Drip coffee maker vs espresso machine. What’s the difference?
For many regular coffee drinkers, coffee is just coffee. For some reason, it can be served in tiny or huge cups. You can drink it with or without milk.
And by extension, many coffee lovers don’t know which machine they should get for at-home use.
A decent number of people got hooked by the lower price of drip coffee machines. However, they sometimes end up disappointed because the drip machine can’t produce their favorite coffee drink.
So, there’s no denying that it can be puzzling, but that’s why we’re here!
Join me on a ride to solve this coffee puzzle together. Enjoy!
Originally by Lilian.
Updated in December 2022 by Jozo, a barista with 15 years of experience.
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The Most Important Consideration When Choosing Drip Coffee Maker or Espresso Machine
The first question to ask yourself when choosing between the two machines is the type of drink you fancy most – espresso or drip coffee.
What is an Espresso?
An espresso is a shot of highly concentrated dark coffee.
It’s prepared by forcing steam through tightly packed, fine coffee grounds to come up with a drink that’s thicker, more intense than (regular) coffee.
For espressos, there’s a low coffee grounds to water ratio to ensure the drink is highly concentrated.
By Jozo: We have three different brew ratios for espresso:
- Ristretto uses 1:1 or 1:1.5 coffee-to-water ratio
- Classical espresso uses 1:2 to 1:2.5
- Lungo (long espresso) uses around 1:3, sometimes more
4 Coffee Gear & Coffee Recommendations
- Cuisinart Single Serve + 12 Cup Coffee Maker – Popular drip coffee maker
- Philips 3200 Series Espresso Machine – Easy-to-use fully automatic coffee machine for small office or home use
- Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker – K-Cup pods compatible coffee maker
- Koa Coffee – Premium hand-picked Hawaiian coffee. Have you tried American coffee yet?
What is Drip Coffee?
Drip coffee is known to us as “regular coffee.”
You brew it by dripping boiling water over coffee grounds. No high-pressure system.
Jozo: The usual coffee-to water-ratio is 1:16, although it can vary.
The water slowly trickles through the coffee grounds and a filter, and the drink is less intense than the espresso.
Unlike espressos, the coffee grounds used for this type of coffee are a medium grind.
By Jozo: Comparing The Two Coffees By Flavor And Intensity
Drip coffee has a mild flavor and a clean body. Those characteristics make drop coffee ideal for long sips while you are taking your breakfast.
Espresso uses much less water, so it has an intense taste that some people don’t like.
Espresso was traditionally drunk bottoms up or in a few sips.
Comparing the Two Coffees By Caffeine Amount
The Black Oak Coffee Roasters suggest that espresso is 6-8 times more concentrated than drip coffee.
Jozo: However, if you look at serving sizes, drip coffee has more caffeine! How is that possible?
- A standard espresso shot (2 oz) has around 80 mg of caffeine.
- However, a 12 oz dose of drip coffee has 120 mg – 50% more.
- If you take Trenta size (30 oz), you will drink 300 mg of caffeine!
These caffeine doses are not that precise – Jozo S., a lifelong barista, reminds us.
The actual caffeine amount will depend on bean type, roast level, and processing type.
Some companies, like Death Wish Coffee, produce coffee blends with an insane amount of caffeine.
With the above information in mind, the two drinks are very different, and you prepare them using different equipment.
Read on!
The Basics of Drip Coffee Maker Vs Espresso Machine
How the two machines work is very different.
The Basics of Drip Coffee Makers
Every drip coffee machine has a water reservoir that heats up the water before it’s slowly passed onto the filter basket with coffee grounds, and into your cup.
That’s the basic concept for any drip coffee machine, although the recent models come with endless customization.
The process should take 4-10 minutes depending on the model of the machine and the amount of coffee you’re brewing.
The Basics of Espresso Machines
Jozo: Semi-automatic espresso machine owners measure coffee grounds and pour them into portafilters.
Smaller espresso machines do not connect to the plumbing system. They usually have a small reservoir where you pour the water.
You distribute and tamp your coffee grounds in the portafilter basket. Then you put the portafilter inside the brewing head and twist it for a firm connection. You control the length of the shot.
At the touch of a button, the machine grinds the beans, extracts them, and gives you the same shot every time. Some even have a built-in milk frother for lattes and cappuccinos.
Which one is best for you?
Automatic Vs Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?
As we’ve mentioned, the main difference between the two machines is the autonomy of the users. How does this affect your decision?
Well, if you’d want to experiment with espresso extraction, the semi-automatic models are better. There’s no pre-set time for shots. You’ll master the craft of preparing what’s perfect for you every time.
The automatic models, on the other hand, are for those baristas that prefer authentic, non-customized espresso.
Jozo: On the other hand, automatic models are for those baristas that prefer compliance. You will get the same espresso every time, and you don’t need to possess any barista skills – just a working thumb.
Fully automatic espresso makers are usually more expensive than the semi-automatic ones, although you can find very good quality ones at under $1,000.
Now that we’ve mentioned the two types of espresso machines, are there varieties of drip coffee makers? Read on!
Automatic Vs Manual Drip Coffee Maker?
Just as with espresso machines, the difference between automatic and manual drip coffee makers lies in the amount of user control.
Automatic drip coffee makers give you very little control over the pour-over pattern and the water temperature. Although, there are some high-end automatic ones that allow you to set the water temperature or change the brewing time.
If you’re a coffee lover that prides in control, and getting the brewing technique just right, then you’ll really like a manual drip coffee maker.
You have the luxury of control over the pouring pattern and technique, the water temperature, the brewing time, etc.
For more details, check out our other article on filter/drip coffee machines vs espresso machines.
Photos by Julia Filirovska and Omar Ramadan
