Browsing the blog archives for July, 2010.

So, you wanna buy a pump espresso machine?

About Espresso Machines

By: Mike D. Andrews

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/coffee-articles/nothing-less-than-a-pump-espresso-machine-will-do-2897103.html

If you would like to begin producing espresso drinks at home, and you’re just learning about the various kinds of espresso machines, then you definitely have to understand the difference between a steam driven espresso machine, a lever and piston espresso machine, and a pump espresso machine.

The electric steam driven machine is the first one we’ll discuss. These are at the low end of espresso machines and cost the least. Steam pressure is what makes these machines function. Water in an airtight chamber is heated to boiling and then quickly forced through the ground espresso using steam pressure, and then right into a cup. The steam pressure produced by these type of machines reaches about 1 bar, far below the benchmark pressure needed to brew real espresso. These machines generally have a steam wand allowing you to froth milk to make a latte or cappuccino. In my opinion these kinds of machines should really not be regarded as espresso machines because the very best they can do is create a strong cup of coffee.

The second kind of machine we’ll discuss is the manual lever and piston espresso machine. Rather than utilizing pressure generated by steam, the pressure used in a manual lever machine to brew espresso is created by a piston which is attached to the lever, which, when pulled, forces the heated water through the ground coffee. This type of espresso device gives you complete control over the entire brewing procedure such as dosing, tamping, pulling the manual lever to pressure the water through the espresso grounds, and timing each of these operations. Moving the lever up moves the piston up which then brings pre-heated water to the brew group. When the lever is subsequently pulled down it forces the hot water, under pressure, through the ground coffee. The phrase “pulling a shot” refers to this type of device, since you really have to “pull” a shot. The manual lever and pistion machine are engineered to produce sufficient pressure, within the 8-9 bar range, to properly extract a proper espresso drink.

An experienced barista can make an excellent espresso using this kind of machine. But there’s definitely a learning curve connected with this kind of machine, but with practice you can produce a very high quality and delicious espresso drink utilizing a lever and piston device. Personally, I’d choose a mchine that was a little easier to use.

The final type of device that we’ll look at is the electric pump espresso machine. Previously we’ve looked at machines that used steam pressure and piston pressure to create an espresso. This machine, as the name implies, utilizes an electric pump to force water through the system. The pump pulls water from a reservoir and returns it into a tank that heats the water. After the boiler heats the water to brewing temperature the pump will first push water through ground coffee within the brew group. You have the ability to control the temperature of the water before the pump pushes the water through the system. There are three types of electric pump espresso devices: The semi-automatic, the automatic, and also the super-automatic espresso machine.

Some individuals think that a genuine espresso shot can only be made by “pulling” a shot with a lever and piston machine. But for those people who just want a easy, quick, and delicious espresso, the automatic pump espresso machine can do a darn great job of producing an exceptional, consistent cup of coffee.

36 Comments

Few more tips about cleaning your Espresso Machine

About Espresso Machines, Health and Safety, How to use Espresso Machine

By Mary J. Evans

Source: http://lifestyle.ezinemark.com/ways-to-clean-your-espresso-machine-easily-51108caf527.html

How does one eat an elephant? The Funny answer is “One bite at a time!”. It is the true with any large job. Devide it into its elements, into small bite-sized pieces, and those won’t look terrible at least. Those steps include something which can be done and others . And when you finish all, why, you will see that you have accomplished the entire large task. That’s just precious how to clean your espresso machine. When you have an espresso machine, you also want to have it cleaned . Here is 7 steps to solve the formidable task of cleaning your espresso machine.You should follow step-by-step to do the tasks and you will find the task is easier and more efficiency.

Step 1. Make sure the espresso machine is off and unplugged before getting started. For this you will need to of course assure that it’s safe to wash the machine since you will be using water to rinse some parts. If you choose not to do this or forget it, you may cause short circuit and may also cause serious damage to your machine.

Not to mention that there’s a chance for you to get electrocuted as well.Step 2. Gently wipe off the outside part of the machine with a damp cloth. This step is will keep you machine look shiny and new at least on it’s outside cover.

Step 3. With a screwdriver, unscrew the group head to remove it. This will then enable you to scrub the parts of the group head, which include the screen and the brass dispersion plate. Scrub the parts with a brush and plain water until it’s totally clean. You can also opt to soak these parts overnight in water mixed with a specific espresso machine cleaner.

