Espresso machines became overly popular in the 20th century thanks to specialized coffee shops who left people wanting to experience those same great Italian drinks at home without the cost. What many don't realize is just how long these machines have been around.
The espresso machine was first invented in 1901 and since then there have been many versions to hit the market. Common mechanisms on an espresso coffee maker include the portafilter which use a metal basket to hold the coffee grounds and a steam wand which can be used to froth and steam milk for drinks when needed.
The four main systems of espresso coffee machines are discussed briefly in the article. These brief descriptions should give you a fairly accurate idea of the good and bad about each one. Preference is usually based upon application with these types of makers.
Piston: Achille Gaggia, the founder of the manufacturer Gaggia, created the piston driven espresso machine in 1945. This type of coffee maker is easy to use by way of a lever being pumped by the user to force hot water through the grounds. The term "pulling a shot" derived from the usage of this machine since it requires pulling the lever multiple times to get the outcome that you want. There are two main types of the piston style machine, manual and spring driven. Manual requires the user to push the hot water through the grounds by simply pulling on the lever while spring driven requires the user to tension a spring which in turn builds the pressure needed to make the drink.
Pump: Pump style espresso machines work off of a motorized pump. This pumps builds the force needed to brew the drink properly. This is the type of maker you will see most often in coffee shops because it gets the job done quickly. Commercial styles are hooked in to the buildings plumbing making them ideal for business use while cheaper versions that are normally used at home come with a built in water reservoir.
Steam: Steam driven espresso coffee machines are just as simple as they sound. Steam pressure builds to push the water through the coffee grounds and it is about as simple as that. The first espresso machines created employed this type of functioning and because they require no moving parts are still used today because of the cheap manufacturing process.
Air Pressure: Air pressure espresso makers are hand held and pump highly pressurized air into a chamber to get the result that you want. These only make one cup of coffee at a time however. The commonly known name for this style of machine is Handpresso, created by Nielsen Innovation in 2006. The product hit stores shelves soon after in 2007 and has gained much popularity.
The process of choosing the right espresso coffee maker for your needs is a fairly simple one once you understand the difference of each type. You can easily choose what will work best for you by considering the application you will be using it in. For example, will it be used in a office building, occasional home use or in an actual coffee shop? Brand and added function will effect the price of each one, but the basis of every model is still the same. All are manufactured to provide you and others with great Italian based drinks. - 30241
The espresso machine was first invented in 1901 and since then there have been many versions to hit the market. Common mechanisms on an espresso coffee maker include the portafilter which use a metal basket to hold the coffee grounds and a steam wand which can be used to froth and steam milk for drinks when needed.
The four main systems of espresso coffee machines are discussed briefly in the article. These brief descriptions should give you a fairly accurate idea of the good and bad about each one. Preference is usually based upon application with these types of makers.
Piston: Achille Gaggia, the founder of the manufacturer Gaggia, created the piston driven espresso machine in 1945. This type of coffee maker is easy to use by way of a lever being pumped by the user to force hot water through the grounds. The term "pulling a shot" derived from the usage of this machine since it requires pulling the lever multiple times to get the outcome that you want. There are two main types of the piston style machine, manual and spring driven. Manual requires the user to push the hot water through the grounds by simply pulling on the lever while spring driven requires the user to tension a spring which in turn builds the pressure needed to make the drink.
Pump: Pump style espresso machines work off of a motorized pump. This pumps builds the force needed to brew the drink properly. This is the type of maker you will see most often in coffee shops because it gets the job done quickly. Commercial styles are hooked in to the buildings plumbing making them ideal for business use while cheaper versions that are normally used at home come with a built in water reservoir.
Steam: Steam driven espresso coffee machines are just as simple as they sound. Steam pressure builds to push the water through the coffee grounds and it is about as simple as that. The first espresso machines created employed this type of functioning and because they require no moving parts are still used today because of the cheap manufacturing process.
Air Pressure: Air pressure espresso makers are hand held and pump highly pressurized air into a chamber to get the result that you want. These only make one cup of coffee at a time however. The commonly known name for this style of machine is Handpresso, created by Nielsen Innovation in 2006. The product hit stores shelves soon after in 2007 and has gained much popularity.
The process of choosing the right espresso coffee maker for your needs is a fairly simple one once you understand the difference of each type. You can easily choose what will work best for you by considering the application you will be using it in. For example, will it be used in a office building, occasional home use or in an actual coffee shop? Brand and added function will effect the price of each one, but the basis of every model is still the same. All are manufactured to provide you and others with great Italian based drinks. - 30241
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Before buying an Italian espresso maker, it is vital to do some research and testing if possible. Italian espresso makers can vary greatly in price and quality.
