Stone Mine

The E61 was introduced in 1961 and has remained the reference point since. A thermosiphon keeps it at temperature continuously, instead of you having to search for it before each shot. You can get seals, shower screens and portafilters for it from specialty dealers, not just the manufacturer.

The vibration pump is the most common type for home use: compact, affordable, reliable. It is audible, namely for the duration of the extraction, about half a minute.

Aluminum is light and warms up quickly, which is why it is used in compact machines. As a result, the machine is ready for use earlier than one with a heavy brass boiler.

With Flow Control you manually control how quickly the water runs through the coffee grounds: start slowly, then increase pressure. That takes the edge off acidic beans and gives you an extra adjustment. Without Flow Control the extraction runs at a fixed pressure, and that is enough for most recipes.

With a tank the machine does not need a water connection and can be placed anywhere there is a power outlet. For that you have to refill, and the water quality is in your hands: filtered or soft water reduces descaling.

58 millimeters is the most common size. Baskets, tampers, levelers and distributors are available for it from many manufacturers, so you are not tied to an unusual size or a single supplier.

The top surface of the machine is warmed by residual heat. A prewarmed cup draws less heat from the espresso, and those last degrees decide whether it still tastes the same in the glass as in the cup.

The machine switches itself off after a set time or goes into a low-power state. That saves electricity when you turn it on in the morning and then forget about it during the day. Without standby it stays on until you switch it off.