Semi Automatic Espresso Machines

On a semi automatic espresso machine you fill and lock in the portafilter, then start and stop the shot yourself; the machine takes care of pressure and temperature. These are what many people call semi-professional machines: a portafilter and components close to what you find in a café, sized for a kitchen.

What sets one semi automatic apart from another

• Single boiler: one boiler for brewing and steam; to steam milk you wait for it to heat up. Compact and simple, like the Rancilio Silvia V6 with its 58mm group, or the Profitec GO 2.0, a 0.3L brass boiler with PID, ready in about 7 minutes and 21cm wide.
• Heat exchanger: the boiler keeps steam ready at all times and brew water is heated as it passes through the exchanger, so you can brew and steam together. The Rocket Appartamento 2.0 has a 1.8L copper boiler and an E61 group; the ECM Mechanika Max II adds PID with temperature read at the group, and a rotary pump.
• Dual boiler: two separate boilers, one for brewing and one for steam, each at its own temperature. You will find them all under dual boiler espresso machines.
• PID: controls temperature electronically and keeps it repeatable from shot to shot.
• Group head: the E61 brings natural pre-infusion and a wide range of 58mm accessories (see espresso machines with E61 group); other makers use their own groups, such as Profitec's ring group or the saturated LELIT 58.

Which ones to look at

• Espresso first, limited space: Profitec GO 2.0 or Rancilio Silvia V6.
• Cappuccinos every morning: Rocket Appartamento 2.0 or ECM Mechanika Max II.
• You want to work on pressure: the Lelit Victoria3 has a 0.2L single boiler, a saturated LELIT 58 group, five-step profiles and the Pagaia paddle to steer pressure by hand; the Lelit Mara X3 brings the Pagaia to a heat exchanger machine with an L58E group.
• One machine on the counter: the Lelit Kate PL82T has a built-in grinder and PID.