Espresso Machines
Home: Coffee World - Espresso Machines
If the espresso making process is broken down into factors, Espresso machines probably have the least influence on the taste of the espresso(More important factors in the process would be the skilful hand of the barista, the blend of the coffee and of course, the quality of the grinder.) However, they tend to be the most expensive investment so choosing the right espresso machine is still a very important decision to make.
When looking for an espresso machine, it's important to go for something reliable. You want to find a supplier who have compitent engineers, specially trained to fix your espresso machine in the event of it breaking down. You also want to buy a machine which has spare parts that are readily available.
After-sales and ongoing support is a must. A company with experience and knowledge is essential and quality of service is paramount.
At Caffe Vinci our machine of choice is a Lever espresso machine because quite simply we believe Lever espresso machines produce better espresso. Not to mention it's also very thetrical.Watching the barista skilfully work the Levers adds theatre to a process which cannot be matched by any other espresso machine. It is a process which looks complicated and to some people, intimidating, but fundamentally, they couldn’t be further from the point. Using a Lever espresso machine is effortless and one has complete control over how the espresso is produced.
A regular espresso machine operates at 9 bar of pressure. A lever espresso machine operates at a range of pressures starting with pre-infusion which is at 1 bar, then the springs in the pistons take over and increase the pressure as high as 14 bar. As the spring exerts its pressure, it eventually falls to zero. From what we are informed, Italian manufacturers are attempting to replicate this process on their electronic espresso machines, but it seems rather pointless if it can already be achieved using a lever espresso machine. By reaching a 14 bar of pressure the coffee produced and elements extracted are different to that produced by a semi-automatic/automatic espresso machine.
Lever espresso machines do not have a fancy electronic control system, an online management device or a digital organiser. But then that of course would go against everything traditional Italian espresso making stands for. Creating espresso is a simple process but a process which needs mastering all the same. People tend to over-complicate espresso machines with fancy gimmicks and needless additions to try and create a “bells and whistles” advantage. However, they only help move espresso making away from its very essence.