Step 4. Backflush the espresso machine, you should be able to see the manufacturer’s recommendation on how often the machines should be backflushed in the manual. Normally it should be done about twice a week.

Step 5. With a wet cloth, clean the milk wand. You can also remove it and soak in warm water in order to take out milk residue. An important point to bear in mind here is to use a pipe cleaner to remove milk residue inside the wand and a pin or paper clip to unclog the steam hole. This is important to make sure that no milk residue will be left behind, which could cause unwanted smell.

Step 6. Decalcify the interior by running a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part water through the machine. Then run plain water through the machine two to three times until the interior is clean.

Step 7. Reassemble the machine.

Protip: Do not put soap in your machine. Also, always make sure you read and follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your espresso machine.


16 Comments

Cleaning espresso machine

About Espresso Machines, Health and Safety

Source: http://cleaning.helium.com/how-to/10133-how-to-clean-an-espresso-machine

Like all the other appliances in your kitchen, your espresso machine needs a good cleaning once in a while. The number of times you clean it depends on how often you use it. If you use it regularly and make many cups of espresso, then you really should clean it at least once a week.

The oils from the coffee beans can accumulate in the machine and cause the espresso to have a unpleasant taste. They cause a film to build up on the filter basket and behind the water screen and over time this film will cause the holes in the filter to become clogged.

One of the main cleaning chores you should perform is to wipe the steam wand after every use and after each brewing session you should run a shot of hot water through the espresso machine.

Step 1
Read the cleaning instructions for your espresso machine. Each machine comes with cleaning instructions. You should read these carefully before you start and use the proper cleaning detergent.
Step 2
Backflush according to the directions of the detergent. Run the pump for 15 seconds and repeat this four more times. Lock the portafilter into position and start the pump so that it will build up pressure to open the vents and send the excess pressure back into the water reservoir. This action will force the detergent through the screen and will flush the oils out of the system.
Step 3
Wiggle the portafilter. Wiggle the portafilter back and forth to remove any residue that may be clogging the holes. Loosen the portafilter and hold it in place with your hand. With your other hand, start the pump on the espresso machine and as it fills with water, wiggle the portafilter. You do have to be prepared to get a bit wet as the water will splash all over the place.
Step 4
Clean the outside of the machine. Use a group brush to scrub away any deposits that still remain in the portafilter gasket and on the group heads. Wipe the shower screen with a wet cloth. Run clean water through the machine to rinse away any detergent residue. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the outside of the machine so that it stays looking shiny and new.
2 Comments

I love NY, I love Espresso

General

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/dining/10coffee.html?_r=1

By OLIVER STRAND

NEW YORK used to be a second-string city when it came to coffee. No longer.

Over the last two years, more than 40 new cafes and coffee bars have joined a small, dedicated group of establishments where coffee making is treated like an art, or at least a high form of craft.

At places like Bluebird Coffee Shop in the East Village, the espresso is so plush and bright that it tastes sweet on its own.

The elaborate designs in the cappuccino’s foam at Third Rail Coffee in the West Village aren’t just to show off, but are a sign that the barista properly steamed the milk so that it holds its form.

At Abraço in the East Village, you can get drip coffee brewed by the cup, not drawn from an urn.

For years New Yorkers had to look to places like Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland, Ore., or Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco for this kind of quality. Now both companies have opened roasters and coffee bars in New York. Four Barrel Coffee of San Francisco will be roasting here soon.

Meanwhile, some established cafes around the city have made moves toward roasting their own beans. Café Grumpy is already doing it, and Abraço will by the summer.

This means that New Yorkers can now drink coffee that is made from some of the best beans available in the United States, freshly roasted in town.

The difference between a cup of coffee from these new style coffee bars and what was available before is striking.

These shops use only beans that have been roasted in the past 10 days (though some say two weeks is fine), so the flavors are still lively.

The beans are ground to order for each cup. Certain coffee bars have a skyline of grinders: one for espresso, one for decaffeinated espresso, one for brewed coffee. If they offer more than one variety of espresso bean, that gets its own grinder, too.

Milk is steamed to order for each macchiato or latte. A telltale sign is an arsenal of smaller steam pitchers, instead of one big one.

