SCG Tech Tips: Espresso Machine Maintenance & Care

So you've finally pulled together the courage to add up how much you've been spending on all those lattes, macchiatos and cappuccinos you've consumed at your local cafe everyday. After looking at the grand total you think, 'Wow, I could've set up my own espresso shop!' When considering their purchase, folks often think about the kind of coffee they want to make and how easy it will be to use -- generally, how much work they're willing to do to craft their favorite drink every day. They also consider the initial monetary investment when purchasing the machine, but we rarely have folks thinking about the overall care and feeding of their new gear: How much work will it take to maintain and keep these machines running well? What kind of life expectancy might a specific machine have? Are there any known issues they should be aware of and prepare for? To answer these questions, we've delved into the tech nitty gritty: From entry-level single boilers to high end 'prosumer' semi-automatics to mini caffeine robots (also known as superautomatics), we've got the 411 on the general longevity, maintenance and care of different machines. We couldn't hit all of them, of course, but hopefully there's enough info here to help you while considering which machine is right for you.