If your coffee drink of choice is a latte, cappuccino, Americano, mocha or any number of other popular espresso options, an at-home espresso machine could be a daily benefit to you. With the rise of the corner café and coffee shop chains, espresso drinks have become the regular morning beverage for many people, but the price tag for café drinks adds up fast.

Fortunately, technology is expanding your options. While having a standard drip coffee machine at home is still popular, investing in an espresso maker can bring your coffee game to the next level. With a versatile espresso coffee maker of your own, you can enjoy the rich, dynamic flavors of your favorite espresso drink from the comfort of your own home. Not only will you save money, but you will also be able to offer guests a fancy cup of coffee and select the exact brand of espresso you like best.

When you make your coffee at home, you can reduce your single-use cup waste in favor of traditional or travel coffee mugs. You might even want to learn about the benefits of smart mugs.

Espresso machines come in a few varieties, from the traditional stovetop espresso maker to the automatic espresso machine and the semi-automatic espresso maker. An automatic machine will work on its own: pop in an espresso pod, put your cup in place and push the button. A semi-automatic espresso machine, by contrast, will require that you freshly grind and pack the espresso, which can make this machine the choice of espresso connoisseurs.

If you also want the option of making non-espresso coffee beverages, you may want a combination coffee/espresso machine. Many of these use coffee pods to build the beverage of your choice. For any drinks involving frothed milk, look for an espresso machine with a frother or a separate milk frother you can use to get just the right kind of consistency.

To take care of your new espresso maker, make sure you learn how to clean it properly. You may also want to descale your coffee maker regularly to reduce mineral deposits that build up over time.