✔️ Coffee grinder: Grinding your coffee beans right before pulling a shot is ideal for a good cup of espresso. Espresso machines with built-in coffee grinders are convenient, reduce some mess and ensure you have freshly ground coffee beans each time. One downside is that built-in grinders are hard to fix if they break and often lead people to purchase an entirely new machine.
✔️ Milk frother: There are two common types of milk frothers: a hand-frothing wand that requires manual milk frothing in a pitcher or an attached milk container that the machine utilizes to froth milk and add it directly into your cup. With a manual frothing wand, you can practice your latte art, but it does take some practice to learn how to froth milk properly right from the start. An attached milk container with automatic frothing takes out all the guesswork, giving you a cappuccino at the right temperature with a good amount of foam automatically.
✔️ Cleanup: Depending on the model, espresso machines tend to be easy to clean. Some super-automatic machines take the work out of routine cleaning, while more manual machines require daily cleaning of the portafilter, milk frother and more. Some super-automatic machines have milk containers that connect to the machine with a straw, which can be tricky to clean, and large drip trays that can be cumbersome. You will also need to descale your machine every couple of months (or as recommended by the manufacturer) to ensure your espresso machine is operating properly and your coffee is tasting great.