machines are mostly made of plastic and are meant to be discarded when they don’t work.
The price of coffee machines also depends on their features. When you plan to buy an expensive one, ask yourself if you really need the extra features it comes with.
While extra features add a fancy touch to the machine, they significantly raise the price. The truth is that they aren’t always necessary.
Whether you plan to buy a high-end or low-cost coffee machine, keep in mind that the coffee machine is only as good as the coffee you put in it.
Other Articles
- Check out the visual story version of this article
- Best Coffee Machines Under $500 (Budget-friendly)
- Best Coffee Machines for Iced Coffee (A Worthy Pick)
- Best Coffee Machines Under a $1000 (Best Value)