14 Businesses Are Doing A Fantastic Job At Machine Espresso

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

Machine espresso uses precision pressure and mind-blowing filter technology to create the perfect cup of coffee. How exactly does it work?

To make espresso, hot water is forced under high 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 implies the group head is where you place your portafilter while brewing espresso. It is responsible for dispersing the water into the portafilter and then controlling the pressure that results from the extraction. There are a variety of group heads, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are designed to provide the stability of temperature while some are designed to handle pre-infusion. Others are made to control the lever. There are also some that come with a range of features, like the E61, which is considered the classic choice among many baristas for its ability to offer multiple benefits in a single package.

As you can see in the image above the group head has a number 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 is a part of the notches to help create a seal when you insert your portafilter into the machine. The notches permit precise placement of the portafilter. This is crucial to ensure an efficient extraction.

In addition to allowing you to easily connect your portafilter, the group head is also responsible to ensure that the temperature remains even. It does this by cycling hot water through the brew basket, and around the portafilter, ensuring that it is always at the right temperature to extract. This is important, as even a few degrees can be the difference between a good and excellent espresso.

The Pump

The motorized pumps in espresso machines rotary provide nine atmospheric bar pressure required to extract espresso. This is different from manually operated piston machines that employ levers. The pressure is created by drawing tap water from a reservoir, and pumping it through a heat exchanger prior being shot through the ground coffee in the group head.

Pumps are typically cheaper and last longer than piston-driven machines. However, both types of machines can deteriorate due to excessive use and inadequate cleaning. They also make mechanically complex, which can result in an expensive price for even the most basic models.

Certain espresso machines remove the pump entirely and employ steam pressure to create espresso. The downside is that the boiler that produces steam also raises the temperature of the water until it reaches boiling which could lead to over-extraction. These machines also have to continuously rebuild their pressure between cups. This requires energy and time.

Many espresso makers machines use a rotary or vibration pump. A vibration model utilizes a rotating disk to generate pressure, whereas a rotary model pushes hot water through the ground at high speed. Both machines can produce excellent espresso, however rotary machines are more quiet, durable and less likely to break.

The Boiler

The Dual Boiler espresso machine is the one that will heat the water to a temperature that is ideal for extraction. The resulting steam is then transferred to the portafilter which holds the ground retro espresso machine and is then pumped into the cup. During this process, the steam creates pressure that pushes through the grounds of the coffee. This creates a foam on the top of the espresso. This is one of the main characteristics of a good espresso.

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

The first espresso machines were steam-type. The first espresso machines were steam-type machines. The coffee tasted bitter and burned. This is the reason Milanese makers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni developed the modern espresso machine.

The most well-known espresso machine is a semiautomatic with an electric pump. This is what people envision when they think of an espresso machine. Semi-automatic machines require you to grind and tamp your beans yourself The pump, however, regulates the flow of water and pressure. This is a great compromise between the human touch and mechanized accuracy.

The Filter

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

A filter also helps with flavor, as it permits a longer flowering phase. This allows beans to release their flavors and provides an opportunity for better extraction.

However, it is important to keep in mind that even a high-quality filter can make a terrible cup of coffee, since the quality of the beans and extraction is essential.

This is where the magic happens, it's what makes an espresso really taste great. The grouphead (also known as the brewhead) is where you place the portafilter, the device used to place the grounds of coffee into while making espresso.

Steam-driven espresso machines use hot water that is heated in an airtight vessel to create steam. The steam then pushes hot water into the coffee grounds under high pressure. These kinds of machines tend to be less expensive and simpler to maintain than pump-driven models. They are however limited in their ability for creating the ideal conditions for brewing as they only operate with 1-1.5 bar of pressure. The ideal shot requires 9-10 bars.

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