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Coffee capsule machines are now conquering the Italian retail coffee market and so on the market are multiplied machine models and standards. In order to understand what actually distinguishes the many espresso machines for coffee capsules, we start splitting the machines for capsules in macro-categories.

The first macro-division can be done between machines depending on their way to load / unload the coffee capsule:

• Manual machines: with the filter handle to load and unload the capsules by hand
• Semi-automatic machines: the capsule is inserted into the coffee machine and discharged usually by moving a lever actuating a mechanism of expulsion.
• Automatic: here the capsule is inserted into the machine and it’s automatically unloaded into the used capsules tank.
 
The manual machines are obsolete and therefore not mentioned in our analysis, as well as the automatic machines selling is still low, so we concentrate on the semi-automatic espresso capsule machines. These ones can be subdivided into:

1) Machines with direct capsules insertion
Into these machines the capsule is introduced directly in contact with the thermal block of the machine. The capsule insertion happens with the fingers use or through a coffee capsules tray. The expulsion of the exhausted capsule is caused/forced by the introduction of the new capsule inside the machine.
The advantages of this direct system are: a machine with simple components and thus more "robust" thanks to its "simplicity", a higher temperature during the pouring of the first coffee, easy-to-use device.
The disadvantages can be summarized in a difficult capsule entrance (because you must "expel" the used capsule inside) and the inability to expel the used capsule unless you insert a new one.

2) Machines with supply unit
Machines with supplying unit have the capsule insertion into an entrance and, through a lever operated by hand, loading and unloading of the capsules.
The advantages of this system are a easy insertion of the capsule, a capsule that works protected into the infusion chamber, the ability to eject the capsule at the end of the use.
The disadvantages are a higher cost and the first coffee temperature usually is lower because the capsule is not in direct contact with thermal block of the machine.

Regardless of the type of machine, the espresso coffee capsule machines can have different heating units and different pumps:

Heating units - boilers
Boilers are metal containers with a variable water capacity. Boilers are heated by a electrical resistance to immersion into the water (the electrical resistance can be inserted directly into the boiler sides too).
The advantages of the boilers are low cost and the possibility of obtaining vapour from the same boiler using only one thermostat and one switch. The disadvantages are the thermal instability (low mass in relation to the amount of water), increased risks of loss of water and the need to adopt safety valves because of the boiler pressure inside.

Heating units - heat exchangers (thermo block)
The heat exchanger is a block of material (usually aluminium or brass) with an internal resistance crossed by a spiral path where runs the water that’s instantly heated.
The advantages are thermal stability, no possibility of burst (with the open container), the possibility of minor losses and the compact sizes. The disadvantages are the block unit cost, the need for an electronic card for pump steam generation and sensitivity to calcium into the water.

Pumps
Pump pressure can be between 15 bar and 20 bar max. 20 bar pumps are essential in systems where the capsule top should be drilled for water passage: now 20 bar pumps are the espresso capsule machine standard. The the 15 bar pumps are still in use for “hybrid” espresso machines that work with capsules / pods / coffee beans