And coffee bars reaching for the highest rung use only manual espresso machines run by baristas who, in the past three years, have been able to attend classes given by the leading roasting companies in the intricacies of these devices. Many chain stores are turning to automatic machines with preset levels for coffee, temperature and timing.

For brewed coffee, there are French press pots, filter cones or machines like the Clover or Bunn’s new Trifecta.

Some of the obsessiveness may get a bit off-putting. Want an espresso to go at Ninth Street Espresso? Forget it. The baristas there believe it should be drunk immediately from a warm ceramic cup. Want a cappuccino made from single-origin beans at Kaffe 1668? Sorry, you’ll be told, but milk would overpower the subtle flavors of the coffee. Wonder why the barista pulled and tossed out two shots of espresso before she served you yours? She was making sure it was perfect, the coffee evenly tamped, the water temperature ideal for the particular beans, the timing just right. (The best baristas will “dial in” throughout the day, tasting the espresso and adjusting the grind and dose.)

Want a double espresso? You’ll have to buy two singles.

Today, most of the chains use about seven grams of ground coffee for a two-ounce shot. Espresso pods are filled with around five grams.

Baristas at the best places in town, like Bluebird Coffee Shop or Joe, tamp down between 19 and 21 grams. Often the espresso is even more concentrated because it’s pulled “short,” with less water, so that the final volume is a thick 1.5 to 2 ounces.

With that much coffee — and care — put into each shot, baristas feel that a larger shot, with more water, would compromise the quality of the espresso.

This awakening has led some unlikely businesses to offer serious, artful drinks. Saturdays Surf, a minimalist surf shop in SoHo, has a vintage la Marzocco machine next to the cash register. At Moomah, a children’s center in TriBeCa, parents can enjoy one of the city’s more artful cappuccinos.

Even restaurants, where coffee has long been an afterthought, are getting in on the act.

Superior coffee, day after day: increasingly it’s the rule in New York, not the exception.

No Comments

Espresso Machines: Pump vs. Steam

About Espresso Machines

Source: http://www.ehow.com/facts_6732598_pump-vs_-steam-espresso-machines.html

The large number of home espresso coffee makers currently on the market means cappuccinos and lattes can now be produced in your kitchen almost as easily as in a restaurant. However, first you have to decide whether a steam or pump espresso machine is best.

    Steam Espresso Machines

  1. These machines boil water to produce steam. The steam’s pressure forces it through the coffee, producing the drink that runs into the cups beneath the machine’s outlets.
  2. Pump Espresso Machines

  3. These machines heat water to the optimum temperature required to produce a cup of coffee. The pump then forces water through the ground coffee and the drink runs into the cups beneath the outlets.
  4. Steam Machine Advantages

  5. Steam espresso makers are less expensive. The coffee is hotter than it is in pump machines.
  6. Steam Machine Disadvantages

  7. High temperatures can give the coffee a burned taste. The website Coffee Makers Cafe says steam machines cannot produce a quality crema on espresso and cannot be opened when in use because of the danger of boiling water.
  8. Pump Machine Advantages

  9. Coffee Makers Cafe says the coffee from these machines generally has a “nicer taste” than steam machine coffee. It also has a “high-quality crema.”
  10. Pump Machine Disadvantages

  11. Pump machines are generally more expensive than steam machines.
4 Comments

Did you know? Espresso is good for you!

About Espresso, Health and Safety

Source: http://www.espressomachines-review.com/how-does-drinking-coffee-impacts-your-lifestyle/

Nowadays, finances different kinds of meals and beverages which have particular results on the body. Although there are several drinks that could damage your quality of life like alcoholic beverages as well as difficult liquors, there are also common healthy beverages that are good for your health.

Beverages with anti-oxidants are recognized to enhance the every day intestinal movement of the person. This has the ability to clean a person whole system by removing the toxics inside the body.

Espresso is one of the most frequent drinks that have a high degree of antioxidant that is excellent for you. It’s primarily produced from organic materials that help the body. It is often sold looking for different purposes. Inevitably capuccinos are really good for individuals who desire to stay awake throughout the night.

