An espresso machine is used to produce the traditionally Italian coffee beverage called espresso.
An espresso machine forces water at 90 °C (195 °F) and 9 bar of pressure through a puck of finely ground coffee. This process produces a rich, almost syrupy beverage by extracting and emulsifying the oils in the ground coffee. An ideal double shot of espresso should take 20-25 seconds to arrive, timed from when the machine's pump is first turned on. This time can be tuned by using finer or coarser ground coffee, and by altering the tamping pressure.
An espresso machine also has a steam wand which is used to steam and froth milk for milk based espresso beverages such as the cappuccino and latte.
A professional operator of such a machine is called a barista.
Types of espresso machines
Stovetop espresso maker
Commonly found in Italy, stovetop espresso makers produce a dark coffee almost as strong as that from a conventional espresso maker. A small cup that screws into the body of the maker holds the water, which when heated, forces its way up through the coffee grounds held in a small cup of the maker. The coffee then works through a small tube and into the coffee pitcher.
Stovetop espresso makers are conveniently portable, since they require no electricity to use. This makes them great for tourists and hikers. While stovetop espresso makers produce dark coffee, the coffee usually lacks the fine crema produced by conventional espresso makers.
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