Espresso Articles

Coffee is generally prepared in two ways: espresso and drip brew. Drip brew coffee is prepared by pouring water over coffee which is contained in a filter. Espresso is an Italian coffee beverage prepared by forcing hot water through fine ground coffee beans.

Espresso is strong and has a robust flavor. Espresso coffee differs from the other variety of coffee, drip-brewed coffee, by its thick and concentrated consistency. Espresso is generally served in small amounts without any sweeteners or milk. Espresso should be consumed immediately after preparation, because it is highly reactive with oxygen.

There are various other types of espresso, like cafe latte, cafe mocha and cappuccino. All these can be made with one ‘shot’ of espresso.

An Espresso machine is used to prepare the espresso coffee. The machine forces water at 195 F and 9 bar of pressure through a puck of finely ground coffee. It takes about twenty seconds for 1.5 ounces of espresso to be prepared. The time can be modified by increasing the grinding quality - using finer or coarser coffee. Espresso machines also have steam wands, which is used to froth and steam milk for preparing milk-based espresso beverages like cappuccino and latte.

The espresso machine comes in its true element at the hands of a Barista. There are a many elements on which the quality of espresso depends.

There are various types of Espresso machines available in the market. The various kinds are:

Stove Top Espresso Maker:

The stove top espresso maker is the simplest to use. It is made up of the base, brewing basket, basket screen and the collection chamber. It is small and easily transportable and is one of the main kinds of non-electrical espresso machines.

The coffee is placed in the brewing basket, once the base is filled with cold water. Once the basket screen is placed over the brewing basket, the collection chamber is attached back to the base of the machine, and the machine is placed over a heat source.

Steam Espresso Maker:

Though the steam espresso maker is similar to the stove top, it is a steam unit and works on the pump-power principle. It also has a portafilter, which is a filter holding/coffee dispensing unit.

Piston Driven Espresso Maker:

The piston driven espresso machine is the oldest type of espresso machines. They were first made when espresso was first discovered. The modern espresso maker machine is an upgrade of this retro espresso maker. Invented in 1938, it is used widely in thematic parties or shops.

Pump Driven Espresso Machine:

The pump-driven espresso machine is the most used type of espresso machine commercially. It is a variation/upgrade of the piston driven espresso maker, which has a pump instead of a piston.

Automatic Espresso Machine:

The automatic espresso machine produces a more consistent amount of espresso, as compared to the other types of machines. Water flows into the flowmeter, until it reaches the previously programmed level and then the ‘shot’ is cut.

Super Automatic Espresso Machine:

This machine automatically grinds the coffee. Some machines can adjust the shot temperature and water flow.

Choosing an espresso coffee maker isn’t just determined by price. Many people have rushed in and bought a coffee maker simply because they thought that it’s price dictated how good or efficient the machine was. This can be a costly mistake. Be careful not to over capitalize!

An espresso coffee maker should basically suit your needs. That’s it. If you are a light coffee drinker then you won’t be needing a cafe style machine that can produce cups of coffee en masse. There are basically three styles of coffee makers to consider: manual, semi automatic and totally automatic.

Manual Coffee Maker

The manual espresso coffee maker is designed with the coffee purist in mind. It’s somewhat of a challenge to use for an inexperienced coffee drinker and requires a little practice before producing a drink you are satisfied with. In my case, I went through a little trial and error before mastering the process and point blank refused to subject any of my house guests to any sample until I was confident that I could produce a satisfying result. I learnt quickly. I found that producing a perfect shot of espresso with these machines relied on the timing of the pull on the lever and after awhile, it became second nature.

The disadvantage of a manual machine is obviously that it’s not suitable for entertaining a large group of people but they are very easy to maintain and clean. For a one or two a day coffee drinker, they are ideal.

Going Semi Automatic

The semi automatic espresso coffee maker provides a good balance for those who want some manual input in conjuction with some automatic features. Manual operation includes starting the extraction process with the push of a button and then switching it off once the coffee has been extracted. The milk frothing process also requires manual input and also some good judgement. The advantage these machines have over the full manual operated makers is you can produce cups of coffee more quickly hence they are suitable for servicing an extra guest or two.

Totally Automatic!

The totally automatic machines work in much the same way as the semi models with one difference. They are a one touch performance maker and once they have been activated, any involvement from the operator then basically becomes negligible. From grinding the beans to extracting the coffee and frothing the milk, these machines are the “rolls royce” of coffee makers. They are so technologically enhanced that they even possess self cleaning ability.

Before you choose your espresso coffee maker do some due diligence. See the machines in operation first hand. Ask for references from people you know who own a machine. You need to decide whether you’re happy to put in the extra effort and work a manual machine or whether you want the “grunt” work taken out of the equation and are happy to go automatic. When you have decided, then price comes into the equation!