Nevertheless according to the latest study within Harvard; coffee can be the most effective remedies to avoid you against getting type2 diabetic issues as well as the potential for loss of colon cancer malignancy. It can lessen the chances of buying various diseases due to it’s substance aspects of qualities. An additional good thing about consuming your favorite early morning beverage is the fact that it has no chemical substances or preservatives that may trigger unwanted effects towards your quality of life.

Finances several advantages or positive results associated with drinking coffee. A regular walk each and every morning will work for the body. It encourages proper circulation of blood within your entire system.

According to some dental practitioners, coffee can also help you against keeping away from cavities. Additionally, it may unwind your own stressed mind. It provides you with the feeling of great tranquility because of it’s fragrance and unique flavor. It is also a useful source of natural anti-oxidants for your body.

There are two different types of coffee. The first one is the instant coffee that is popular to the buyers. It’s mainly produced from a certain coffee coffee bean. Coffees tend to be then prepared as well as go through a number of stages of purification in order to eliminate any kind of unwanted aroma or even taste that will affect the whole taste from the espresso.

The 2nd kind of coffee which is considered to be more expensive is the brewed espresso. It’s includes a more powerful impact compared to instant coffee. It may be acquired using a coffee maker. In contrast to instant coffee, made espresso is actually created through using roasting coffee beans.

If you really love drinking coffee you may think about your self in purchasing a coffee maker machine. Although it may look like an easy and old-fashioned machine you will surely find it very helpful especially if you value consuming made capuccinos. You can instantly make your own brewed espresso if you use this particular machine.

There are several forms and styles associated with coffee maker machines that will surely fit in order to your needs and choices. It is certainly easier to prepare an instant coffee, however the producing your personal brewed espresso utilizing a coffee maker machine is unquestionably rewarding. You should not be afraid of utilizing a coffee maker machine because it very simple to use.

A daily cup of coffee will surely make your day complete. Espresso is best recognized for being able to prevent prostate cancer and even type2 diabetic issues.

Nevertheless certain types of capuccinos have more nutrients when compared with individuals available in the department stores. You must try to use the coffee maker machine if you really like in order to tste the amazing benefits associated with real espresso. You will never surely are sorry for the risk of making your personal made espresso.

No Comments

Another use for Espresso machine – the entertainment

About Espresso Machines

Source: http://www.nespressocoffeecapsules.com/entertaining-with-an-espresso-machine/

An espresso apparatus is perfect for entertaining. How many public use Blender and Margarita makers in the summer months for the entertainment, espresso machines and a variety of after-dinner liqueur drinks are the perfect winter.

Espresso machines can be built and guests a central location along with a selection of coffee liqueurs can on their ownor the host or hostess can show their skills and the Barista of the evening.

The Perfect Bar Barista

when considering setting up an espresso bar for entertainment, there are a few provisions to help make the event fun and entertainment for everyone.

Regardless of who will fund water for the preparation of coffee drinks, espresso bar should be in convenient location, preferably near the. If it is not near the water fund tosure there is a plentiful supply of water near the bar kept.

the container of coffee beans on the machinery should be fully stocked with quality coffee. Decaf beans should be for use in a bypass feeder for those who can not have caffeine are stored.

the glasses are both cappuccino cups and espresso cups. the espresso cups should be kept warm on the machines if there is one. should go saucers and spoons also be present.

Flavorings, liqueursand toppings

who likes a good Kahlua or coffee after dinner cordial will confirm that there is nothing quite so tasty as a high-quality cappuccino with a shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream or. other flavors and add-ins that should be a part of the bar contain:

* Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, Grand Mariner, Godiva, and other after-dinner liqueurs that far in coffee drinks; * Non-alcoholic flavoring syrup, these can be found in coffeeShops or the local grocery store in the coffee-course; * Chocolate syrup; * Dark chocolate in block form for shaving; * Cinnamon shaker; * Cocoa powder contains; * Whipped cream * Biscotti and other sweet biscuits and bread for a sweet tooth.

the bar area should be well enough napkins and a trash can for disposing of waste. It is a good idea to get an instruction card and place it near the espresso apparatus, if the manufacturer does not take place involuntarily, itbest to have a barista for the evening, either the host or someone who is paid to come in.

A call can be apparatus-house, that an investment brings fun and entertainment in addition to being a morning wake up. This position of the choice on whether or not home espresso apparatus to buy one.

8 Comments
« Older Posts