"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

After receiving what must have been our 50th enquiry to the tune of ‘what home espresso machine should I buy’ we thought it was time to put you out of your misery and lay down the facts. To put it simply, an Isomac will equip you with the best tools to make some kick ass coffee, just the way you like it, at home.

In 2005, we travelled to the world coffee festival held in Milan, Italy, on the lookout for the perfect domestic espresso machine. It was on this trip that we met Isomac creator Giovanni Fontana and his son, Roberto. After much discussion and a visit to their factory, we decided that Isomac was the perfect machine to import for its superior build quality, sexy curves and, most importantly, exceptional espresso shots.

After much testing and lots of discussion about Isomac’s benefits, we decided we had found the machine we needed to help people on their way to awesome espresso at home. We selected four models from the Isomac range — the Tea, the Millenium, the Alba and the La Mondiale. Whilst there were other models on offer, we focussed on the Heat Exchanger units. This tried and true technology allows the Isomacs to simultaneously produce consistent brew water temperature along with on-demand steaming.

If you enjoy your coffee, making the move to owning your own home espresso machine is an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. The delight in unwrapping a brand new machine, exposing the carefully crafted, gleaming stainless steel chassis, the weight of a serious piece of equipment and the sight of your very first espresso pouring in your own kitchen all bring a slight flutter to the chest of even the most stoic coffee fan.

This rosy picture can, however, be shattered by an uninformed purchase: the easy road to a cheap machine often leads to tears over much more than spilt micro-foam. The key to avoiding this is to recognise that your espresso machine is an investment that should last for many years. You can, of course, purchase a cheap model, but even if it provides you with adequate coffee, lesser quality machines often fail soon after their warranty period expires, requiring you to start all over again.

With so many different brands and sales pitches out there, it’s important to understand the physical and technical differences between espresso machines. Check out my previous article, Start Your Elements, for a basic run through of the various internals.

Enter the Isomac, stage left …

Founded in 1977 by Giovanni Fontana, Isomac’s primary coffee machine factory is situated in Macherio, just outside of Milan, Italy. Isomac has become a well recognised name in the home espresso market worldwide. Utilising his more than 50 years working in various Italian espresso machine factories, Mr Fontana created a brand that melds best practice in build quality with classic Italian design.

In addition to utilising commercial Heat Exchange technology, all four of our Isomac models incorporate the famous E61 Group Head. This brew water delivery system is synonymous with quality coffee — it’s in the coffee glossary for coffee connoisseurs, machine technicians, coffee historians and professional baristas worldwide. First developed in 1961 by Faema, this group head design employs a thermo-siphon system whereby water is continually pumped from the steam boiler throughout the group head to achieve amazing brewing temperature stability. The solid brass E61 Group Head weighs in around 4kg, creating an incredibly thermally stable mass.

The Isomac Tea is the introductory model to the range, presenting a beautiful, compact unit. Exhibiting the same high quality workmanship found in all of the Isomac range, the Tea features a handy, deep drip tray and narrow footprint to allow for great espresso in even the most spatially challenged kitchen or office. Many home espresso machines include a ‘tea spout’ or hot water dispenser, but most cannot supply this water at a constant rate because of their thermoblock heating systems. The Tea’s 1.2 litre boiler has none of these problems. Drawing from a 3 litre reservoir with built-in water softener, the automatic fill for the machine keeps the boiler topped up.

The Isomac Millenium is a step up, arming you with a 1.4 litre boiler for improved steaming power and even greater temperature stability. The design of this machine is guaranteed to catch your attention — the exterior of this unit looks spectacular! With a beautifully folded stainless steel chassis and angled chromed bar bordering the cup warmer, the Millennium is reminiscent of a classic Italian sports car.

The Isomac Alba is a unique machine, incorporating more advanced technologies within a retro art deco style design. Prominently featured top centre of the housing, the boiler pressure and pump pressure gauges are reminiscent of an architectural clock, counting up the bars to your sweet espresso! The Alba also incorporates a nifty ‘cool touch’ steam wand, allowing you to avoid scalding both milk and fingers. While all of our Isomacs have an automatic cut-off if the reservoir becomes empty, only the Alba tracks the level with a sensor, displaying various fill levels via LEDs on the front chassis.

The Isomac La Mondiale is the heavyweight of the range, easily taking centre stage in terms of both internal componentry and stunning exterior design. Dang, this machine is hot! A huge 2.2 litre stainless steel boiler powers the steaming and brewing excellence from within, while the solid stainless steel portafilter (heavier than a commercial grade portafilter and likely to help you put on arm muscle) together with stainless steel activation switches for both steam and water show an attention to detail that is maintained throughout the whole machine. This brilliant machine deserves centre stage on your kitchen bench — knowing this, Isomac has built in a simple way of connecting the drip tray to your mains waste: plumb out the machine and you’ll be ready to take order dockets from friends and family all morning long!

Employing well recognised, easily sourced parts, proven technology and an eye for design, the Isomac range ticks all the boxes for a quality home espresso set-up. If your budget is tight, keep brewing with that plunger, get a piggy bank and save up your pennies until you can take home your very own Isomac. This is a far better option than investing in an inferior machine which may cost you half the amount but last you only a couple of years. With a little care, your own Isomac will be a gleaming pathway to espresso goodness on your very own benchtop for many years to come.

Check out the full range of Isomacs espresso machines in the Domestic Equipment section.