When you are looking for a coffee machine that makes the perfect espresso there are many choices. There are also many different levels of quality. You can buy a very basic machine that doesn’t cost you much or one that can be programmed to do plenty of things. This way your mornings are stress free and all you have to do is grab your cup of coffee. If you are looking for an automatic espresso coffee machine, then you are looking for a model that falls in the latter category. You will want something that makes coffee in certain quantities and at certain times. There are also some machines that are being marketed as semi-automatic. So what’s the difference? Hopefully the following facts will help you decide for yourself. Automatic and Semi-Automatic The problem with making a pot of coffee in the morning is that most of the time not all of it is finished by the end of the day. This means that you either waste a lot of coffee or end up with coffee that is not fresh when you do drink it. Let’s face it; the coffee you brew in the morning doesn’t taste the same in the afternoon. Even if it’s been sitting on a warming plate. With an automatic espresso coffee machine you can decide how much coffee is brewed and when. A handy feature if you don’t have much time in the morning or don’t want the hassle of a whole jug of coffee. You can also predetermine the amount of espresso that is brewed with an automatic espresso coffee machine. A semi-automatic machine is completely different from an automatic espresso coffee machine. With a semi-automatic model you press a button to start the process going, the water will start to heat up and then you press the button again to stop it. The term seems to imply that it’s like an automatic espresso coffee machine but they are not interchangeable. If you have the time and are not pressed for the time when brewing coffee then an espresso cappuccino coffee machine that is only semi-automatic is fine for your needs. You can calculate for yourself how much coffee to brew and can keep an eye on the brewing process. Otherwise it’s best to stick to the automatic models for convenience sake. It’s also a great machine to have when you have company over, you can simply program the machine to do all the work so you can relax and entertain your guests.