Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About Machine Espresso

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

Machine espresso makes use of precise pressure and mind-blowing filter technology to create the delicious coffee we enjoy. How exactly does it work?

In order to make espresso hot water is forced under high pressure through finely ground coffee. The process is similar to making drip coffee. However it is the pressure that makes the main difference.

The Head of the Group

The group head is the portafilter that you insert when brewing espresso. It is responsible for dispersing water into the portafilter, and controlling the pressure of the extraction. There are a variety of group heads each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Some are specifically designed for stability of temperature while others are designed to handle pre-infusion. Some are designed to control the lever. There are some that include a mix of features, such as the E61 that is to be the most popular among baristas due to its capacity to provide multiple benefits in one package.

As you can see in the image above the head of the group is fitted with a variety of notches. It is possible to place your portafilter into these notches and twist the head to lock it. A gasket of rubber is situated inside the notches to help make a seal when you insert your portafilter. The notches permit the precise placement of the portafilter. This is vital for a consistent extraction.

Apart from allowing you easily insert your portafilter, the group head is responsible to maintain an even temperature. This is achieved by cycling hot water around the portafilter and through the brew-basket, making sure that the temperature is always at the right level for extraction. This is vital, because even a small difference in temperature can make the difference between good and excellent espresso.

The Pump

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

Pumps are generally less expensive and last for longer than piston-driven machines. However, both kinds of machines are susceptible to degrading due to overuse and poor cleaning. Pumps are also more complex mechanically, which can increase the cost of even most basic models.

Some espresso machines can eliminate the pump completely and instead use steam pressure to brew barista espresso machine. The drawback is that the same boiler that produces steam also increases the temperature of the water to the point of boiling which could lead to excessive extraction. In addition these machines typically have to rebuild their pressure between cups, which takes time and energy.

Many espresso machines employ either a rotary or vibration pump, which has a vibration model that uses a vibrating disc to create pressure and a rotary model pushing hot water through the grounds under high speed. Both machines produce great espresso, but rotary machines are more stable, quieter and less likely to fail.

The Boiler

The boiler is what heats the water to the perfect temperature for extraction. The steam that is created gets to the portafilter which contains the espresso coffee grounds. It is then pumped into the cup. During this process, steam causes pressure to push through the coffee grounds. This creates a foam on top of the espresso. This is a sign of a great espresso coffee machines.

There are three distinct types of espresso machines, each with distinct pumps and brew temperature. There are many ways to control the brew and the size of the cup that can be produced by the machine.

The earliest espresso machines were steam type. The first espresso machines were steam-type machines. The coffee tasted bitter and burned. The modern espresso machine was designed by the Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra & Desiderio Pavoni.

The most commonly used espresso maker is a semiautomatic machine that has an electric pump. When people think of espresso machines, they picture these machines. With a semi-automatic machine you have to grind the beans and then tamp them yourself but the pump regulates the flow of water and pressure. This is a great compromise between the human touch and mechanized consistency.

The Filter

Typically, best espresso machine under 200 machines employ filters to separate the grounds of coffee as they move through the hot water. The filter is also a crucial element of the temperature control system, because it stops the machine from overheating.

It also aids in flavor, as it lets you enjoy a longer bloom time. This allows the beans to release their nuances, and allows for a better extraction.

It is important to remember that even the best espresso maker filter can make a bad cup of coffee. The quality of the beans and the extraction, remain crucial.

This is where the magic happens, it's the thing that makes espresso taste good. The grouphead, often referred to as the brew head, is the place where the portafilter (the thing you put the best coffee espresso machine ground into) is placed when you're making espresso.

In the steam-driven espresso machine hot water is heated in an airtight tank to create steam. Steam then pushes the hot water through the grounds with high pressure. These types of machines are usually cheaper and easier to maintain than pumps-driven models. However, they are limited in their capacity to create the perfect conditions for brewing, since they operate at 1-1.5 bars of pressure. While the perfect shot requires 9-10 bars.

In recent years, compressed air-driven espresso machines have been gaining popularity. They utilize an air compressor to push hot water across the ground and are more mobile than steam-driven electric espresso machines.