10 Facts About Machine Espresso That Will Instantly Put You In A Good Mood
10 Facts About Machine Espresso That Will Instantly Put You In A Good Mood
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How Does Machine Espresso Work?
The machine espresso utilizes precise pressure and filtering technology that is amazing to make the coffee you love. How exactly does it work?
Espresso is produced by pushing hot water at high pressure through finely-ground coffee. The process is similar to making drip coffee. However the pressure is the primary difference.
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 of the extraction. There are many different types of group heads each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Some are designed to provide temperature stability while others are specifically designed to handle pre-infusion. Some are designed to control the lever. Some have a combination of features, such as the E61 one, which is the standard choice for many baristas because of its ability to provide multiple benefits in a single package.
As you can see in the image above the head of the group is fitted with several notches. You can place your portafilter in these notches, then twist the head to secure it. A gasket made of rubber is placed within the notches to create a seal when you insert your portafilter. The notches allow for the precise placement of the portafilter. This is crucial to ensure a consistent extraction.
The group head does not just allow you to put in your portafilter easily however it also keeps the same temperature. It does this by circulating hot water through the brew basket, and around the portafilter to ensure that it is always at the correct temperature for extraction. It is crucial to keep in mind that even a small variation can mean the difference between a good and a excellent espresso.
The Pump
In contrast to piston machines that are manually operated, which use a lever to pressurize water, rotary espresso machines rely on motorized pumps to provide the nine atmospheric bars of pressure required for espresso extraction. The pressure is created by pumping water through a heat exchanger and then through the ground coffee.
Pumps tend to be cheaper than piston-driven machines, and tend to last longer, however both types of machines can degrade with overuse and insufficient cleaning. Pumps are also more complicated mechanically, which can increase the price of even the most basic models.
Certain espresso machines do away with the pump completely and use steam pressure to brew espresso. The disadvantage of this is that the boiler that produces steam also raises the temperature of water to boiling which could lead to excessive extraction. Additionally these machines typically have to restore their pressure between cups, which requires time and energy.
Many espresso machines make use of an rotary or a vibration pump. A vibration model employs a rotating disk to generate pressure, whereas the rotating model pushes hot water through the ground at a high speed. Both machines can make great espresso but rotary machines are more quiet, durable and less likely to break down.
The Boiler
The boiler is the element which heats the water to the optimal temperature to extract. The resultant steam then reaches the portafilter which holds the ground espresso coffee, and gets funnelled down into the cup. During this process the steam generates enough pressure to push the grounds of coffee through. This creates a crema on top of the espresso. This is one of the main characteristics of a great espresso.
There are three kinds of espresso makers, and they differ in the kind of pump they use and the degree of heat that the coffee is. There are a variety of ways to control the amount of 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 create steam and brew, but the pressure they could generate was low - only two bars of atmospheric pressure, at most. The coffee tasted bitter and burnt. This is why Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni created the modern espresso machine.
The most well-known espresso machine is a semiautomatic with an electric pump. When people think of espresso machines, they think of these machines. Semi-automatic machines require you to grind and tamp your beans yourself The pump, however, regulates the flow of water and pressure. This is an excellent compromise between human control and mechanized consistency.
The Filter
Typically, espresso machines employ a filter to separate out the grounds of coffee when espresso and filter coffee machine they pass through the hot water. The filter is also an essential element of the machine's temperature control, as it prevents overheating.
A filter also helps with flavor as it allows for a longer flowering phase. This lets the beans release their nuances, and allows for better extraction.
It is important to remember that even the finest filter can produce a bad cup of coffee. The quality of the beans and the extraction process remain crucial.
This is where the magic happens. It's what makes an espresso really taste great. The grouphead, also referred to as the brewhead, is where the portafilter (the thingy you put the ground coffee into) is located when you're making espresso.
Steam-driven espresso machines make use of hot water that is heated in an airtight container to create steam. The steam then pushes hot water into the grounds of the coffee under pressure. These kinds of machines are generally less expensive and simpler to maintain than pump-driven models. They are however limited to create the perfect conditions for brewing since they only operate with 1-1.5 bar of pressure. The ideal shot requires 9-10 bars.
In recent years, espresso machines powered by a compressed air compressor have become increasingly popular. They utilize an air compressor to force hot water through grounds and are more portable than electric steam-driven machines.