12 Companies Setting The Standard In Machine Espresso
12 Companies Setting The Standard In Machine Espresso
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How Does Machine Espresso Work?
The machine espresso makes use of precise pressure, as well as a filtering system that is awe-inspiring to make the coffee you love. What exactly is it that makes it work?
Espresso is made by forcing hot water under pressure through finely-ground coffee. The process is similar to that of making drip coffee. However, the pressure is the primary difference.
The Group Head
The group head is the portafilter you place in the espresso maker when making it. It distributes water into the portafilter, and regulates the pressure of extraction. There are many different types of group heads each with their own advantages and drawbacks. Some are designed for temperature stability while others are designed to handle pre-infusion. Others are built to control the lever. There are even some that include a mix of features, like the E61 one, which is the most popular choice among baristas due to its capacity to offer multiple benefits in a single package.
As you can see in the above photo the group head is made up of several notches where you put your portafilter, then twist it by hand to lock it in. There is also a gasket of rubber which is located inside the notches, which helps create the seal when you insert your portafilter into the machine. The notches allow for an exact placement of the portafilter. This is vital for an even extraction.
The group head not only lets you to put in your portafilter easily however, it also keeps the temperature at a constant level. It does this by circulating hot water through the brew container and around the portafilter, making sure that it is always at the right temperature for extraction. It is important to note that even a slight difference can make the difference between a great and a great espresso.
The Pump
Unlike manual piston machines, that use a lever to pressurize water, the rotary espresso machines use motorized pumps that provide the nine atmospheric bars of pressure that are required to extract espresso. This pressure builds up by removing tap water from a reservoir and pumping it through a heat exchanger prior it is shot through the ground coffee in the group head.
Pumps tend to be cheaper than piston-driven machines and tend to last longer, but both types of machines can get damaged through overuse and lack of cleaning. They also increase the complexity of mechanical systems which can result in the cost of even the most basic models.
Certain espresso machines remove the pump entirely and employ steam pressure to create espresso. This can lead to over-extraction as the boiler that produces steam also causes the water to boil. The machines also need to constantly rebuild their pressure between cups. This takes energy and time.
Many espresso machines use a rotary or vibration pump. A vibration model uses a rotating disk to generate pressure, while a Rotary model pushes hot coffee through the ground at a high speed. Both models can produce an excellent espresso, but the rotary models are quieter and more durable than vibration pumps.
The Boiler
The boiler is the component that heats water to the ideal temperature for extraction. The steam that is created gets to the portafilter which contains the espresso coffee grounds. The steam is then channeled into the cup. In this process, the steam creates pressure that pushes through the grounds of the coffee. This results in a crema on top of the espresso. This is a hallmark of a good espresso.
There are three types of espresso makers. They differ in the kind of pump they use and the degree of heat that the espresso is. There are different ways to control the brew as well as the size of the cup that can be made by the machine.
The earliest espresso machines were steam-based. They utilized one boiler to make both steam and brew, but the pressure they could create was minimal - two bars of atmospheric pressure, at most. The coffee tasted bitter and burned. The modern espresso machine was created by the Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra & Desiderio Pavoni.
The most popular espresso maker is a semi-automatic machine with an electric pump. When people think of espresso machines, they picture these machines. With a semi-automatic machine, you must grind the beans and then tamp them by hand. However, the pump provides regulated water flow and pressure. This is a perfect combination of human control and mechanized accuracy.
The Filter
Espresso machines typically use filters that separate the coffee grounds from the hot water. The filter is also a vital website component of the machine's temp control, since it helps to prevent overheating.
Filters also aid in flavor, as it permits an extended flowering time. This allows the beans to release their flavors, and improves extraction.
It is important to remember that even the finest filter can result in a bad cup of coffee. The quality of the beans, as well as the extraction, are still crucial.
It's in this area that the magic happens. This is the reason why espresso tastes so delicious. The grouphead (also called the brewhead) is where you place the portafilter, the thingy which you put the coffee grounds in, while making espresso.
Steam-driven espresso machines use hot water heated in an airtight container to produce steam. The steam then pushes hot water through grounds of the coffee under pressure. These types of machines are typically less expensive and simpler to maintain than pump-driven models. They are however limited in their ability to create the ideal conditions for brewing since they only operate with 1-1.5 bar of pressure. The perfect shot requires 9-10 bars.
In recent times, espresso machines powered by a compressed air compressor have become increasingly popular. They use an air compressor to force the hot water through the grounds and are much more portable than steam-driven electric machines.