Source:http://coffeeandcoffeemachines.blogspot.com/2011/01/espresso-machine.html
By Wassa

I have found it strange what people define as an espresso machine. A machine that uses the espresso concept does not necessarily make an espresso in my book. But here is how is what I have found

* mocha pot or stove pot, this is probably the original espresso device, but in todays term I would not consider in an espresso, the pressure is good, but the grinds are not very fine, and there is normally no crema
* Aeropress coffee maker – once again not an espresso, it produces the best coffee using course grinds
* Domestic espresso machines – I do not class these as espresso but rather espresso like. The grind is fine but not as fine as it could get, the machines do not have enough punch, perhaps I can be proved wrong
* Automatic espresso machines – Also an espresso like machine, with the Jura, probably the pick of the lot

So what is an espresso maker then. Well to me it has to have the following:

* The grind can be so fine that it clumps, i.e. it start to attach itself to other fine grinds
* The filter head MUST be metal, with out that it cannot produce enough backward pressure
* The tamp has to be manual, unless a tamp of 25kgs is guarnateed
* The machine must have accurate temperature control, so that the water is never hotter than 95 degrees.

So that is why I have found the definition espresso machine is too vague.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Espresso-Machines—–Is-The-Cost-Justified/1988161

By: Danielle Saige

An espresso machine is a special coffee making machine that is used to create espresso, a strong drink of Italian coffee. Usually, espressos are enjoyed black but often steamed milk is used to create specialty drinks like cappuccinos. A good espresso shot is comprised of a concentrated layer of coffee oils on the surface of the espresso, which is a sign of good espresso.

It is fascinating to know that the largest equipment used in a coffee bar is the espresso machine and the demitasse, the cup in which the espresso drink is served is the smallest cup of the coffee bar. The coffee shops usually include an ornate, commercial espresso machine that is comprised of a complex plumbing scheme and various large compartments. In the modern machines, the pumps are replaced by the automatic pistons.

The professional machine requires water that is just below boiling point in order to make a tasty beverage. The espresso machines are mostly used by the cafs to make delicious espresso based beverages like mochas, lattes, cappuccinos, etc. The cafes use different methods to enhance the taste of the espressos.

Why are espresso machines expensive?

Espresso Machines are the object of desire for any coffee lover but cannot be bought by many because of the high price. It is said that the prices are not reduced to retain the class and mystery of the device as it is not possessed by all.

The reason behind the high price of the espresso machines can be due to the fact that not many machines are manufactured every year by a corporation. The complex machines are hand-made and are comprised of a handful of specialized parts. The most important parts of an espresso machine are the brew group, boiler that is made of brass and copper and portafilter assembly that is made of nickel-plated brass for heat stability and maximum durability which helps in creating better crema and espresso.

The truth is that the high models are the ones that would benefit in the long term though they seem to be overtly expensive. The cheap ones do not guarantee the value for money and is suitable for those who do not wish to put the machine to great use.

Those who are ardent lovers of coffee and want to put the machine into daily use, should seek through all the information to make sure that their money is not going into waste and they are obtaining the best machine within the budget. The automated espresso machines would enable people to make coffee at home, in espresso style. A variety of considerations needs to be taken into account while buying an espresso machine like costs, usage and variable alternatives of the machine. Other factors like warranty, boiler capacity, water softener and grinder hopper are the features that also must be considered.

Coffee lovers must keep in mind that the home espresso machines are not as intricate as the professional machines but can provide tasty espresso and other special beverages.

Source: http://www.healthhubarticles.com/an-article-related-to-the-invention-and-significance-of-an-espresso-machine/
by Mandy Longley

Lovers of potent coffee all pay homage to the Italians. Their invention of the espresso machine in the beginning of the 20th century showed the world how to produce a rich, strongly flavored coffee by using steam pressure to force hot water through finely ground beans.

The espresso machine has long been the appliance of choice for those who enjoy a velvety jolt of coffee with a heavy body.

The drink was traditionally the favorite of European, although it has spread throughout the world, especially in the U.S. It has become very popular by Americans looking for a potent cup of coffee.

It is now ordered often in U.S. coffee houses including Starbucks. The Seattle-based retailer has made espresso a good foundation for a variety of toppings and additional flavorings. Drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes all start with espresso. Cream, foam and other foods are then added.

