Espresso Machines

The wonders of science have made it possible for people to make their own espresso using espresso machines at home – instead of having to visit commercial coffee houses for it. Before, coffee houses employed professional baristas to brew each and every cup of coffee for their customers. Now, people can just buy an espresso machine to enjoy their own coffee at their convenience.

How does one select the best espresso machine for their purposes? Ideally, consumers should test-run each espresso machine and judge every one based on taste, build-quality, features, and ease of use. However, since this is not practical, consumers can rely on testimonials from their friends or turn to the reviews published by reputable coffee
afficionado magazines. They can also go around the stores and window-shop, asking pertinent questions from the salespeople in order to make the best buy.

How does an espresso machine work? An espresso machine shoots out water that is 90 degrees Centigrade hot (or at a temperature equal to 195 degrees Fahrenheit) using 9 bar of  pressure into a puck of freshly ground coffee. The oils in the finely ground coffee are thus extracted and emulsified to create a rich, nearly syrupy liquid.

Ideally, a machine can churn out a double shot of espresso within 20 to 25 seconds from when its pump is initially switched on. The amount of time necessary can be adjusted by putting in coffee that is either of a finer or coarser blend. Or you can change the tamping pressure.

Certain espresso machines are combination machines that rely on a steam wand to create milk-based espresso beverages like the latte and cappucino. The machine steams and froths milk to produce these drinks.

The different kinds of espresso machines are called the pump-driven espresso machine, piston-driven espresso machine, steam espresso machine, stovetop espresso machine, automatic espresso maker and lastly the super automatic espresso maker.

The key to good espresso is using an excellent espresso blend. Coffees must be specially blended to produce the smoothness, aromatics and sweetness inherent in good espresso. However, the blend should be freshly ground and brewed within four days from roasting.

Another element of good espresso making is that the espresso must be roasted light so that its sugars and aroma will not be lost. Darkly-roasted espresso produces a bitter liquid that tastes like charcoal.

You must filter water used for brewing since if the water tastes weird it can affect the final outcome of brewing.

Make sure that the espresso machine you choose can maintain water temperature between 92 to 96 degrees Centigrade to assure a consistent espresso.

Many machines are made to be as easy to clean up as a standard coffee machine.

So there’s no reason to feel intimidated about buying your own espresso machine. Clearly, the benefits do outweigh the difficulties.

With such a wide selection of high quality espresso machines available today, you can now brew your own espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes at home. With a little practice you’ll be brewing fancy coffee drinks at a fraction of the cost you pay at those expensive coffee houses.

There are several different types of home espresso makers. Espresso brewing methods range from stove top espresso makers to fully automatic espresso machines to manual electric pump versions. Depending on your skills or willingness to learn, brewing a fine cup of espresso or cappuccino can be as simple as pushing a button or you can control the entire brewing process.

The easiest espresso makers use pods to brew a single serving of espresso. Like the popular coffee-on-demand machines, pod espresso machines simply force hot water through pre-measured amounts of ground espresso beans inside the pods. This type of automatic espresso maker is great for those who want a consistent shot of espresso without the mess or effort of a traditional espresso machine.

If you are a little more adventurous and want to give the art of espresso-making a shot, try one of the manual versions. With this type of machine you will need to grind the espresso beans, measure the coffee, adjust the water, control the pressure. It’s a lot more work than the automatic machines, but brewing your own perfect cup of espresso can be quite satisfying.

If you enjoy drinking cappuccinos, a few machines can even froth milk. Having this option is usually worth the extra cost, as you never know who you might be sharing a delicious coffee drink with. If you are going to invest in a new espresso machine, you should really consider the frothing option.

The looks of espresso machines are as artsy as the drinks you can make with them. The designs vary greatly among the different manufacturers. While you might fall in love with the look of an Italian-inspired espresso machine, make sure the features match your needs and the price tag fits your budget. While there are some very reasonably priced models that are top-rated performers, you might be surprised how much some of the most popular machines cost.

No matter what you decide to invest in your new espresso maker, you will no doubt be happy with your choice every time you take that first sip of your freshly brewed espresso.

Espresso is nothing more than strong coffee. If this is your idea about what this drink is then you haven’t had a good espresso. It is slightly thicker than coffee with a caramel or reddish-brown foam called the cream on top. It is enjoyed straight or as the base for cappuccinos and lattes.

Developed in Milan, Italy in the early 20th century while looking for a faster way to produce coffee on an individual cup basis, it was originally made with steam pressure. Today’s espresso machines are based more on the spring piston lever machines of later years.

Characteristics

Espresso has distinct characteristics that set it apart from dripped coffee. It is thicker due to having a higher amount of dissolved solids. It is a highly concentrated serving of coffee with 3x the amount of caffeine per volume than regular coffee.

The crema that forms on the top of the it is its most distinguishing element. Crema is reddish-brown and floats on top of the espresso. It is composed of proteins, sugars and vegetable oils and is a by product of the high pressure/high steam process used in making the beverage.

Preparation

To make espresso you need to have an espresso machine. The orginal machines had a lever that was pulled to force the hot water through the coffee and thus the term ‘pulling a shot’ was born.

In order to pull a shot you fill the coffee filter basket with the required amount of finely ground coffee. The coffee grinds are then tamped down. The tamping should be even and in a rotating manner to create a coffee puck of sorts. This is then locked into position under the spout area on the espresso maker.

The brewing process is an internal operation of the machine that should only take 20-30 seconds. The machine should be able to maintain an even temperature of 85-95°F for ideal espresso. Any less and the espresso is sour, any more and it is bitter.

