How Espresso Machines Work – A Coffee Lovers Guide

This type of boiler is a single large boiler that has a section inside the boiler that is isolated and separated from the principle heating element.

The isolated section of the heat exchanger is what provides water that is more suitable for brewing your coffee. The other chamber is hotter, which is the water that is used for steaming your milk. The result of this design is the ability to heat the water at two different temperatures, which ensures you are never short of water for brewing your coffee or for steaming milk with your steam wand.

You can and will make better quality espresso shots with a heat exchanger than you would with a single boiler.

The Group Head

Also spelled as one word, grouphead, which I touched on earlier. It is the part where the hot water comes out on the front of your home espresso machine. This is where you attach and lock your portafilter on to.

When you are making a shot of espresso, the valve opens and pressurized water flows from the grouphead and through your coffee puck.

Depending on the size of your espresso machine, you will have one or two group heads with the much bigger, more professional ones having 4. With the right combination, you will be able to brew up to 4 shots of espresso at a time. It is worth having that extra double portafilter when you have dinner parties at home.

A home machine usually has only one grouphead.

The Portafilter

The portafilter we have already touched on. This is where you put your coffee grounds, and it comes with a small metal filter basket, often referred to as the portafilter basket that clips inside. There are two types of design: single outlet for a single espresso and a dual outlet for brewing two shots of espresso.

A common question asked is which is better – spouted or bottomless portafilter.

A spouted portafilter has a single or double spout from which your espresso shot flows out of. A bottomless portafilter is exactly as it sounds: bottomless. Your coffee flows directly over your coffee grounds and into your coffee cup.

Baristas and perfectionists love the bottomless as they allow you to see any problem and have the ability to see what problems may be arising such as channelling and permit you to get a more perfect shot.

It is not a big deal what type of portafilter you use. If you are a perfectionist, you can go for a naked bottomless portafilter that allows you to observe the flow of water/coffee clearly.

The Steam Wand

Surprisingly, not all espresso machines have a steam wand. It is certainly advantageous that you have one. This goes even more so should you plan on making milk-based espresso drinks.

In fact, it is obliged as they make much better frothy milk than others. Plus, a steam wand is much better and easier to keep clean.

Ensure your machine is a double boiler if you are looking for one with a steam wand.

The Control Panel

The part that many forget to talk about. The control panel is exactly as it sounds: it is the panel with the on/off switch, indicator lights and can have various options to press relating to the coffee that you are brewing and/or a straight start/stop switch.

Pressing a button here will open a valve which controls the flow of water to the grouphead via a micro switch.

What Happens When You Pull A Shot?

Let’s see how this all comes together when you pull a shot of espresso. Let’s start by happily assuming you already have your machine filled with water.

Switch your machine on and wait for your heating light to tell you that your water is at the proper temperature for brewing your shot. Use your temperature probe to measure and record the temperature; you may need to adjust this later to dial in your espresso.

You can skip the exact temperature control if your coffee machine has a digital temperature control.

Your next step is to grind your coffee to a very fine grind size; the finest that your coffee grinder permits is perfect. 80 microns (1/32 inch).

Now focus on your tamp and tamp your ground coffee evenly and with not too much and not too little pressure.

Now place your portafilter by attaching it into your espresso machine.

Place a Demitasse cup below it and press the appropriate switch on the control panel to pull your shot.

The micro switch will start the pump which in turn pressurizes the water and heating chamber to 9 bars of pressure (130 PSI). This will force hot water through your coffee puck and out of the spout and into your cup.

The whole process should take about 25 to 30 seconds.

If you are making an espresso, steam your milk by submerging the nozzle of your steam wand and moving your milk jug up and down to heat the milk and forth it at the same time.

There are literally dozens of coffee drinks that you can make with your espresso machine.

 Keeping Your Espresso In Prime Condition

Regular bi-annual maintenance will keep your home espresso machine in tip-top condition for every shot that you produce.

Using a water filter is an excellent preventative maintenance step you can take to prevent the build up of lime and mineral deposits. No matter how good or how expensive your machine is, you need to maintain it at least 2x per year.

