Espresso Machine

An Espresso machine is a type of coffee maker used specifically for the Italian style coffer. Espresso machines can be quite expensive, and this site will give you more information about them so that you can make an informed purchase decision and learn where to buy them.

Espresso Machine - Basics
An espresso machine is a piece of equipment which uses a pressurized boiler to force steam through the coffee into a shotglass or cup. An espresso machine is used to produce the traditionally Italian coffee beverage called espresso.

History
The literal meaning of the word "espresso" is, made on the spur of the moment. It is an adjective applied to foods and drinks that are made at the moment of asking, and in Italy it is chiefly used to describe coffee, so that it has become a noun: when you ask for "an espresso" in a bar or restaurant it always meant a coffee.

This new method of making coffee was developed at the end of the 19th century (the first machine was shown at the Paris Fair in 1855) to overcome the drawbacks of the other methods, in particular the time they take (several minutes) and the consequent loss of aroma when the coffee is kept hot instead of being consumed immediately. The new machine had to be able to make one or two coffees at a time quickly, so that the customer had only to wait a few moments to be served. In order to make the water pass more speedily through the measured amount of ground coffee, the inventors had the idea of putting the water under pressure. Initially the steam provided this pressure that the barman skillfully regulated by means of various taps: making espresso coffee in those days was a real art. The first manufacturer of espresso machines was Bezzerra (1901), followed in the next 50 years by seven other Italians and two Frenchmen.

Types of Espresso Machines
There are basically 5 types of espresso machines on the market today: Steam Driven They use steam to force the water through the grounds instead of a pump and only generate about 3 atmospheres or bars of pressure. They also heat the water too much which scalds the coffee.

Manual A manual espresso machines uses a lever that the operator uses to force the water through the grounds instead of an electric pump.

Semi-Automatic A Semi automatic machine lets you add the coffee to the portafilter manually, and the pump starts and stops when the user pushes the brew button. The machine also requires that you clean the portafilter after each brewing. Since the user manually starts and stops the brew cycle, this machine gives you the most control over the quality of your shots.

Automatic They have the same components as a semi automatic except they have electronic controls to start and stop the brew cycle at preset levels. Most can be programmed to stop short for a ristretto or long for a lungo.

Super Automatic machines If money is no object, and you just want decent espresso without learning a skill, then look no further. Super automatics have the grinder built-in. All you have to do is add the whole beans and let the machine do the rest.

It will grind the beans, tamp the grounds into the filter, and brew to your preset amount. It will even dump the used grounds in its internal waste box.

How it Works
An espresso machine works by forcing almost boiling water through packed coffee grounds.

In order to properly brew espresso, getting full extraction with consistency, a minimum of about 9 to 10 bars of pressure is necessary. Most pump espresso machines will generate from 9 to 18 bars of pressure.

The boiler on the espresso machine is what is responsible for heating the water and maintaining it at the proper temperature for brewing and steaming milk.

How to make an espresso coffee
Instructions may vary depending on the type of machine you have, but the basics are the same for all:

1)Pour cold, clear water into your machine's water chamber and make sure the boiler cap is secured. One shot of espresso is about 1 ounce. For a double shot, use two ounces. Some machines let you make as many as four shots at once.

2)Place the coffee basket in the filter holder and lightly pack in the ground coffee. Your filter should have a measure for how much espresso you are making.

3)Brush off any grounds on the sides and top of the filter and place the filter holder in the machine.

4)Place the provided glass carafe (if your machine comes with one) under the spout and turn on the machine. The machine will heat the water to the proper temperature and force the water through the coffee grounds. Use a cup if your machine doesn't come with a carafe.

5)When the coffee starts to flow into the cup, it should have brown foam on its top. When the foam becomes almost white in color, the good-tasting liquid is no longer flowing. Remove the cup immediately.

Tips

Beans selected and roasted specifically for espresso are available in major grocery stores or coffee specialty shops.

If you are serious about espresso, purchase an espresso grinder and grind the beans just before brewing. Otherwise, buy your espresso beans in small amounts and have the shop grind them for you.

The quality of machine has a lot to do with good espresso.

Maintenance and Cleaning
The purpose of cleaning your espresso equipment is to achieve better control of the brewing process and to obtain the freshest taste in coffee. By cleaning your equipment on a regular basis, you can help save on replacement parts and increase the life expectancy of your equipment. The following procedures should be followed on a regular basis:

Give the steam wand a quick "shot of steam" after frothing your milk (use a clean moist washcloth over the hole to prevent a mess). Then use the moist cloth to clean the steam wand immediately. If the milk has dried, use a plastic pot scrubber to clean the wand. Or soak the steam wand in hot water to remove any caked-on milk. Use of steel wool scouring pads will eventually remove the chrome plating. Clean the steam jet hole with a pin, paper clip or a similar tool.