Serving

Espresso is typically pulled directly into an espresso cup or a demitasse that has been kept warm on or near the machine. This drink degrades quickly and so it should be served immediately or mixed with other coffee beverages quickly. Ideally, espresso should be enjoyed within 2 minutes.

There are no hard and fast rules on what you can and cannot put in espresso. Some people prefer to enjoy it black with a twist of lemon peel. Other people will sweeten it before drinking. No matter how you drink it, it is meant to be consumed quickly, before it degrades.

Espresso Coffee Beans

There are not any specific coffee beans that are specifically grown for espresso. Instead, there are varying schools of thoughts on what types of beans should be used.

One side believes that dark roasts should be used to focus on the mild bitters, chocolate, full body and other caramel like flavors that come from longer, higher temperature roasting of the beans. These flavors are what most people associate with espresso.

The second school of thought prefers to use a lighter roasted bean to focus more on the flavor of the particular bean being used. This has allowed a wider range of characteristics to show up in espressos, from citrus to herbal and pectin fruit, depending on the bean being used.

Then of course you have those who like to combine the two and create an espresso that is the best of both worlds.

Popularity

Espresso has become very popular in recent years. From shots to coffee beverages made using espresso, the popularity has soared. Coffee shops have opened up on every street corner in every town and home espresso maker sales have skyrocketed. Everybody needs their morning jolt it seems.

A simplified understanding of the features and workings of your espresso machine.

An espresso machine is, quite simply, a hot water boiler and steam generator with one or more integral, pressurised, coffee brewing points. With the emphasis on maintaining an optimum brewing temperature the machines is designed to produce 1-1.5 fluid ounces of concentrated coffee liquor, by forcing hot water at a temperature of between 92-96 degrees Celsius at a pressure of 9 bar (130psi) for a duration of between 20-25 seconds.

Inside the machine

Boiler – A typical semi or automatic espresso machine comprises of a boiler (or boilers) to generate hot water at approximately 96 degrees Celsius and steam at about 120 degrees. This is achieved by an electrical heating element and heat exchangers which transfer the heat from the main boiler to fresh mains water as it is required at the point of brewing.

Pump – This takes water from the mains supply (or integral tank) and passes it through the heat exchangers to the point of brewing operating at a pressure of 9 bar.

Electronics – Various electronic pressure and temperature values and switches to ensure a safe operation.

There is not usually any user access to the inside of an espresso machine. This is due to the high pressures involved and access is solely restricted to qualified engineers.

Outside the machine

Steam Wands – One or more steam wands draw steam from the boiler at approximately 120 degrees and terminate with a nozzle with 3 or more holes where jets of hot steam issue from to foam milk.

Hot Water Tap – This is used for drawing off hot water at 96 degrees Celsius for topping up espressos into longer drinks.

Group head assemblies – These comprise of a dispersal plate to break up the flow of water and a rubber sealing gasket. The gasket seals the filter handle into the head and prevents the water/coffee from seeping out.

Filter handles – Solid metal alloy filter handles that fit into the group head and contain the initial dry espresso coffee grinds. The handles have single or double spouts, to brew one or two drinks at a time respectively.

Dials and gauges – Indicating pump pressure, boiler pressure, water temperature and sometimes water levels.

Brewing buttons – These are either preset (automatic model) or on – off toggle buttons for controlling the duration of the brew cycle and consequently the amount of beverage in the cup.

Drip Tray – A tray used to collect spillages with a waste outlet leading to a small reservoir or drain pipe.

Heated top tray – An area used for cup storage. The cup warming tray is simply heated by natural conduction from the boiler and does not have an independent heating source. It is recommended that cups are stored bottom down (not upside down) so that the bottom of the cup is warmed, not the lip.

Here is a great article we came across explaining the variations of espresso machines.

It takes a good espresso machine to make a good respectable espresso, one that is properly concentrated with the right flavors and quality and one which is topped with a red-brown foamy froth called crema, which is its distinctive trait. Of course, there are several types to choose from, ranging from the steam-driven one which was the first type of invented during the early part of the twentieth century; to the piston-driven type which was the type that first produced espresso with a crema; to the pump-driven machine which is basically a better and more developed version of the piston-driven machine.

What can make it seemingly more complicated is that there are even more variations of the espresso machine. They all have additional sensors, valves, pumps, and grinders. They generally vary in their additional parts and subsequently, their overall efficacy in terms of automaticity.

The first variation is the semi-automatic machine. With this one, water is brought into the machine using a pump, with the pressure of the brewing mechanism being dissipated using a 3-way valve.

The next variation is the automatic espresso machine. With this variation, there is an addition of a flow meter which lined along with the group head. With this, when a certain amount of water, which has been pre-set, flows through the flow meter, the pump of the machine switches off automatically and consequently, the pressure of the brewing mechanism is also dissipated over a 3-way solenoid type of valve.

Still another variation of the espresso machine would be the super-automatic variation. It works by automatically subjecting the coffee to a process involving grinding, tamping and extracting. It’s very convenient in that the operator only has to fill up the bean hopper with coffee beans and either pour water into the reservoir or connect the espresso machine to a water line. What’s more, certain models of this variation of espresso machine also have a device that automatically tops the espresso off with a frothy milk later and even an implement for dispensing.

Other such types include the air-pressure driven type and the stove top type. The first one, the air-pressure driven espresso machine, is hand-held and as such, can be used to make excellent crema-topped espresso.

Lastly, there is the stove top machine which makes espresso whose extraction ratio nearly equals that of a conventional machine