What’s so good about an Espresso Machine?
What's so good about an Espresso Machine? What IS is an Espresso Machine? What should I expect when using an Espresso Machine? How do I go about using an Espresso Machine? Is it easy to use an Espresso Machine? What do I need when using an Espresso Machine?
What is an Espresso Machine?
An espresso machine is an electronic coffee machine (like you see in coffee shops) that forces out a small amount of water – around 88-93℃ – under pressure through finely ground and tamped coffee. What it produces is known as a ‘shot’ and has a rich and creamy flavour.
Does it just make Espressos?
The Espresso shot can be drank as it is or it can be used as the basis for types of coffee such as; cappuccino, latte, macchiato, flat white, cortado etc.
Where did the Espresso Machine originate?
The first Espresso Machine was created in 1884 when Angelo Moriondo of Turin (Italy) built and patented a working example at the Turin General Exposition. It was called “New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo’, Plate CXL” and he was awarded a certificate of industrial title. Although this was the first coffee machine that used both water and steam, it was basically just created as a bulk brewer for the Turin General Exposition.
Improvements to this machine were made by Luigi Bezzera of Milan in 1901, and patented.
He was more of a mechanic than he was an engineer but his was was titled “Innovations in the machinery to prepare and immediately serve coffee beverage.”
When was the Espresso Machine made more widely available?
The patent was then bought and the machine produced commercially by Desiderio Pavoni, who founded the La Pavoni company, in 1905. He had a small workshop in Via Parini in Milan and produced just one a day to start with. The first automatic coffee machine, one that substituted pressurized water for steam, was invented by Francesco Illy, an Hungarian-Italian, in 1933. (You may be familiar with the well known brand of Illy coffee, also created by him). This machine became the predecessor of the espresso machine we use today.
How does the Espresso Machine work?
The main aspects of an Espresso Machine’s success is precision and consistency. It’s important to find the perfect balance between grind, temperature, and pressure.
“The original machine consisted of a large boiler, heated to 1.5 bars of pressure, that pushed water through a large bed of coffee grounds on demand, with a second boiler producing steam that would flash the bed of coffee and complete the brew.”
What you will need to use your espresso machine:
- An Espresso Machine
- A grinder (electric or hand is fine) – unless you buy our ready ground coffee although we highly recommend beans in this instance
- A digital scale
- Timer (Or Timer and scale in one)
- Tamper
Optional Extras
Preparation:
Grind: 18-21g of fine grind, Mini & Mighty coffee (Double shot)
Method:
Once you have chosen your blend of Mini & Mighty coffee and you’ve warmed your porter filter, make sure your grind is just right. (It should have the consistency of somewhere between sugar and flour).
Weigh out between 18-21g of coffee and carefully place into your portafilter. With even pressure, tamp your coffee in the basket. Make sure your group head, with your portafilter, is free of coffee around the edge. Place the group head back into your espresso machine and start your pour.
This should take between 26-32 seconds. If the espresso shot takes less than 22 seconds, try making your grind finer. If the shot is taking longer than 32 seconds to pour, make your grind coarser.
What we recommend:
Espresso Machine – We have quite a few espresso machines on our website at a wide range of prices to suit your budget. Our MD, Mark, has the Rocket Appartamento (see top left) and finds it a great machine.
Coffee – All our coffees taste great through an espresso machine but we do recommend On the House, In the Bag & Miss Molly
Why do we love the Espresso Machine at Mini & Mighty?
While we love the purity of the coffee made using a paper filter method, an espresso machine is great for making many milk-based coffees – like lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites etc. Plus it is a much faster method than drippers and similar.
The crema on an espresso tells you more than you think.
Dictionary definition –
- a brownish foam that forms on the top of freshly made espresso coffee.
The quality of the crema tells you if the coffee is under or over extracted, the freshness of the beans and if you should drink it/let someone else drink it, or start over.
Watch our #greatcoffeeathome video here, all about making your coffee using our Rocket Espresso Machine.
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