How does an espresso machine work?

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Last Updated on October 4, 2023

Over the years, more and more people have grown fond of espresso. It’s no wonder that you’ll come across several cafes or espresso carts on various streets and places including offices, bookstores, gas stations, and many other places. Also, apart from being available to the public either in the form of a walk-in or take away option, some buy espresso machines so that they can enjoy a cup of this sweet-smelling brew in the comfort of their homes.

Over the years, more and more people have grown fond of espresso. It’s no wonder that you’ll come across several cafes or espresso carts on various streets and places including offices, bookstores, gas stations, and many other places. Also, apart from being available to the public either in the form of a walk-in or take away option, some buy espresso machines so that they can enjoy a cup of this sweet-smelling brew in the comfort of their homes.

Espresso machines pretty much work the same way using water and coffee as one of the major ingredients. Though the functioning of an espresso machine might sound simple since it takes about 25 seconds for espresso to come out, a lot goes on in these machines. Below is a look at the major parts and how an espresso machine works. 

Reservoir/water source

Water which is required for the espresso machine to function has to be added into the machine. The cold water moves from the reservoir to the coffee and a blend of these two is what results in the final product. Depending on how the machine will be used, the water can come from either a reservoir in the machine or in some cases it might be connected to a water supply. Most espresso machines that produce a smaller quantity of espressos daily have fitted reservoirs installed.

Connecting your machine to a source like a tap is a convenient option since you won’t have to keep refilling the reservoir. Although there are filtration systems that condition water to ensure that it’s of high quality the reservoir allows you to first check the water quality compared to water coming directly from a source such as a tap straight into the machine whose quality isn’t guaranteed. In case your home is larger or you need the machine for commercial purposes a steady supply of water is important.

Heating Chamber/Boiler

The water goes straight into the heating chamber. Located in the heating chamber which is stainless-steel with a coiled heating element, a valve opens letting in the water from the pump into another chamber. The size of a boiler can either be small, mid-sized or large.

Pump

The pump then forces the hot water through the ground coffee, using pressure coming from inside the machine.

Porta-filter

This section holds the ground coffee. The coffee is packed into a funnel-shaped container or a porta-filter which is a removable part with a tube extending to the reservoir. The espresso then comes out straight into the cup. The above article gives you a better understanding of how an espresso coffee machine works. The next thing is knowing the best machines to buy. Brands that sell espresso machines are many, but in general, the size of most espresso coffee machines used in homes are usually smaller in size compared to commercial machines. Though there are different types of espresso machines, some come with a single boiler and others that are more complex, they all work pretty much the same. Read reviews to see more on the different espresso machines and the best types available in the market.

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