Overview of Espresso and Espresso Machines
What do you think of when you hear the word "espresso"? Perhaps,
"Express - train; fast black, iron horse of rocket fuel!"
Or,
"Strong. Hyper-caffeinated. Bitter. What, me try it?" (is you a man or is you a mouse?)
Also, maybe,
"I like my coffee black, but not that black!"
Wrong. Espresso, when correctly made, is none of these things.
Espresso is a traditional coffee drink invented by the French, but perfected by the Italians. You can associate the word "espresso" with the English word "press", for that is the fundamental action pertaining to both the ground coffee - which is pressed into a compact disc - and the machine used to make it, which forces or "presses" hot water through the disc of coffee. The result is a demitasse (very small cup) of all of the best characteristics of the coffee bean with none of the less desirable ones.
A well "pulled" shot of espresso is not bitter. The flavor is full, complex, and remains on the tongue for 10-15 minutes after drinking it. That flavor can be fairly accurately compared with the wonderful aroma present when the seal is first broken on a container of coffee. If your espresso is bitter blame the barista, not the drink.
Afraid of the shakes? Don't be. Surprisingly, given the concentrated nature of the drink, a shot of espresso has only about half the caffeine of a normally brewed cup of joe. This is because the heated water is forced through the coffee too quickly (ideally in around 20 seconds) to liberate all of the caffeine present in the grind.
All of this wonderfulness requires a special type of machine to make. As already mentioned, an espresso machine's express purpose is to press heated water (about 200 degrees) through a disc of pressed coffee. How is this accomplished? There are 3 basic designs: steam driven, piston driven, and pump driven.
Mechanically, the simplest is the steam driven machine. It employs steam pressure to force water through the coffee. Since there are no moving parts, this design is normally used for lower-priced home espresso makers. This principle was also used in early commercial machines but was abandoned by professionals when a better design came along in 1945.
That design is the piston driven machine. In this design, a long lever is pulled by the barista (hence the phrase "pulling" a shot) to drive a piston, which in turn forces the heated water out of a cylinder and through the coffee. A later refinement of this design was to interject a spring into the process between the lever and piston. The lever compresses the spring, which in turn drives the pistion. The purpose is to better control the pressure of the water (ideally 9 ft-lbs) as it is forced through the coffee.
An even better design was introduced in 1961, the pump driven machine. This design uses an electric pump to force the water. The benefit is more accuracy (and no arm-strain!).
Good espresso also has a "head", like a beer does. The head is made up of concentrated oils from the coffee. It is dark reddish-brown, and should have enough body to support the weight of a teaspoon of sugar for about 2 seconds before it sinks into the drink.
The coffee itself is, of course, rather important. It should be of a medium roast; a dark roast has had too many of the oils and sugars cooked out of it. It also needs to be ground exactly right. A proper grind can be described as the consistency of talcum powder. The best bet is to have your espresso professionally ground at a good shop. They have the right equipment and know-how to make a perfect grind.
Need water quality even be discussed here? You don't drink tap, so don't brew tap. Enough said there.
Espresso is complex in both nature and process. It requires special equipment and exacting technique to make properly, but is well worth the effort. If you've never tried it, drop by a reputable coffee house and let them convince you. Chances are you'll be hooked.
(ArticlesBase SC #723972)
How to Extract the Perfect Espresso
Learn how to extract the perfect espresso when making a café latte. (02:50)
Making an Espresso
Dale Roberts shows you how to brew coffee and make an espresso. (01:28)
How to Make Espresso Martini. Art of the Drink 42#
Anthony visits Bean Traders in search of the perfect espresso and transforms it into a martini. (09:06)
How to Make an Espresso Martini
How to make a martini that's a real eye-opener. (00:29)
Cortez's Caffeine Fix: The Silver Bean
Lounge under the awning with yard flamingos or get your espresso to go. One of Colorado's most unique coffee shops. (01:25)
Many different types of coffee makers exist—percolators, automatic drip-brew, etc.—but, because of the basic concept of water passing through coffee grounds or beans to create coffee, the coffee maker parts are very similar with each type.
Espresso coffee makers came into existence from man’s need for a faster cup of coffee. The espresso machines not only produced the coffee faster but also produced a better one. Initially in some machines they found some kinks to be worked out but the coffee maker inventors didn’t let little issues deter them.
Here are 7 simple steps that you can take to produce the perfect cup of coffee every time.
