Coffee Machine» Espresso Machine http://www.coffee-machine.org Coffee and Coffee Machine Information Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:52:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Espresso Machine http://www.coffee-machine.org/espresso-machine/ http://www.coffee-machine.org/espresso-machine/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:02:13 +0000 Coffee Machine http://www.coffee-machine.org/?p=180 The espresso machine is the mainstay of many cafes, coffee houses, restaurants, hotels and anywhere there is a desire for excellent coffee.

The espresso machine history dates back to 1822 with the first espresso machine.

The modern espresso machine was created by Gaggia in 1946.

There are 3 main types of espresso machine.

Steam Driven

The earliest espresso machines were the steam driven type which work by forcing water through the coffee grinds using steam pressure.

This technique is still used on some domestic espresso machine, as it requires no moving parts, so they can be produced at low cost.

The problem with steam driven machines is that there is possibilty that the steam can scald the coffee affecting the taste.

Piston / Lever Driven

The piston / lever driven espresso machine works by the barista pumping a lever which puts the water under pressure.

The water is then forced through the ground coffee producing the espresso.

This method is still popular today, however they tend to be more domestic machines than commercial.

Lever espresso machines were the first to produce espresso with a crema.

This crema was at first looked upon with mistrust but after trying most people agreed the taste was less and more enjoyable.

Today this crema is recognised as a sign of a good espresso.

Pump Driven

The pump driven espresso machine works on the same priniples as the lever machine, but uses a pump to create the water pressure.

This allows the espresso to be created without any effort from the barista.

Most modern commercial espresso machines work at the touch of a button, sending the correct amount of water, at the right temperature and pressure , through the coffee in the group head.

modern automatic espresso machine

A Modern Automatic Espresso Machine

Making an espresso

To make an espresso you need to start by grinding 7-10 grams coffee beans finely.
This poured in to a group head which is a metal cup with tiny perforated holes to alow the water through.
The ground coffee should be tamped down with 5 pounds of pressure to form a puck shape.
Water heated to 90 °C (194 °F) is forced through the ground coffee at a minumun of 9 bar pressure, though higher is better 12-14 being ideal.
To make an ideal espresso this extraction time should be between 20-25 secs.

]]> http://www.coffee-machine.org/espresso-machine/feed/ 1 Gaggia – Coffee Machine Maker http://www.coffee-machine.org/gaggia-coffee-machine-maker/ http://www.coffee-machine.org/gaggia-coffee-machine-maker/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:10:19 +0000 Coffee Machine http://www.coffee-machine.org/?p=144 Italian company Gaggia is one of the best known coffee machine makers, producing commercial and domestic coffee machine.
Gaggia was founded in 1948 by Achille Gaggia, who is renowned to be the man who created the modern espresso machine which helped the success of espresso coffee.
Achille Gaggia patented the modern steam-free coffee machine.
In 1977 Gaggia began producing domestic coffee machines, initially to the Italian market with the Baby Gaggia.
Gaggias machines are produced at the Robecco sul Naviglio plant  in Milan, where the tradition skills and modern technology come together.
Gaggia coffee machines have transformed though out the years starting with the traditional lever machine to today’s fully automated machines which grind, pour and brew the coffee at the touch of a button.

gaggia logo

Gaggia Logo

GAGGIA’s mission (From Gaggia’s Italian site)

For over fifty years Gaggia has been filling coffeeshops and houses through out the world with the unmistakable aroma of espresso coffee made with any one of the various Gaggia coffee machines, blending the strong tradition associated with one of the best known brands in Italy with innovation and technological evolution.

With this perspective Gaggia aim to place themselves on the ever more dynamic markets of the new millennium, a company deeply rooted in their past as regards quality and care for details, yet looking forward to the future in an constant search for ever more efficient and more innovative performance and design, with the aim to full their customers needs.
Constantly evolving tradition.

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