Notes

10 Things You Learned In Preschool That Can Help You In Espresso Maker
Espresso Maker - A Must-Have For Home Baristas

Espresso is a dark, strong drink that is created by pushing hot coffee through finely ground, tightly packed coffee grounds. It is the base for many popular coffee drinks.

A skilled barista (also known as an espresso maker) manages a range of variables to make an excellent cup of espresso. This includes the temperature of the water as well as its pressure and how tightly packed the coffee is.

Origins

The espresso maker is a machine that presses small quantities of close to boiling water under high pressure through coffee beans that have been finely ground. The resultant drink is stronger than drip coffee, is more concentrated, and served in smaller cups. This is a great alternative for those who need a strong cup of espresso but want it quickly!

In the 19th century the first espresso machines were invented. The coffee industry was huge in the 19th century however, brewing required too much time. espresso coffee machines were impatient and needed just a quick cup of tea!

Angelo Moriondo of Turin patented one of the first coffee machines in 1884. It held a name that was "New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous brewing of coffee beverages Method A. Moriondo."

The Milanese makers Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni adapted and improved on this machine. They added the portafilter along with a variety of brewheads and other innovations that are connected to espresso machines today. The Ideale was their machine that was popular with the crowd at the 1906 Milan Fair. Nine out of 10 Italian homes have a Moka Pot.

Variations

Espresso's flavor is more concentrated than coffee, so it works well with milk and other ingredients to make café favorites such as cappuccinos or lattes. Its bold flavor also shines in baked goods recipes and even marinades.

There are four types of espresso machines: semi-automatic super-automatic and manual lever. Each uses a distinct method of extracting espresso.

A manual lever machine employs a mechanical piston that presses water through the ground. It's a good combination of human control and mechanized precision. It's still necessary to grind, tamp and pull the shot by hand, but there's a lot more control over temperature and pressure.

Moka pots, a different manual espresso maker, function like modern espresso machines that are powered by a pump. Inside an airtight vessel, boiling water creates steam which is then forced through the bottom chamber into a filter basket filled with ground coffee and into a metal filter, where it funnels into the top cup. These machines are less expensive, but they can only generate 1-1.5 bars of steam pressure. This is not enough to make espresso.

Ingredients

Espresso makers can aid home baristas create cafe favorites like lattes and cappuccinos. You can add flavored extracts or syrups to espresso shots to create drinks that are rich, like an espresso martini.

The key ingredients for a great espresso cup are premium coffee beans fresh milk, sugar and fresh. Choose beans that are specifically labeled for espresso and grind them finely so that you get a consistent extraction. You can play around with different roasts to find the one you prefer the most.

You'll need a burr mill to grind the beans into an even texture. The espresso machine comes with a portafilter, which holds the grounds and a tamper. This is used to compact the coffee.

You'll also require an espresso set and a steamer to make the silky aerated-milk that is typical of espresso drinks. Certain machines come with a steam wand that can make the process easier. It is also necessary to descale your machine regularly, which involves running vinegar and water through the system.

Techniques

Espresso brewing relies upon creating pressure to rapidly extract intense flavors from finely ground dark-roast, dark-roast coffee that is packed into a "puck." This method of brewing produces the strongest coffee shot known as espresso. When properly prepared espresso is a delicious crema (or dense foam) over the top.

Unlike the Moka Express that uses heat to filter water through coarsely ground coffee, most espresso makers use highly pressurized water pushed through small grounds with high temperatures. This makes an espresso-like beverage that is diluted in water or milk to make other drinks, like cappuccinos or lattes.

While the Moka Express is a basic low-cost machine, other espresso machines are complicated expensive, and come with many beverages. The most well-known lever machines are Italian-designed and make use of a spring-loaded arm to pour hot water from the cylinder into the portafilter. A barista working with such a machine can control when to pull the shot, and adjust variables like grind size and water temperature on a shot-by-shot basis to achieve the most effective results. These machines were instrumental in bringing espresso to greater acclaim throughout Italy and Europe.

Equipment

A good espresso machine must be able to extract soluble as well as non-soluble solids from finely grinded tightly packed coffee. This process is aided by controlled variables and pressure, like temperature and grind size. The flavor is also a result from a variety of elements that include the beans used and the way they are produced.


There are several different types of espresso machines, however the semiautomatic is the most common. It utilizes an electric motor to move the water around and force it through the grounds. The user can also do the grinding and tapping. These machines are the most affordable but aren't as reliable as a spring piston or other manual designs.

The higher priced lever models come with an accurate piston that does the work for you. These are a bit more forgiving than spring piston machines but require some knowledge to use properly. They often require lots of maintenance, requiring you to heat and de-assemble the portafilter and piston every time.

Website: https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/espresso-coffee-machines