The Popular Kitchen Appliance Martha Stewart Loves For Entertaining Guests

If we can count on anyone to guide us toward our most lofty entertaining goals, it's the one and only Martha Stewart. A trusted leader in the lifestyle sphere since the 1980s, Stewart has helped everyday people elevate their homes and hosting prowess with attainable, clever advice anyone can handle. When it comes to impressing your visitors, the name of the game is providing a comfortable place to converse while also anticipating needs and having all the essentials on hand. If you really want to knock your visitors' socks off, set up an espresso machine so you can make them delicious specialty coffee drinks.

"If my desk is the heart of the home and the kitchen's the heart of the home, this is the brain," Stewart said while standing next to an espresso machine during a tour of her winter home on YouTube. "It's where I make cappuccino. One day, I came into my kitchen and I was getting dressed, and sitting right here at the counter — because I had invited them anytime they were in the neighborhood — President and Mrs. Clinton. And they were sitting here waiting for their cappuccinos. It was so much fun to entertain the Clintons in my kitchen."

While you may not have any former presidents in your kitchen anytime soon, you should still treat each person that enters your home as an esteemed guest. Having a top-tier at-home coffee station is one way to truly provide something special for the people who come to your home.

As you might imagine, espresso machines are used for making espresso shots. You can craft specialty drinks like lattes and cappuccinos with espresso. There are four varieties to choose from: manual, semi-automatic, automatic, and super-automatic. With so many options to sift through, buying an espresso machine can feel overwhelming for novice coffee makers. It's a safe bet to whittle your search down to semi-automatic machines. These offer more ease of use than manual models while also giving you more wiggle room to refine your process than super-automatic iterations.

There's a wide variety of options to pursue even within the semi-automatic category. Those looking for an affordable espresso machine may want to consider high-rated options such as the Breville Barista Express or Cowsar 20 Bar Compact Espresso Machine. If you're willing to pay a bit more, spring for more robust options, such as the Meraki Espresso Machine or Profitec Pro 300 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine.

The key to a functional, cute coffee station is maintaining an elegant, organized space. Style your espresso machine alongside a gooseneck kettle and a set of matching cappuccino cups. Consider installing shelving above the coffee bar to display coffee syrups. Wipe down your counters regularly to avoid coffee stains. Level up your hosting by providing plenty of syrup flavors and milk options to accommodate your guests. If you really want to go the extra mile, include alternatives like tea or matcha for your non-coffee-drinking friends. And just like that, you'll be hosting like Martha!