The wide popular use of espresso coffee machines goes hand in hand with the predominance of espresso coffee as a widespread and popular pleasure, especially noticeable in the period after meals.
It has, therefore, become important and perhaps necessary to understand how to prepare the best espresso in accordance with the laws governing the extraction of coffee solids.
The best is to buy a high-quality blend from a roaster who has been recommended to us, who is knowledgeable about freshness.
However, when we talk about coffee we are invariably referring to espresso coffee; in reality, this distinction is necessary only for the extraction processes, in order to underline the differences between classical espresso coffee and the moka that is not made with the high pressures of the espresso coffee machine.
The Fascination with Espresso Coffee
At the physical level, the quality of espresso is related to its chemical composition, texture, temperature, and other measurable characteristics such as foam height, coffee concentration, total dissolved solids, antioxidant content, and caffeine content.
Although most of these measurable characteristics can also be found in ordinary coffee, the beauty of espresso is in the equilibrium of its sensory descriptors: body and mouthfeel, flavour, taste, aroma, aftertaste, acidity, bitterness, and syrupy sweetness.
These unique espresso qualities are profoundly influenced by numerous variables in the preparation process that are far from trivial, and indeed constitute the ‘Art and Science of Espresso Coffee’.
When I mention this term “espresso,” I can see you begin to salivate. How is that a simple little word can produce such powerful psychosomatic effects?
Of course, we who love espresso know that it is only the open sesame to one of life’s great pleasures.
But really, can it be that good? Yes, it can! It is, in fact, the holy grail of the coffee obsessed.
Practically endless variety and options, perfect little cups. Or just one sweet shot in the morning. A never-ending and fascinating journey, enjoyed with gusto and passion by millions of people.
Espresso and its various combinations with milk plus a little infusion of creativity and syrups have become modern icons in catering for many and varied lifestyles.
What Sets Espresso Apart?
Several aspects distinguish espresso from other coffee beverages. The first is its strength, achieved by brewing with less water than usual and releasing most of the bean’s soluble components from inside the coffee grounds.
While a typical American coffee consists of 98% water and 2% coffee, the portion of coffee per espresso is at least 9%. The pressure of the steam through the basket, or pod, is 8-11 times higher than that utilized in standard drip systems.
The resulting beverage is a very aromatic, slightly acidic coffee with high clarity of taste and no perception of its more volatile components, such as alcohols and carbonyls.
Another feature of espresso is its appearance. The foam at the surface of the liquid is known as crema and is considered an essential characteristic of quality espresso.
Despite this, little is known about the process of froth formation (degradation events are called disappearing crema problems). Additionally, the long-term stability of crema is weak and can be used as an indication of continued coffee freshness.
The temperature of the brewed coffee is yet another characteristic that sets the espresso apart. When coffee is poured over steamed milk to make a cappuccino or a latte, the temperature of the coffee is raised to between 68 and 78 °C. Only a little heat is transferred to the fat inside the milk, which consequently expands the liquid’s volume, helping to create a stable and creamy foam.
With only slight heat transfer to the fat inside the milk, the volume increases the richness and creamy texture of the beverage.
Here are some popular espresso machines you might consider:
- Espresso Machines: Breville BES870XL the Barista Express – Coffee machine with cappuccinatore – 15 bar – stainless steel
- Espresso Machines: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
- Espresso Machines: Nespresso ENV120WAE Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker, Machine + Aeroccino
- Capresso Cafe Select Professional Stainless Steel Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Espresso Machine w/ Latte Crema System for Espresso Cappuccino
- The Appeal of Espresso Coffee
Espresso Machines: Breville BES870XL the Barista Express – Coffee machine with cappuccinatore – 15 bar – stainless steel
Espresso is a hard and concentrated coffee, having a thick golden foam called “crema” on the top due to the high pressure while brewing. Originally, espresso was brewed using machines manufactured by established companies.
However, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express has been developed for users to “become their own barista” at home, which means users can make espresso for themselves easily.
The espresso maker comes with lots of accessories, including several espresso presses, frothing pitchers, and cleaning tools. The 1600-watt machine is powered by a 15-bar Italian pump and a 1600W thermo coil heating system.
Breville BES870XL the Barista Express – Coffee machine with cappuccinatore – 15 bar – stainless steel Check Price
Espresso Machines: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
Espresso, in simple terms, is brewed by pushing hot water (around 90-95°C) through 7 ± 2 grams of ground coffee for 25 to 30 seconds, giving you a shot that’s about 25 ± 2 mL.
Think of those little 30 mL cardboard, plastic, or styrofoam cups you get at the café.
You’ll also hear it called “express coffee,” “quick coffee,” “short coffee,” “café court,” or “café express.” These names hint at how fast you get it and how great it tastes when the temperature and pressure are just right, keeping it 100% coffee.
Before diving into using the KitchenAid espresso machine, let’s get a quick rundown of what these machines are all about.
These machines differ in how automated they are. Some of the simplest ones don’t even have an electric pump for the water, so you have to manually push the water through the coffee.
