Espresso Coffee Makers
by Max Bellamy
The word "espresso" is derived from the Italian word for express. Espresso coffee is a blend of several different types of coffee beans from different countries. There are different varieties of espresso drinks such as cappuccino, café latte and café mocha. Espresso consumption in the United States has grown tenfold in the last decade. Espresso cafes and carts have become common sights in many cities. To fulfill the growing demand for espresso, bookstores, grocery stores, laundromats, gas stations and malls have started to set up espresso machines.
Espresso brewing is defined by four "M's": macinazione- correct grinding of a coffee blend, miscela- the coffee blend, macchina - the espresso machine and mano - the skilled hand of a barista, the skilled espresso maker. Precise control of each of the four "M's" can bring about the ultimate coffee experience. The beans are roasted and ground very finely, till it reaches a consistency like powdered sugar. The finer the powder, the slower the espresso comes out.
There are many variables in the process of making a shot of espresso. The temperature and pressure of the water, the fineness and tight packing of the ground coffee are just a few. A skilled barista can produce the most delicious cup of coffee.
A cup of espresso is made by forcing about one and a half ounces of hot water through tightly packed, finely ground espresso coffee. Simple espresso machines use pressure that comes from heating water inside a sealed container, which forces the water through the coffee. The coffee is packed into a funnel-shaped piece of metal that has a tube extending to the bottom of the reservoir. A few ounces of water are put into the reservoir and the top is screwed on. On heating, pressure builds inside the vessel and it escapes up the tube, through the coffee and out of the tube in the top. As the end of the tube is under water, the pressure forces the hot water up through the tube. The result is a slightly thick dark brown liquid with a small amount of cream or foam on top.
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