Keep your eye on the reduction in the quality of your coffee deteriorating, tasking a little off. If your grouphead is leaking, you may need to replace the gasket. This is a very easy job that can be done by yourself or by a maintenance specialist. There is nothing to it really!

Also, keep your eye open for a leaky steam wand. You might get away with descaling to solve this issue, but in the long term, the gasket for your steam wand will need replacing.

If your hot water tap is leaking, this is a sure sign of limescale, and you will need to descale your espresso machine.

Give it a good proper descaling at least once every 3 months to stop it from building up even if you have no signs of limescale building up.

Maintain your espresso machine well, and it will last you for at least 10 years.

How Do Espresso Machines Create Pressure?

Most modern machines, literally all of them use an electric pump to create pressure to make a perfect espresso shot. Either a vibratory or rotary pump is used.

Old fashioned manual pump machines use a lever that needs to be pumped to create the pressure. Newer pump based machines use a spring based pump to create the pressure required.

Older, now almost defunct espresso machines use steam to create the pressure.

What Is Special About Espresso Machines?

They produce almost boiling water at a pressure to create an excellent coffee that you could not otherwise produce without one. No other coffee brewing machine produces the pressure required to get the rich crema on top.

An espresso machine needs not to be expensive or automatic as manual lever machines can produce an exceptional espresso.

Why Is My Espresso Machine Not Building Pressure?

The problem may not necessarily be related to a component of your machine. First check your grind size; if it is too coarse and not a powder like grind then it may well have something to do with that. Also, poor tamping will cause a lack of pressure build up.

Check these two first before investigating further.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Espresso Machines Work

What Is Special About An Espresso Machine?

What is special about an espresso shot is the strong, intense aroma and taste as well as the thick, rich crema on top.

The shot of espresso due to the fine grind size, and the pressure created by the espresso machine produces your drink in 25 seconds compared to 3 to 5 minutes with other methods. The quick brew time is where the drink and brewing process gets its name from.

Why Drink Espresso Instead Of Coffee?

 An espresso is tasty, one of the most flavorsome coffee beverages that has all the notes and nuance of the coffee beans concentrated in that short and potent shot of coffee. It’s also a healthier way of enjoying a cup of coffee as it has fewer calories, fats and sugars.

It’s a way of enjoying a coffee without putting on weight with Starbucks style coffee drinks.

Why Is Espresso So Much Better Than Coffee?

Because espresso is more focused and concentrated, the vitamins, minerals, and coffee oils are not filtered out of your coffee when compared to brewed coffee and the drip brewing process where coffee filters are used. With your shot of espresso, nothing is filtered.

How Do Espresso Machines Build Pressure?

Commercial espresso machines have a rotary pump which is a much, much, much better way of maintaining a constant pressure. The rotary pump is a rotating mechanical disc that is electrically powered. Smaller home espresso machines use a vibration pump which functions by means of an electromagnetic coil that pushes and pulls a piston.

Why Does Espresso Use High Pressure?

High pressure is the secret to an espresso both being brewed in about 25 seconds and getting the rich, thick and tasty crema on top; without it your shot would not be possible.

What Is The Disadvantages Of Espresso?

An espresso just like any caffeinated drink has a diuretic effect and may very well cause you to urinate more than what you have consumed. Diuretics are a class of substances that cause your body to produce more urine than you normally would. They are not harmful, unless consumed in excess, but can be inconvenient on long bus or car rides.

Are Espressos Healthy?

Yes, an espresso contains vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds and antioxidants that enhance your general well-being and boost your immune system.

Can You Use Tap Water For Espresso?

Yes, tap water is fine, but as it is with any coffee drink, the better the quality of your water, the better the final result will be. Coffee is 98% water; using the best possible water will improve your espresso shots and all coffee beverages.

Frappé-Ing It All Up – How Espresso Machines Work

Now you know about the internal architecture and the important parts of an espresso machine and a basic level of how espresso machines work. Knowing this will help you to better understand your machine and perhaps which one is more suitable and meets your needs best.

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