One big perk of the semi-automatic espresso machine is that you get to be the boss of the whole brewing process.
These machines come with plenty of user-friendly features to help newbies nail their first perfect brew.
Over time, you can take on more aspects of the process to fine-tune your coffee quality. Semi-automatic machines aren’t just a great starting point for beginners; they also offer coffee lovers more freedom to tweak the taste of their espresso shots.
KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black Matte KES6403 Check Price
Espresso Machines: Nespresso ENV120WAE Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker, Machine + Aeroccino
Introducing our Nespresso ENV120WAE Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker with Aeroccino by De’Longhi, the latest innovation from Nespresso with an all-new design for the ultimate brewing experience.
The Vertuo Next is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to create your favorite coffee recipes across 5 coffee cup sizes and 3 milk recipes all at the touch of a button on the Nespresso App.
The Vertuo Next also features a new motorized brew head, video feedback, and a new position of the water tank for ultimate convenience. Customize and save your recipes and utilize the popular Eco mode to save energy.
The Vertuo Next is the most compact Nespresso machine, designed to optimize counter space. The biggest brewing system and water reservoir in the Vertuo range.
Versatile cup sizes and three positions for the water tank make it the perfect machine for multiple users. The Aeroccino3 is the best in-cup milk frother to make creamy and dense milk froth to create all your favorite coffee and milk recipes.
The Nespresso Vertuo Next machine and Aeroccino3 are provided with the wireless energy-saving feature. The energy-saving feature allows users to save more energy than the standard configuration.
To use the machine, simply press the push button on the top of the machine to activate it and wait for the LED to stop blinking.
Nespresso ENV120WAE Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker, Machine + Aeroccino Check Price
Capresso Cafe Select Professional Stainless Steel Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
This innovative system makes brewing café-quality espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and long crema coffees quick and easy.
It’s that capability – speed, and that wonderful cap or head of long thick coffee, called crema, that is Capresso: coffee, fast. At the center of the Capresso system is the flush front control knob that offers two brew and steam positions for temperature control.
Convenient pressure-producing orange rotary pump activates brewing and steaming, the large water reservoir provides multiple uses, and the trouble-free design features a built-in coffee and steam valve that is always ready for use.
The triple head filter holder is found on professional espresso machines and it is readily welcomed by those who value fast, smooth coffee service and cleanliness.
Crafted of heavy gauge stainless steel, the powerfully efficient Capresso espresso machine is recommended for the coffee enthusiast who knows and appreciates. It coaxes the coffee so black and dense, and yet without a drop of bitterness.
The Capresso Café Professional is a state-of-the-art semiautomatic, two-cup espresso/cappuccino machine with an advanced boiler and pump system.
Without the need for professional skill or additional experience, you can get coffee house-quality espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, long crema coffees, teas, or hot chocolates the first time, every time.
Capresso Cafe Select Professional Stainless Steel Espresso and Cappuccino Machine Check Price
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Espresso Machine w/ Latte Crema System for Espresso Cappuccino
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo is an automatic espresso machine. This is a step up from the semi-automatic espresso machines like the Breville Infuser and Gaggia Classic. This means that you do not have to manually grind coffee, tamp the grounds, and even brew the espresso with a semi-automatic espresso machine. Most of these machines will include milk frothing wands to make specialty milk drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos using a manual steam wand. An automatic espresso machine will take care of all of these tasks, minus cleaning and regular maintenance.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Espresso Machine w/ Latte Crema System for Espresso Cappuccino Check Price
Want to roast your own coffee at home Read on
The Appeal of Espresso Coffee
Coffee has a history as rich as the beverage itself when it comes to its geographical distribution, chemical composition, sensory characteristics, and potential health benefits.
The basic processing, besides the Italian espresso machine and the coffee blend, includes very important factors such as: (i) the pre-infusion step, (ii) the water pressure, (iii) the water temperature, (iv) the water flow rate, (v) the particle size of the ground coffee, (vi) the coffee puck porosity, (vii) the water-coffee contact area, (viii) the coffee bed design, (ix) and the final suspension used in the preparation of the different coffee beverages.
Espresso coffee now accounts for some 10 to 15% of the world’s consumption of coffee, even though it takes no more than 1% to 2% of the coffee supply.
Meanwhile, up to three-quarters of European restaurant diners (and probably an equal although growing number of Americans) order espresso coffee when they conclude a meal.
Traditional coffee is brewed by heating ground coffee and allowing the water to percolate through it. The water is heated to around 180°F (80°C), and the process of water and coffee mixing is called infusion. Because water is heated and then cooled during the process, producing traditional coffee is comparatively easy. This is why we can make coffee by simply boiling water and coffee in a pot.
Espresso unique bitterness taste
Espresso, unlike regular coffee, is brewed in a brewing machine and has a unique bitterness and aroma due to its high-temperature and pressure brewing process that quickly extracts the flavor from the coffee beans. Because of this, making good espresso is much more difficult than making regular coffee.
“Why do espresso machines never lie? Because they can’t espresso themselves!“
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