Flush the group head by turning on the pump for a few seconds, without the portafilter in place, after the last coffee session of the day (this has the added benefit of always ensuring the machine is fully primed).

Remove drip trays and clean them. (They can be put in the dishwasher, occasionally, top rack only if plastic; otherwise they may morph into interesting but unusable shapes from the heating element)

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Espresso Machine

Price:
Espresso machines are definitely not cheap, but in the long term can make you save a lot of money for all the coffee bought in coffee shops. Price changes depending on the material of the machine (metal vs. plastic). The better the quality the better the functionality and of course the higher the price you have to pay.

Type:
As mentioned before there are 5 different types of Espresso Machines. Go through all the types and choose the one that suits you best.

Designs:
There are plenty of Espresso Machines designs from which to choose. If you would rather have a machine with a more modern design, you might consider the Espressione Cafe Retro, the La Pavoni Cellini or the La Pavoni Pisa. For an old world design, you could consider a La Pavoni Lever Machine.

Boiler:
The boiler is made of aluminum, brass, copper or stainless steel. Aluminum heats the fastest, but brass and stainless steel retain heat longer. If you plan to heat small quantities of coffee for personal use then aluminum is the best decision

Another consideration is boiler size. Smaller boilers (3-5 oz.) heat up faster and are great for 1 or 2 cups, but they generally require more recovery time and may not maintain temperature as consistently as a larger (7-12 oz.) boiler. As a general rule the bigger the boiler the more expensive the machine is.

Top Rated Espresso Machines
From consumersearch.com

Best espresso machine.
Rancilio Silvia (*est. $500)
Expert reviews say this is the best espresso machine for the money.
Machine Type: Pump
Brew Pressure: 15 Bars
Housing: Stainless steel
Brewing Components: Plated brass
Movable Steam Arm: Yes
Removable Water Reservoir: 70 ounces
Cup Warmer: Yes
Pod Capable: No
Weight: 26 pounds
Dimensions: 13.25” x 11.25” x 9.25”

Best value.
Breville ESP8XL Café Roma Espresso (*est. $250)
Reviews say the Breville is an excellent machine for the price. If you can spend more, the Rancilio espresso machine will withstand more frequent use and is more popular with both reviewers and owners.
Machine Type: Pump
Brew Pressure: 15 bars
Housing: Stainless steel
Brewing Components: Teflon
Movable Steam Arm: No
Removable Water Reservoir: 1.2 liter
Cup Warmer: Yes
Pod Capable: Yes
Weight: 15.5 pounds
Dimensions: 12”x11.5”x14 ¾”

Best entry-level espresso maker
Saeco Via Veneto (*est. $200)
The Saeco Via Veneto is a good starter pump-driven machine, according to reviews. This unit can brew a shot in 18 seconds but takes nearly two minutes to steam eight ounces of milk.
Machine Type: Pump
Brew Pressure: 15 Bars
Housing: Plastic
Brewing Components: Stainless steel
Movable Steam Arm: Yes
Removable Water Reservoir: 56 ounces
Cup Warmer: No
Pod Capable: Yes
Weight: 13 pounds
Dimensions: 12" x 9.75 x 9.5"

Basic steam-driven espresso maker.
Krups Allegro FND111 (*est. $50) At $50, it's a cheap choice for beginners who want to get their feet wet without a big investment. However, reviews indicate that steam-driven espresso machines like the Krups don't make true espresso because they cannot maintain the right pressure to pull a high-quality shot.
Machine Type: Steam
Brew Pressure: 4 bars
Housing: Plastic
Brewing Components: Aluminum
Movable Steam Arm: No
Removable Water Reservoir: 32 ounces
Cup Warmer: No
Pod Capable: No
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Dimensions: 11.25” x 8.5” x 10”

Semi-professional espresso machine.
Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic (*est. $1380)
The Pasquini Livia 90 is for the espresso enthusiast who wants a semi-professional machine for the home or office.
Machine Type: Pump
Brew Pressure: 15 bars
Housing: Polished stainless steel
Brewing Components: copper
Movable Steam Arm: yes
Removable Water Reservoir: 3.5 liters
Cup Warmer: Yes
Pod Capable: Yes
Weight: 36 pounds


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