The semi-automatics are the most common type of home espresso machines mainly because of their price and level of control and are well suited for home use.
They are ideal for the coffee enthusiast who wants to create great espresso and doesn’t mind developing a little skill and doing a little clean up.
With a semi-automatic espresso machine you add the coffee to the portafilter manually, and since the water used for brewing is determined by the user, all you have to do is start and stop the pump manually by pressing the brew button to start and stop the water flow.
The machine also requires that you clean the portafilter after each brewing. But that’s really not a big deal. Simply dump out the grounds and run some hot water from the machine over the portafilter.
Since you manually start and stop the brew cycle, this machine gives you the most control over the quality of your shots.
Also, since a grinder is not included in the machine, you have the option of buying a better burr grinder which can be used for all of your coffee or simply buying a good quality pre-ground espresso coffee.
A semi-automatic machine may still have many automatic features, and in particular it should automatically refill the boiler using water from a reservoir.