For those that love espresso and cappuccinos, but are bored with spending large bucks for these frothy drinks every day, you may need to cut out the middle man as in the coffee houses that serve these types of drinks. You should purchase your own espresso machine and make them yourself comfortable, anytime you need one. The Gaggia Espresso Machine would be a great addition to your kitchen little appliance collection. The cost will be easi...
Having a Starbucks in the kitchen might sound a bit extreme however that is just what owning a Gaggia Titanium SS Espresso Machine will seem like. No more treks to the corner coffee shop for that morning wake up java. The SS model of Titanium line raises the bar higher than before. This stainless steel version is a countertop work of art. Of course it features all the Gaggia Titanium Espresso Machine delights.
Tired of making daily treks to the coffee shop and spending more money than necessary? Then the Gaggia Titanium Espresso Machine is the answer. This is not a typical discount store espresso machine made of cheap plastic that produces inferior espressos with limp froth. This goes beyond the expectations and wows even the most hard core cynic.
I found an easy way to put money back in the family budget, by cutting out excessive spending on coffee and espresso at expensive coffee shops by buying a Saeco coffee cappuccino maker. You can save money and have gourmet drinks at your finger tips!
Coffee is the second most imported commodity in today's world, right behind petroleum. This beverage has become so popular that many coffee-derivative drinks have been produced and consumed for years. Below are a few common coffee drink recipes.
Aarkstore announce a new report "Special Report on Year 2009 Vegetable Seed Market in China " through its vast collection of market reserach report.
Online food ordering systems are making their marks in the restaurant industry. While they are being adopted by most of the restaurant owners, there are still some of the restaurateurs who are in a confusion of whether to go for online food ordering systems or stick to the conventional phone ordering system.
There are more discussions on strict vegetarianism which stops its followers from having egg and dairy products. Dieticians and nutritionist argue that people have completely different nutritional desires at every stage of growth.
There are more discussions on strict vegetarianism which stops its followers from having egg and dairy products. Dieticians and nutritionist argue that people have completely different nutritional desires at every stage of growth.
Online food ordering systems are making their marks in the restaurant industry. While they are being adopted by most of the restaurant owners, there are still some of the restaurateurs who are in a confusion of whether to go for online food ordering systems or stick to the conventional phone ordering system.
Recent fitness enthusiasts who want to stay fit by enjoying a healthy and enriched diet are logging in to the internet so that they may collect ample information about it. To be healthy and fit is the earnest desire for almost everybody and that is why the online sources are gaining immense popularity.
Wine industry, that the longterm, there are two meanings, first, if wine grapes used in bad health Sinong months 10 years, will not be able to reach the realm of true maturity; second wine business processes in the length of the complexity of the system is indeed episodes are hard....
How do you choose the right ice cream maker for you? Much depends on your personality and style of doing things.
Cold sores are small fluid filled blisters that form around the mouth, which are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus I. Also known as Fever Blisters or Oral Herpes, the virus is present in the majority of the adult population, although many people never suffer a cold sore outbreak. While...
The violin, more or less as we know it today, has been with us since the beginning of the 16th century. Those with some knowledge of ancient instruments might remember the Medieval stringed instrument, the rebec, and the Renaissance fiddle - otherwise known as the viola da braccio. These, along with...
The word "yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit word for "unite" as it is a series of exercises designed to united body and mind and thereby achieve a state of happiness and peace. At its purest it denotes a way of life involving strict self-discipline, and is often associated alternative...
It's amazing the difference a change in diet can make, but if you really want to commit to long term differences, forget about dieting and think more about a lifestyle change. If you do manage to change your diet successfully you'll benefit from fat loss, increased energy, better skin tone;...
In my last article I was talking about how while we're all told to do this and do that to lead healthier lives, it can be hard to get good advice on HOW to incorporate "this and that" into our lives, including eating healthy and reducing stress and I then...
We're always hearing the same info again and again, how we should do more exercise, eat less fat and sugar and reduce stress in out lives. Sometimes it seems that we are so bombarded with a constant stream of the same old thing that our minds just filter it out,...
What do you think of when you hear the word "espresso"? Perhaps, "Express - train; fast black, iron horse of rocket fuel!" Or, "Strong. Hyper-caffeinated. Bitter. What, me try it?" (is you a man or is you a mouse?) Also, maybe, "I like my coffee black, but not that black!" Wrong. Espresso, when correctly made, is...
An espresso is a beverage made by forcing water heated to just below the boiling point through a filter of tamped, finely ground coffee beans. A single serving of espresso is a 1.25 to 1.5 ounce coffee concentrate topped with a thin layer of foam (referred to as the crema)....
1