The performance and maintenance of your refrigerator is of utmost importance. Check temperature of your refrigerator with an appliance thermometer. To keep bacteria in check, refrigerator should run at 40 degrees F; freezer unit at 0 degrees F. Generally, keep your refrigerator as cold as possible without freezing your milk or lettuce. When you prepare food, keep everything clean and thaw out any frozen food you plan to prepare in your refrigerator. Take it out of freezer in advance and place it in refrigerated section of your refrigerator. Always wash your hands in hot soapy water before preparing and handling any food as well as after you use bathroom, change diapers, handle pets, etc. Remember, too, that bacteria can live in your kitchen towels, sponges and dish cloths. Wash them often and replace dish cloths and sponges you use regularly every few weeks.

Be absolutely sure that you keep all raw meats, poultry and fish and their juices away from other food. For instance, wash your hands, your cutting board and knife in hot soapy water after cutting up chicken and before dicing salad ingredients. It is best to use plastic cutting boards rather than wooden ones where bacteria can hide in grooves. Don't take your food out of freezer and leave it on kitchen counter to thaw. This is extremely dangerous since bacteria can grow in outer layers of food before inside thaws. It is wise to do your marinating in refrigerator too.

Quality of Machine:

Is machine consistent? Is it easy to use? Does company back it with a long-term warranty? Are key parts made of high quality materials? Or does machine feature mostly plastic?

Convenience and Usability:

Some of us want to push a button and let machine do work. Others of us want to be intimately involved with each step of brewing process. Some machines come with a built in grinder - and other will require you purchase a special grinder. Think hard about how much effort you're willing to put into making a drink when you crawl out of bed!

Overall Value:

Value is really a comparison of above features, weighted against price of machine. Are you willing to pay twice as much for a machine that looks stunning, but is functionally similar to another? That's your call!

Whatever you do, remember that espresso is one of life's finer pleasures. This probably isn't most practical investment you'll ever make, but it will bring years of enjoyment and happiness. As is case with most things, you will get what you pay for - I recommend you buy best machine you can afford whether this machine be for home, office or business use. As soon as you start enjoying your own handcrafted lattes and mochas, your investment will feel well worth it!