New high-tech espresso machines still essentially work same way as the traditional model. Steamed water is forced through finely ground coffee. This produces a thick, syrupy liquid known as espresso.

Espresso machines can be quite large and typically only make one serving at a time. You flip a lever and out will come a small portion of a thick liquid known as a “shot.” Espresso is distinctive in that it forms reddish foam on the top called crema.

When you make espresso you use a very fine grind of coffee to force steamed water through. This process allows the flavorful oils of the coffee beans to remain. The fine grind also makes for a thicker drink than coffee made with traditional automatic drip machines.

While espresso machines are usually more expensive than coffee makers, they also offer a coffee drinking experience you can’t get without one. Diehard coffee lovers will tell you that the price is worth for the incredible drink.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Coffee-Machines-Use-a-Water-Solenoid-Valve&id=5437315
By Sheldon Kelly

Sleek and modern coffee machines have new and useful devices for purifying the water. The water solenoid plays a high importance role in the coffee machine for its purifying option.

The new coffee machines with water solenoid valve kits have these key features:

They automatically dispense up to 320 cups, sugar and cold drinks in glass bottles and snacks (chocolates, chips etc) or doses.

It also comes with an espresso high quality version of espresso, maintenance and easy cleaning. These water solenoid valve coffee machines support the most used parallel and serial MDB’s BDV and Executive payment systems.

Its features include standard full-range CPU, customizable settings, customizing and configuring trays and spirals and also a health and safety feature for both the user and operator.

Technical Specifications for a water solenoid based coffee machine:

A single electronic system and a single payment system for distributing hot and cold beverages, painted steel sheet housing, expanded polystyrene insulation, tempered glass with two layers of insulation, Slot product distribution: horizontal pivot equipped with anti-theft system, Containers and tanks in contact with food grade resin approved, mobile plastic trays, which provides a resistance to weight. The position of the trays can be easily be adjusted. Sugar and water, coffee and cups, spoons.

The system of the machine can configure itself automatically and reset each time the device fails. You can program your temperature and also the selling prices (up to 25 selling prices) It also has an electronically controlled boiler temperature, an internal moisture collector and additional collector steam in the product distribution.

It has fluorescent tube lighting, electromagnetic vibration pump for the espresso version. Equipped with an anti-frost sensor: automatic cycle defrost and anti-overflow. Reset the simple case of errors and make an automatic restart of the machine.

It has a boiler safety valve, safety relays for 24 V components, safety thermal voltage line powered devices, safety thermostat and anti-boiling instant products for the instant version. Manually use of the water solenoid kit and water purifier kit, CE, VDE and UL for the espresso version.

User Interface

- Keyboard with 9 buttons for direct selection of hot drinks and 6 buttons for cool drinks and snacks
- 4-button selection: / sugar, decaffeinated / barley and without glass option
- 2-line alphanumeric display, 20 characters

Get this friendly coffee machine with water solenoid from the best you can. It’s in your best interest, after all.

Source: http://espressomachinetips.graduateblogspot.com/espresso-machine/steam-piston-or-pump-espresso-machine

It would be a real treat to be able to create your own espresso drinks at home, wouldn’t it? But before you go out and buy an espresso machine you have to learn about the various types of machines on the market.

Let’s look first at the electrical steam driven espresso machine. These are the least expensive espresso machines obtainable. Steam pressure is what makes these machines function. Water heats up in an airtight chamber until it becomes steam and is then rapidly forced through ground espresso and right into a carafe or cup. Electric steam machines are only able to get the water pressure up to about 1 bar which is really not enough pressure to extract and brew actual espresso (the preferred pressure at which espresso is brewed is about 8 bar). And this lack of pressure doesn’t produce a very good crema. These machines will typically include a steam wand for steaming and frothing milk. In my opinion these types of machines should really not be considered as espresso machines because the best they can do is create a strong cup of coffee.

Next we’ll talk about a manual machine that utilizes a lever and piston. Instead of utilizing pressure generated by steam, the pressure utilized in a manual lever machine to brew espresso is created by a piston that is attached to the lever, which, when pulled, forces the heated water through the ground coffee. This type of espresso machine gives you total control over the entire brewing process such as dosing, tamping, pulling the manual lever to pressure the water through the espresso grounds, and timing each of these operations. Pre-heated water is drawn to the brew group when the lever is moved up which moves the piston upwards. When the lever is subsequently pulled down it forces the hot water, under pressure, through the ground coffee. This is where the phrase “pulling a shot” comes from. These lever and piston devices are capable of producing a pressure of 8-9 bar, the benchmark pressure of a genuine espresso drink.

