Espresso Machines - The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Although coffee and bread may not have much to do with one another, the invention of the espresso machine has revolutionized the ability to home brew espresso for coffee lovers the world over. The very first espresso machines were being used in homes at the beginning of the 20th century. Patented by Luigi Bezzera of Milan, Italy, in 1901, the first espresso machines were of the piston lever variety, which was powered solely by steam pressure.

These simple espresso machines do not have any moving parts. They sit on your stovetop and the water is heated in the bottom of the machine where the steam forces the water up into the middle section of the machine where the espresso is actually brewed. Although there have been advances in technology since the invention of Luigi Bezzera's espresso machine, these stovetop varieties are still very popular today and can be found in kitchens in the likes of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain.

More modern espresso machines have since been developed and are being used all over North America, from the home to the coffee house. There are two types of espresso machines, automatic and semi-automatic, the main difference being that with the semi-automatic espresso machine the operator can control the amount of water being used. Where as the automatic espresso machines are a one-touch button system.

If you are new to the world of espresso you may have recognized the classic shot at your local coffee house. The typical espresso is served in a tiny cup and although the amount may seem smaller than the average cup of coffee, espresso contains about two to three times the amount of caffeine. For this reason alone, espresso is the base for other beverages, such as lattes and cappuccinos. Note that espresso is not a specific bean or level of roast but rather it is the simply the method of how you brew the coffee. So in other words any type of coffee, whether it be light roast or dark roast, can be used to make an espresso.

If you would like to make an espresso of your own you must be aware that you cannot use your regular coffee maker. The only way to properly brew an espresso is with espresso machines, whether it is with the stovetop variety or the more elaborate automatic or semi-automatic espresso machines. The reason being is an espresso requires a pressurized brewing process, which allows for a very concentrated cup of coffee.

Other than the concentrated amount of coffee that is produced by this brewing method, one of the other main characteristics of a properly made espresso is the crema that is produced. Crema is the reddish-brown foam that floats on top of the surface of the beverage and is the signature of all espressos.

Since the espresso makers of Luigi Bezzera's time, home espresso machines have increased in popularity. Today, a wide range of home espresso machines, from the stovetop version to the automatic and semi-automatic versions, can be found everywhere, from specialist kitchen and appliance stores, to online vendors, and even department stores.

If you would like to enjoy your own espresso at home, start looking around and compare espresso makers that are available for you to choose. It is important to pick the right version for your coffee drinking requirements.

By Paul Scobie

Different Types of Coffee Makers

Coffee or the word cafe is all you would like to hear after a long work or right after you wake up. This is the most widely drunk beverage in the world. Coffee ingestion on an average is about a third of that of tap water in North America and Europe . While drinking coffee outside is usually expensive and preferred mostly during conversations or meetings, deals etc., many of us would prefer to make coffee ourselves at home and drink it in the company of our family members or drink it ourselves. Over the years, this art of brewing coffee has been mastered and we can make the best brewed coffee ourselves, but this has been taken over by our need to automate the coffee brewing art so that our work is made easier. Here, you will be taken through the three types of coffee makers in the world and figure out which is the best for you.

Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker , designed by Swedish designer Kass Kleeson:

First we will look at the vacuum coffee maker which is hailed by anyone who has tried it as the best coffee maker of all times. It uses a process that cooks coffee with an extremely strong flavor. The flavor and strength is usually based on how much coffee you use to make it. Today, a lot of coffee makers destroy the flavor by not mixing the components properly, or by not brewing at the right temperature or maybe not brewing for the right amount of time too.

A vacuum coffee maker is made up of two units. The lower and upper pots which are both made of glass. The upper pot is placed directly on top of the lower pot, and both the pots sealed together with the help of a stopper. A tube is attached to the upper pot which runs down to the lower pot as well. A filter is also attached to the upper pot to filter the coffee while it flows down to the lower pot.

Ground coffee, usually of coarse texture, is added to the upper pot. This depends upon how much your taste buds want. Usually, for a strong coffee, 1 tablespoon per cup of coffee will suffice. Then the lower pot is filled with the required amount of water and placed over a heating element or fire. After reaching boiling point, the upper pot is placed on top of the lower pot and the decreased pressure in the lower pot will cause the water to push up itself through the pipe into the upper pot. Here, the coffee is brewed in hot water and after a few minutes (depending upon the strength of coffee you want) the whole apparatus is removed from the heating element. If you are a beginner at using this type of coffee machine, it pays to experiment and figure out the right time duration that produces the coffee of your choice. As the water cools down, a vacuum is built up in the lower pot and coffee is sucked down. The upper pot is removed and the coffee collected in the lower pot is poured into the cups and enjoyed. The greatest benefit of using this coffee machine is that the temperature is perfect and this does not destroy the oils and flavor of coffee which is often the case in other coffee makers. Though this process requires little manual effort to place the apparatus on the heating element and taking it out of the heating element, this manual effort is affordable once you start drinking coffee made by this procedure.

Stove Top Coffee Maker :

This is made up of aluminium or stainless steel. The bottom of the pot contains a reservoir of water and the top has a round basket with a stem reaching to the end of the pot. First, water is filled and the basket of coffee is then added. The pot is heated and as the water boils, it comes in contact with the coffee and the coffee is brewed. The basket must be removed to filter out the coffee beans. Latest types include espresso pots which use steam and water to brew the coffee. This is reported to brew better coffee, but taste buds vary from person to person. Steam is used to produce latte or foam milk for cappuccinos.

Nowadays, we have stove top pots which function similar to the French press which presses the coffee beans to the bottom of the pot to produce a darker and much richer cup of coffee. However, this type of machine requires constant watching as there is possibility of burning the coffee beans in the absence of careful observation.

Drip Coffee Maker:

Almost all the drip filter coffee makers work the same way. They contain a paper or a plastic filter which holds the finely ground coffee. Cold water is poured through a tube from a reservoir and heated before falling over the coffee powder. This brews and extracts the oils and flavor of the coffee into the waiting carafe. This is a simple and reliable method compared to many other models available in the market.

Many companies use these three models with other additional features such as the strength of coffee, sugar adding facility, coffee with milk, number of cups etc. It is up to you to choose the best coffee maker according to the budget and the one which is most appropriate to your convenience. You would not choose the one which adds sugar automatically for an extra price as we can do that for ourselves, unless you are the one who does not know how to spend your money. The bottom line is that the machine must brew coffee at the right temperature for the right time using the right amount of water.

By Fredrick Joy