14 Businesses Doing A Great Job At Machine Espresso

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

The machine espresso uses precision pressure, and filter technology that is mind-blowing to create the coffee you enjoy. What exactly is it that makes it work?

Espresso is made by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely-ground coffee. The process is similar to that of making drip coffee. However the pressure is the primary difference.

The Head of the Group

The group head is the portafilter that you place in the espresso maker when making it. It disperses water into the portafilter, and regulates the pressure of the extraction. There are a variety of group heads each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are designed for 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 popular choice among baristas due to the fact that it has multiple benefits in a single package.

As you can see in the photo above the group head is equipped with several notches. The portafilter is placed in these notches, then twist the head to secure it. There is also a gasket of rubber which is located inside the notches to help create the seal when you insert your portafilter into the machine. The notches allow for an exact placement of the portafilter. This is essential for an even extraction.

The group head is not just able to allow you to put in your portafilter easily however, it also keeps the temperature at a constant level. This is done by cycling hot water around the portafilter, and through the brew-basket, ensuring the temperature is always right for extraction. It is important to note that even a tiny deviation 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, rotary espresso coffee machine with milk frother machines rely on motorized pumps to provide the nine atmospheric bars of pressure needed to extract espresso. The pressure builds by drawing tap water from a reservoir and pumping it through a heat exchanger before being shot through the ground coffee inside the group head.

Pumps tend to be less expensive than piston-driven machines and tend to last longer, but both types of machines may become damaged due to excessive use and poor cleaning. Pumps are also more complicated mechanically, which can increase prices of even simple models.

Some espresso machines do away with the pump completely and make use of steam pressure to make espresso. This can lead bean to cup espresso machines over-extraction as the boiler that makes steam also causes the water to boil. Additionally these machines are often required to restore their pressure between cups, which takes time and energy.

Many espresso machines utilize an rotary or vibrating pump, which is a vibration model using a vibrating disc that generates the pressure and the rotary model pushing hot water through the grounds under high speed. Both types of machines can make excellent espresso, but rotary machines are quieter and more durable than vibration pumps.

The Boiler

The boiler is the part which heats the water to the optimal temperature to extract. The resulting steam reaches the portafilter, which contains ground espresso beans and is then pumped into the cup. The steam creates pressure that pushes through the coffee grounds. This results in a whipped-up the top of the espresso. This is one of the main characteristics of a good espresso machine with grinder.

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

The first espresso machines were steam-based. The first espresso machines were steam-type machines. This resulted in the coffee tasting bitter and burnt. The modern espresso machine was created by the Milanese manufacturers Luigi Bezzerra & Desiderio Pavoni.

The most well-known espresso maker is a semi-automatic machine that has an electric pump. When people think of espresso coffee maker machines - image source -, they think of these machines. With a semi-automatic machine you must grind the beans and then tamp them by hand. The pump is able to regulate the flow of water and pressure. This is a great compromise between the human touch and the mechanized accuracy.

The Filter

Typically, espresso machines utilize filters that separate the coffee grounds as they pass through the hot water. The filter is also a vital part of the temperature control system since it helps prevent the machine from overheating.

Filters also aid in flavor as it allows for the beans to flower for a longer period of time. This lets the beans let their nuances out, and also allows for better extraction.

It is important to keep in mind that even the finest filter can result in a bad cup of coffee. The quality of the beans, and the extraction process are still very important.

It's here that the magic takes place. This is what makes espresso taste so delicious. The grouphead, often called the brewhead, is where the portafilter (the device you put the ground coffee into) is placed when making espresso.

Steam-driven espresso machines use hot water heated in an airtight container to produce steam. The steam then pushes hot water through the grounds of the coffee under pressure. These kinds of machines are generally less expensive and easier to maintain than pump-driven models. However, they are not as efficient in their ability to create the ideal conditions for brewing as they only operate at 1-1.5 bars of pressure. However, the perfect shot requires 9-10 bars.

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