A barista with numerous years experience utilizing one of these machines tends to make it look easy to make a perfect espresso. But there is technique to be learned which more likely than not results in many, many failed efforts prior to mastering the skill. For my money I want something a little more user friendly.

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. Initially the pump is utilized to move unheated water from the reservoir into the boiler tank. When the water has been heated to the optimal temperature the pump then forces the heated water, under pressure, through the ground coffee in the brew group. With these devices you can set the exact temperature you want the water to reach before the machine quickly pumps it through the coffee grounds. Over the many years advancements in technology have created three sub-categories of pump espresso machines: the semi-automatic, the automatic, and the super automatic espresso machine.

If you are a purist, then you might think that a ideal simple and delicious espresso, espresso machine can make a damn good job creating a single, consistent cup of coffee.

Source:http://www.ehow.com/how_7440438_backflush-espresso-machine.html
By Liz Tomas

Back-flushing an espresso machine is an important part of cleaning the machine at the end of the day. If you allow oils, coffee grinds and coffee splatter to accumulate, you can actually alter the flavor of the espresso. This in turn lowers the quality of the espresso you are making. Any particles that build up will also interfere with the extraction process. Back-flushing the machine is an important part of cleaning that ensures your espresso is made properly each and every time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:
* Blind Filter
* Espresso machine cleaning solution

1. Place a blind filter into the group handle of the espresso machine. Normal filters will have an opening so the water and espresso can pour out. A blind filter does not have an opening.
2. Add one teaspoon of espresso machine cleaner into the blind filter. Secure the group handle into place on the group head.
3. Press the brew button or the manual override. The button to use will depend on your machine. Press and hold down the button for three seconds and then release. This causes the water to flow int o the group handle. The blind filter forces the water back into the machine, creating a back-flush.
4. Repeat holding down the button and back-flushing the machine eight times.
5. Take off the group handle. Remove and rinse the blind filter that was placed in the group handle. Proceed with cleaning the espresso machine.

Source: http://articles.worldprofit.com/2010/10/31/how-a-good-quality-espresso-machine-means-espresso-enjoyment/
By TriciaJones

There was a time when you ordered a cup of coffee and knew what exactly you would be getting. However today with so many options and varieties of coffee available on the market, I sometimes wonder what else magical can be done using coffee beans and hot water.
The Italian coffee drink “espresso” which is famous all over the world is produced using an espresso machines. After the invention of the machine in 1901 there have been lots of design and technical changes done in order to make espresso coffee taste even better.
Right from cappuccinos to lattes or to just a simple espresso, drinking coffee has become a vital part of our daily routine and even a source of social gatherings. There are coffee houses in many cities and towns in the UK and most cafes and restaurants have an espresso machine.
There is an art to creating a fine quality espresso. The person who operates the machine in a coffee house is known as Barista who would learn the skill through in house training or a special training. In the old style machine there use to be a long handle and therefore espresso is actually also referred to as “pulling a shot”.
The latest espresso machines have had more advanced and sophisticated features added to them to make brewing much faster. However the taste and flavor of the coffee depends on the fineness of the grind. Today most of the espresso machines use retrofits or PID controllers. Technically speaking it is used for maintaining the rising temperature and helps in producing great quality espresso.
There are a wide variety of espresso makers in the market today and these are designed bearing in mind the consumers needs and usage.
If you are looking for a coffee maker for home use you can really take your pick. You can choose according to your needs and usage or indeed your spending power. If you want to go for a fully automatic machine that does everything for you except drink it then be prepared to pay a premium price.
When making your selection you need to consider the size and make sure that you have enough room for your coffee machine as different machines can range from counter top models to the size of a mini refrigerator. Also make sure that your machine which comes with at least a one year guarantee so that in the case of damage you can get it replaced or repaired free during that time.
For an espresso lover, investing in a good coffee maker can save a lot of money on what might be spent in expensive coffee houses. Imagine sitting in the comfort of your home on your own or with your family and friends with a hot cup of delicious espresso coffee, just as good and at a fraction of the cost. A good quality espresso machine will bring years of espresso enjoyment.