Espresso machine for beginners: why a precise machine is more forgiving
Buying an espresso machine means making a dream come true. It is a luxury you treat yourself to every day, simply because it is beautiful: the aroma in the morning, the hum of the pump, the moment that belongs only to you. You can already picture it in your kitchen, gleaming next to the grinder, and you look forward to the first cappuccino you make yourself. That is pure joy. So the nicest question to start with is: what should your coffee corner look like?
In short: For getting started, an espresso machine that holds temperature and pressure precisely is the right fit: with a saturated or hybrid group, accurately controlled temperature and a high-quality pump. The more precise the machine, the more aromatic the espresso and the more forgiving it is. Add a single-dose or grind-by-weight grinder and a scale, because we brew espresso by weight. That is how we advise at Coffee Coaching Club.
You will find the right grinder in Coffee grinder for beginners, the bean for your espresso in Coffee beans for espresso machines and everything that belongs next to the machine in Espresso accessories for beginners.
Espresso machines are not like cars
With cars, people often start small: the first one is second-hand, the dream car comes later. With an espresso machine, you can treat yourself to the luxury right from the start and begin with your dream machine.
Because the more precisely a machine holds temperature and pressure, the tastier the coffee and the more forgiving it is. Every espresso takes you further: you taste, set the grinder one step finer or coarser, and the next one tastes even better. That is exactly why a precise machine is the nicest choice for getting started.
And you buy an espresso machine for many years, not for one or two. With a good machine you treat yourself to a little luxury every morning, and our own service workshop keeps it in shape. If you think long term, you buy once and treat yourself to something beautiful every day.
Why does a precise machine make getting started easier?
Espresso is made from just a few ingredients: bean, grind size, dose, water, temperature and pressure. Temperature and pressure come from the machine. If it holds both steady, you can focus entirely on the enjoyable part: your bean and your grind size. You will have the feel for it after a few days.
Our experience as a roastery: you can taste temperature differences from just half a degree. A precise machine holds its temperature so steadily that every shot tastes the way you like it.
What matters in the machine
- The group: This is where water meets coffee, and where temperature and taste are decided. Our experience: saturated groups deliver the most balanced interplay of aroma and body. Hybrid groups show more aroma and bring some body with them. The E61 is known for its full body, with the aromas stepping a little into the background. More in brew groups compared.
- Temperature control: A dual boiler with PID control regulates brew and steam temperature separately and precisely. The brew temperature stays the same while you steam milk. How the heating systems differ is shown in our deep dive on heating systems.
- The pump: The higher the quality of the pump, the more evenly it builds and holds pressure. You can taste it: the espresso becomes rounder, and one shot matches the next.
- The scale: We brew espresso by weight, not by time. You weigh the ground coffee and the espresso in the cup and always know exactly what you are enjoying. That is why a beautiful coffee scale belongs in your setup from the start.
Which type suits you?
Start with the look: how much space do you have, which colour should it be, which material? Is a cappuccino part of every morning? Three types we recommend for getting started:
| Type | In the cup | What defines it | Right for you if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual boiler with saturated group | the most balanced interplay of aroma and body | group constantly surrounded by hot water, very stable temperature, café technology | you are looking for aroma and body in fine balance and the machine may be a piece of furniture in your kitchen |
| Hybrid machine | more aroma, some body | actively heated group, fast heating systems, digital control, often compact | you love plenty of aroma and want to be ready quickly in the morning |
| Dual boiler with E61 | full body, aromas a little in the background | the classic chrome group, two separate boilers | you love a full-bodied espresso and the classic espresso machine look |
You will find saturated groups at La Marzocco and Arkel, for example. Hybrid systems are built by WPM and Ligre, among others; more in our deep dive on hybrid systems. You will find two-boiler machines of every type among the dual boiler espresso machines, and all machines in espresso machines.
Our machine advisor asks about taste, morning ritual and style and shows you the machines that suit you. Jackson, our AI advisor, answers your questions around the clock. For an overview of all types, see best espresso machine Switzerland.
And the grinder?
The grinder shapes the cup at least as much as the machine. For grinders we advise towards single dose or grind by weight. Both suit brewing by weight: with single dose you weigh the beans for every espresso and grind them fresh, so every dose smells like the first. A grind-by-weight grinder grinds to the gram by itself. If you buy a new machine and a new grinder together, we add up to CHF 150 in shop credit** with the bundle bonus.
What comes with your purchase
When you buy a new espresso machine from CHF 1'500, a private barista introduction course of around 60 minutes is included*, in Bern, Zurich or online. You learn on your own machine how grind size, dose and weight work together. For machines under CHF 1'500 you can add the private barista course. If a machine is in stock, we deliver throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2 to 4 working days. Instalment payment is possible via HeyLight. And so that your machine runs like on the first day for many years, our own service workshop takes care of servicing.
You can also find us in person
In Bern at Gerberngasse 44 and in Zurich Oerlikon at Hagenholzstrasse 50b, many machines are set up and in operation, and in the café they make coffee all day long. If you would like to test several machines side by side, there is the espresso machine and grinder comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Which espresso machine is good for beginners?
An espresso machine that holds temperature and pressure precisely: with a saturated or hybrid group, accurately controlled temperature and a high-quality pump. The more precise the machine, the more aromatic the espresso and the sooner you will pull one you love. A single-dose or grind-by-weight grinder goes with it.
Is a high-quality machine worth it right from the start?
Yes. A precise machine keeps temperature and pressure constant, so you will pull a round, sweet espresso early on. And you buy it for many years, as a luxury you treat yourself to every day. If you think long term, you go straight for the machine that makes you happy every morning.
How do saturated, hybrid and E61 groups taste?
Our experience: saturated groups deliver the most balanced interplay of aroma and body. Hybrid groups show more aroma and bring some body with them. The E61 is known for its full body, with the aromas stepping a little into the background. Which one you like is a matter of taste.
How precise does the temperature need to be?
Very precise. You can taste temperature differences from just half a degree. That is why a machine with a stable group and accurately controlled temperature is worth it: every shot tastes the way you like it.
Why espresso by weight rather than by time?
The weight tells you exactly how much coffee runs into the cup and how intense it will be. That is why we brew espresso by weight: ground coffee and espresso go on the scale. If you want it fuller and sweeter, set the grinder finer; if you want it lighter, coarser.
Which coffee grinder suits beginners?
We advise towards single dose or grind by weight. With single dose you weigh every dose and grind it fresh. A grind-by-weight grinder grinds to the gram by itself. Both suit brewing by weight and make getting started easy.
Is a course included with the purchase?
Yes. When you buy a new espresso machine from CHF 1'500, a private barista introduction course of around 60 minutes is included*, in Bern, Zurich or online. For machines below that, you can add the private barista course.
Roastery tip: For the first few weeks, chocolatey-nutty coffees are loyal companions: round, sweet and grateful. Once your shots are dialled in, the light, fruity roasts are waiting for you. That is exactly where a saturated or hybrid group shows what it can do. That is our recommendation, one of many.
** Bundle bonus: when you buy a new espresso machine and a new coffee grinder in one order paid by advance payment; amount depending on the purchase value; valid for 60 days. You will find all the conditions on the bundle bonus page.
Written by Yalcin Akpinar, qualified food chemist and coffee roaster at Coffee Coaching Club. Updated: October 2026.
The introductory course is for up to two people from the same household or company attending together. Get in touch with us and we'll find a date together. The course takes place within one month of the machine's delivery; after that, the entitlement expires.
