The 10 Worst Machine Espresso Failures Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented

How Does Machine Espresso Work?

The machine espresso makes use of precision pressure, and a filtering technology that is amazing to create the coffee you love. What exactly does it work?

Espresso is created by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely-ground coffee. The process is similar to making drip coffee but the difference is in the pressure.

The Head of the Group

The group head is the portafilter is inserted when you are making espresso. It is responsible for dispersing the water into the portafilter and then controlling the pressure of the extraction. There are a variety of group heads each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some are focused on temperature stability, some on pre-infusion capabilities, and still others are designed to control the lever. There are also some that have a combination of features, such as the E61, which is considered the standard choice for many baristas due to its capacity to offer multiple benefits in one package.

As you can see in the image above the group head is made up of several notches to place your portafilter before twisting it with your hands to secure it. A gasket made of rubber is placed within the notches to make a seal when you insert your portafilter. The notches on the head allow for an exact placement of the portafilter, which is crucial for an efficient extraction.

The group head not only lets you to place your portafilter easily however, it also keeps the temperature at a constant level. It does this by cycling hot water through the brew container and around the portafilter, making sure that it is always at the correct temperature to extract. It is important to remember that even a slight differences can make the distinction between a good and a excellent espresso.

The Pump

Contrary to manual piston machines which rely on a lever to pressurize water, rotating espresso machines rely upon motorized pumps that provide the nine atmospheric bars of pressure required to extract espresso. The pressure builds by drawing tap water from a reservoir and pumping it through a heat exchanger prior it is shot through the ground coffee inside the group head.

Pumps tend to be cheaper and last longer than piston-driven machines. However, both types of machines can degrade because of frequent use and inadequate cleaning. Pumps are also more complex mechanically, which could increase prices of even simplest models.

Certain Italian espresso machine machines utilize steam pressure instead of a pump to make cheap espresso machine. The drawback of this is that the boiler that produces steam also raises the temperature of the water until it reaches boiling and can result in excessive extraction. Additionally these machines typically have to restore their pressure between cups, which takes time and energy.

Many espresso machines make use of either a vibration or rotary pump. A vibration model utilizes a rotating disk to generate pressure, while a rotating model pushes hot water through the ground at a rapid speed. Both models can produce an excellent espresso, but Rotary machines are quieter and more durable than vibration pumps.

The Boiler

The boiler is the component that heats water to the ideal temperature to extract. The steam that is created reaches the portafilter, which is a container for espresso grounds. It is then funneled into the cup. The steam creates pressure and pushes through the grounds of the coffee. This creates a layer crema that is then poured over. This is one of the main characteristics of a good espresso.

There are three kinds of espresso makers, which differ in the type of pump they use and how hot the espresso is. There are a variety of ways to control the amount of brew, as well as the size of the cup that can be produced by the machine.

The earliest espresso machines were steam-based. They employed a single boiler to make both brew and steam, but the pressure they could generate was low – only two bars of atmospheric pressure maximum. This led to the coffee tasting bitter and burnt. This is the reason why Milanese producers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni created the modern espresso machine.

The most well-known espresso coffee machine for home machine is a semiautomatic with an electric pump. These are the images people have when they think of an espresso maker. If you have a semi-automatic machine you need to grind the beans and then tamp them by hand. The pump controls the flow of water and pressure. This is a great compromise between the human touch and the mechanized consistency.

The Filter

Typically, espresso machines utilize filters to separate the grounds of the coffee as they go through the hot water. The filter is also an essential component of the machine’s temp control, since it stops overheating.

Filters also aid in flavor since it allows for an extended flowering time. This helps the beans release their flavor and gives the chance for better extraction.

It is important to remember that even the finest filter can make a bad cup of coffee. The quality of the beans as well as the extraction, remain vital.

This is where the magic happens, it’s what makes pro espresso machine taste great. The grouphead (also known as the brewhead) is where you put the portafilter – the thingy that you put the coffee and espresso machine grounds in, when making espresso.

In an espresso machine that is driven by steam, hot water is heated in an airtight container to create steam. This then pushes the hot water through the grounds with high pressure. These types of machines are usually cheaper and easier to maintain than pump-driven models. However, they are not as efficient in their ability to produce the perfect brewing conditions since they are only operating at 1-1.5 bars of pressure. However, the perfect shot requires 9-10 bars.

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