10 Signs To Watch For To Find A New Machine Espresso

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

Machine espresso uses precision pressure and mind-blowing filter technology to make the delicious coffee we enjoy. How does it work exactly?

To make espresso hot water is pushed under pressure through finely ground coffee. The process is similar to making drip coffee, but the key difference is in the pressure.

The Head of the Group

As the name suggests, the group head is the place you put your portafilter in when making espresso. It disperses the water into the portafilter, and regulates the pressure of the extraction. There are numerous kinds of group heads each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some focus on temperature stability, others on pre-infusion capabilities, while others are designed to control the lever. There are some that have a combination of features, such as the E61, which is the classic choice among many baristas due to its capacity to provide multiple benefits in a single package.

As you can see from the image above, the group head is fitted with a variety of notches. You place your portafilter in these notches and then turn the head around to secure it. There is also a gasket of rubber that resides inside the notches and helps to create the seal when you insert your portafilter into the machine. The notches allow for an exact placement of the portafilter. This is crucial to ensure a consistent extraction.

The group head is not just able to allow the portafilter to be inserted easily but also maintains the temperature at a constant level. This is accomplished by cycling hot water around the portafilter and through the brew-basket, making sure the temperature is always right to extract the coffee. It is important to remember that even a tiny difference can make the difference between a great and a great espresso.

The Pump

Contrary to manual piston machines which rely on a lever that pressurize water, the rotary espresso machines use motorized pumps to provide the nine atmospheric bars of pressure necessary for espresso extraction. The pressure is built by pumping water through a heat exchanger and then through the ground coffee.

Pumps are typically less expensive than piston-driven machines and tend to last longer, although both types of machine can degrade with overuse and insufficient cleaning. They also create mechanical complexity that can lead to the cost of even the most basic models.


Certain espresso machines can eliminate the pump completely and instead employ steam pressure to create espresso. This can lead to over-extraction as the boiler that produces steam also heats the water to boil. The machines must also constantly rebuild their pressure between cups. This requires energy and time.

Many espresso machines make use of a rotary or vibration pump. A vibration model uses a rotating disk to generate pressure, while a circular model pushes hot liquid through the ground at high speed. Both types of machines can produce an excellent espresso, however Rotary machines are quieter and more durable than vibration pumps.

The Boiler

The boiler is the part that heats water to an ideal temperature for extraction. The resultant steam then reaches the portafilter that contains the ground espresso and is then pumped down into the cup. During this process, steam causes pressure to push through the grounds of the coffee. This creates a crema on top of the espresso. This is one of the main characteristics of a good espresso.

There are three types of espresso makers. They differ in the type of pump they use and how hot the coffee is. There are many ways to control the amount of brew, as well as the size of the cup that can be made by the machine.

The first espresso machines were steam-types. They employed a single boiler to make both brew and steam, however the pressure they were able to create was minimal - two bars of atmospheric pressure at most. The coffee tasted bitter and burnt. The modern espresso machine was developed by the Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra & Desiderio Pavoni.

recommended used espresso maker is a semi-automatic machine that has an electric pump. These are the images people have when they imagine an espresso machine. Semi-automatic machines require you to grind and tamp the beans on your own while the pump controls the water flow and pressure. This is an excellent compromise between human touch and mechanized consistency.

The Filter

Espresso machines typically use filters that separate the coffee grounds from the hot water. The filter is also a vital component of the machine's temp control, as it prevents overheating.

Filters also aid in flavor since it allows for the beans to flower for a longer period of time. This helps the beans release their flavors and provides the chance for better extraction.

However it is crucial to remember that even a good filter can produce a bad cup of coffee, as the quality of the beans and extraction is crucial.

It's in this area that the magic happens. This is the reason why espresso tastes so good. The grouphead (also known as the brewhead) is where you place the portafilter - the thingy used to place the coffee grounds in, while making espresso.

Steam-driven espresso machines make use of hot water heated in an airtight container to create steam. The steam then pushes hot water through the coffee grounds under high pressure. These kinds of machines tend to be cheaper and easier to maintain than pump-driven models. However, they are not as efficient in their capacity to create the ideal brewing conditions, because they operate at 1-1.5 bars of pressure. The perfect shot requires 9-10 bar.

In recent years, compressed-air-pump-driven espresso machines have become more popular. They use an air compressor to force hot water through the ground, and are more mobile than electric steam-driven espresso machines.

Edit
Pub: 03 Apr 2024 01:28 UTC
Views: 22