11 Ways To Destroy Your Machine Espresso

11 Ways To Destroy Your Machine Espresso

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How Does Machine Espresso Work?

Machine espresso makes use of precise pressure and amazing filter technology to make the coffee we love. What exactly is it?

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

The Group Head

As the name suggests the group head is where you insert your portafilter when making espresso. It disperses the water into the portafilter, and regulates the pressure of extraction. There are many different kinds of group heads each with its particular advantages and disadvantages. Some are designed for temperature stability while others are built to handle pre-infusion. Others are built to control the lever. There are even some that contain a variety of features, like the E61 one, which is the classic choice among many baristas due to its capacity to offer multiple benefits in a single package.

As you can see in the picture above the head of the group is fitted with a variety of notches. The portafilter is placed inside these notches, and then twist the head to secure it. A rubber gasket is located inside the notches to help create a seal while you insert your portafilter. The notches allow for an exact placement of the portafilter. This is crucial to ensure an even extraction.

The group head does not just allow you to place your portafilter easily however it also keeps the same temperature. This is accomplished by cycling hot water around the portafilter, and through the brew-basket to ensure that the temperature is at the right level for extraction. This is important, as even a few degrees can make the difference between a good and great espresso.

The Pump

The motorized pumps in rotary espresso machines supply the nine atmospheric bars of pressure required to extract espresso. This is different from manually operated piston machines that employ a lever. This pressure is built up by pumping water through a heat-exchanger and then through the ground coffee.

Pumps are typically less expensive than piston-driven machines, and they tend to last longer, but both types of machines could degrade with overuse and insufficient cleaning. Pumps are also more complex mechanically, which could increase the price of even the simpler models.

Some espresso machines employ steam pressure instead of a pump to make espresso. This can result in over-extraction because the boiler that produces 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 an rotary or vibrating pump, which is a vibration model using a vibrating disc to generate the pressure, and a rotary model pushing hot water through the grounds under high speed. Both models are capable of producing excellent espresso, but the rotary models are quieter and more durable than vibration pumps.

The Boiler

The boiler heats the water to a temperature that is ideal to extract. The steam that is produced reaches the portafilter that contains the ground espresso coffee, and is then funneled down into the cup. The steam is able to create enough pressure to push the grounds of coffee through. This creates a crema on top of the espresso. This is one of the hallmarks of a good espresso.

There are three distinct types of espresso machines, each having different pumps and brew temperature. There are various ways in which the brew could be controlled, as well as the size of the cup that the maker can create.

The first espresso machines were steam-type. check here They used a single boiler to make both steam and brew, but the pressure they could create was minimal - two bars of atmospheric pressure, at most. This resulted in the coffee tasting burnt and bitter. This is why the Milanese manufacturers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni developed the modern espresso machine.

The most popular espresso maker is a semi-automatic machine with an electric pump. These are what people imagine when they think of an espresso maker. Semi-automatic machines require you to grind and tamp the beans yourself while the pump controls the water flow and pressure. This is a great compromise between the human touch and the mechanized quality.

The Filter

Espresso machines typically use filters that separate the grounds of the coffee from hot water. The filter is also an essential part of the machine's temperature control, since it stops overheating.

It also helps with flavor, as it allows for a more prolonged bloom time. This lets the beans release their flavor and allows for better extraction.

However, it is important to remember that even a great filter can produce a bad cup of coffee as the quality of the beans and extraction is still important.

This is where the magic happens, it's what makes an espresso really taste good. The grouphead (also known as the brewhead) is where you place the portafilter, the device that you put the coffee grounds into, when making espresso.

Steam-driven espresso machines make use of hot water that is heated inside an airtight container to make steam. The steam then pushes hot water into the coffee grounds under 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 brewing conditions 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 into the grounds and are more portable than steam-driven electric machines.