14 Businesses Are Doing A Fantastic Job At Machine Espresso

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

The machine espresso makes use of precision pressure, and a filter technology that is mind-blowing to make the coffee you love. How exactly does it work?

Espresso is created by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee. The process is similar to making drip coffee but the difference is in the pressure.

The Group Head

As the name suggests the group head is where you place your portafilter when making italian espresso machines. It disperses water into the portafilter, and then regulates the pressure of extraction. There are various kinds of group heads each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. Some are designed to provide stability of temperature while others are specifically designed to handle pre-infusion. Others are built to control the lever. Some are a combination, such as the E61. This is a very popular choice for baristas due to the fact that it has multiple advantages in a single package.

As you can see from the above photo, the group head has a number of notches. You can place your portafilter into these notches and turn the head around to secure it. There is also a gasket made from rubber which is located inside the notches, which helps create the seal when you insert your portafilter into the machine. The notches on the head allow for a precise positioning of the portafilter which is necessary to ensure an even extraction.

Aside from allowing you to effortlessly insert your portafilter the group head is also responsible to ensure that the temperature remains even. It does this by circulating hot water through the brew pan and around the portafilter, ensuring that it's always at the correct temperature to extract. It is crucial to keep in mind that even a few degree variation can mean the difference between a good and great espresso.

The Pump

In contrast to manual piston machines that use a lever to pressurize water, rotary espresso machines rely on motorized pumps to supply the nine atmospheric bars of pressure required for espresso extraction. The pressure builds by removing tap water from a reservoir, and pumping it through a heat exchanger prior to being pushed through the ground coffee in the group head.

Pumps are generally less expensive than piston-driven machines, and they tend to last longer. However, both types of machines can get damaged through overuse and lack of cleaning. Pumps are also more complex mechanically, which could increase prices of even most basic models.

Some espresso machines do away with the pump entirely and use steam pressure to brew espresso. This can lead to over-extraction as the boiler that makes steam also heats the water until it comes to a boil. In addition these machines typically have to rebuild their pressure between cups, which takes time and energy.

Many espresso machines utilize a vibration or rotary pump, which has a vibration model using a vibrating disc to create the pressure, and the rotary model pushing hot water through the grounds under high speed. Both models can produce an excellent espresso, however the rotary pumps are quieter, and more durable than vibration pumps.

The Boiler

The boiler is the element that heats water to the optimal temperature for extraction. The resultant steam then reaches the portafilter containing the ground espresso coffee and is then funneled down into the cup. During this process the steam generates enough pressure to push the grounds of coffee through. This results in a crema on top of the espresso. This is a hallmark of a good espresso.

There are three distinct types of espresso machines, each with different pumps and brew temperature. There are various ways to control the brew as well as the size of the cup that can be made by the machine.

The earliest espresso machines were steam-based. The earliest espresso machines were steam-type machines espresso machines. The coffee tasted bitter and burnt. This is why Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni invented the modern espresso machine.

The most popular espresso machine is a semiautomatic model with an electric pump. These are the things people think of when they think of an espresso machine. With a semi-automatic espresso machine, you need to grind the beans and then tamp them by hand, but the pump controls the flow of water and pressure. This is a perfect solution that combines human control with mechanized reliability.

The Filter

Typically, espresso machines use filters to separate the grounds of the coffee as they go through the hot water. The filter is also a vital element of the machine's temperature control, since it helps to prevent overheating.

A filter also improves flavor since it allows for an extended flowering time. This allows beans to release their flavor and gives the chance for better extraction.

However, it is important to remember that even a top filter can produce a bad cup of coffee, since the quality of the beans and extraction are crucial.

This is where the magic happens, and it's what makes espresso taste great. The grouphead, also called the brew head, is where the portafilter (the container you place the ground coffee espresso machines in) is placed when you're making espresso.

In a steam-driven espresso machine, hot water is heated in an airtight container to create steam. This is then pushed through the grounds at high pressure. These kinds of machines are generally cheaper and easier to maintain than pumps-driven models. However, they are limited in their ability to produce the ideal brewing conditions, since they are only operating at 1-1.5 bars of pressure. The perfect shot requires 9-10 bars.

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