Coffee machines with a cappuccinator (milk frother) have not been a novelty for ten years. But from time to time, technical and structural improvements appear, and thus the automatic foam coffee machine itself becomes an innovation. With all this, you must understand, deepen and master the art of a barista. Let’s see what you need to pay attention to when choosing.
Device
The softness of the foam and the strength of the coffee will depend on the sugar/milk ratio and the degree of grinding of the beans. There are many grind levels in these coffee grinders – up to 15. The more grinding, the longer it takes for this process. The machine has a dispenser, an on / off timer is provided, that is, the duration of grinding, whipping. The launch can be set according to the time of day, for example in the morning: you have woken up and the coffee is already ready. To prevent the flavor from escaping, the lid of the container is equipped with a rubber or silicone seal.The type of cappuccinatore, which can be both automatic and mechanical in the form of a manual panarello frother, can also have a significant impact on the quality of the froth. Polaris PACM 2060AC automatic coffee machineimage source: Polaris
Choice by feature
Functions can be set separately, but in modern models their combination is chosen by electronics. That is, you click on a certain type of coffee, and the machine itself connects the functions necessary for the process. The word “cappuccino” should not be misleading, because milk foam requires not only cappuccino, but also macchiato, latte. It’s just that frothy coffee is mostly associated with cappuccino.On the control panel there is a rotary knob for the strength of the drink. It is connected to both the cappuccinatore and the timer. The setting can be done manually or set to automatic. In another case, the drink is prepared according to predefined parameters. The electronics remember all settings, so coffee in different versions can be “ordered” with just one touch. For convenience, the values ​​are displayed on the LCD screen.As the “raw material” for a coffee machine, coffee beans or ground coffee are used. It is better to choose a machine that works with both types. In addition, the system has a dispenser, which can also be set to “automatic” and set the desired amount depending on the volume of the cup (15-250 ml). You can also adjust the temperature of freshly brewed coffee (values ​​from 70 to 98°C). Polaris PACM 2060 AC coffee machineimage source: PolarisInexpensive models use an LCD screen, while more expensive ones use a TFT touchscreen. Management is like on a smartphone, so there are fewer buttons in such modifications. The type of screen has little effect on the price, but the cost of coffee machines increases due to the number of functions and the brand. European, American brands are more expensive than Chinese brands, but they are of better quality and last three times longer. So, for connoisseurs of quality coffee, automatic coffee machines can be used both with a built-in cappuccinatore, for example, Polaris PACM 2060AC, and with a manual panarello nozzle, which allows you to whip even cream and prepare a thick raff, which cannot be made in a conventional coffee machine. The most interesting models with a manual panarello nozzle are the PACM 2050 and PACM 2041 coffee machines. Coffee machine with manual panarello nozzle – PASM 2050 coffee machinesimage source: PolarisThe appliance can be designed for the simultaneous preparation of 2 cups of coffee with certain portions for quick breakfasts. But the final choice of the “automatic barista” depends only on the needs.
