Tossing Up Between a Coffee Maker vs an Espresso Machine, but Not Actually Sure What the Difference Is? Here's a Beginner's Guide

Dark timber kitchen with butlers pantry with silver espresso machine, shelves above with mugs and cups, and a LED-lit backsplash. on the kitchen counter there are timber cutting boards resting upright, a bowl of fruit, and a vase filled with flowers.

As a borderline-addicted coffee consumer, and someone who has worked in more than a few cafes over the years, I've noticed one clear divide when it comes to coffee drinkers: those who prefer drip coffee, and those who swear by their lattes and flat whites. Why is that relevant? Well, it determines what you should buy: an espresso machine or coffee maker.

Didn't know there was a difference? You're not alone. To put it simply, the main distinction between the two machines is their extraction method. A traditional drip or filter machine brews using gravity to pull the water through the ground coffee beans. It's a slower process that results in a large pot of coffee.