Espresso MachinesThese days you can’t walk a city block without passing by at least one coffee shop, cafe or corner store boasting a menu packed with espressos, lattes and cappuccinos. Now that those rich European tastes have permeated our North American coffee culture, more and more people want to bring that taste into their homes. How can you get restaurant quality espresso at home? By buying an espresso machine!
Espresso Machine BasicsEspresso machines, whether top of the line or basic, all use the same basic premise: forcing water through ground espresso beans using high pressure from heated water in a sealed vessel squeezed out through a tube. The result should be a dark brown, thicker than regular coffee liquid with a little foam, called crèma, on top.
Choosing Your Espresso MachineEspresso machines can come in all shapes and sizes from small countertop affairs to large, complicated espresso making monsters.
# Your first step should be deciding on your budget – you can expect to spend from $200 to $1000 depending on the quality and features of the espresso machine.
# Second, consider your space constraints. Measure the amount of space you’re willing to devote to your machine. Be sure to leave approximately 1.5 square feet of counter space for your machine.
Pump vs. Piston
# Piston espresso machines are also called manual espresso machines. These are typically the old-fashioned looking machines that add art to your kitchen – and the best cups of espresso. While these types of machines can be harder to operate, they do allow for more control over the finished product. After grinding the espresso beans and filling the portafilter, the user must pull down on the handle to force the water through the coffee. This model is not for wimps! It can take some elbow grease to make this machine work!
# Pump machines, also known as automatic espresso machines, don’t require any pulling of levers at all. The pump simple pushes the water through the espresso, with less effort than a piston machine requires. If you want a good cup of espresso without the effort, this si the type of espresso machine for you. Whatever type of espresso machine you choose, enjoy the fabulous benefits of being able to brew a good espresso at home! Salute! |
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Commercial espresso machines have be around for many years, however it was not until 1977 that the first machine designed for domestic use was released. During the 1990’s there was a dramatic increase in the popularity of the espresso machine, with it now being one of the most purchased small appliances. Essentially an espresso machine operates by forcing hot water through tightly packed, ground coffee as well as producing steam for heating milk. The units need to heat the water to at least 88 degrees Celsius, provide pressure of around 15 bars and provide steam at a temperature of a round 65 to 70 degrees Celsius for heating milk. Beyond this, different units offer a variety of additional features such as cup warming, no of cups etc. This profile does not cover drip filter coffee machines except those where drip filter coffee and jug warming is an added feature of an espresso machine. There are a number of characteristics that distinguish espresso machines. Firstly machines can be either pump or steam style. Pump-driven machines use a pump to force the water through the coffee and use a separate heating mechanism for creating steam for heating milk. Steam machines boil the water in a small chamber then use the steam created from this process to force the water into a pipe that flows through the coffee grounds. The same steam is also siphoned off to heat milk. Machines heat water using either a boiler or a thermo-block device. Boilers are slower to heat the water but are more common especially in commercial machines. |
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