What is the handle on an espresso machine for?
The part of an espresso machine which has a handle to facilitate manipulation and which holds the basket storing the grounds during the brewing process. It is cupped in appearance and should be kept clean, exhibiting a shiny, metallic surface for best, continued results.
What is the difference between a portafilter and a group head espresso machine?
Whether it is a manual, semi-automatic, or automatic espresso machine, the group head has the same function when pulling a shot of espresso. The portafilter is the device that has a handle and holds the basket filled with finely ground coffee.
What is a portafilter coffee maker?
The portafilter is a metal filter basket set inside a handle. It holds the ground and compressed coffee to be brewed. There are different sizes of portafilters. 58 mm is the most common size for commercial machines. 53 mm is also widely used also produces excellent espresso.
What are the parts of a coffee machine?
Machine Overview: Part Explanations SWITCHS / TOUCH PADS / AUTO FILL BOXES. This is the main power switch to a machine. Generally, the three positions... PORTAFILTERS. These are the brass handles in which coffee is made. They are brand specific, and to an extent differing... GROUP HEAD. These seals ...
What are the parts of a coffee machine called?
So let's start our journey through the machine:The Water Source.The Pump: The Heart of Your Espresso Machine.The Boiler: Bringing the Heat.The Boiler: Taking Control of Your Temperature.The Steam Wand.The Group Head: E61.The Group Head: Saturated and Semi-saturated.The Group Head: The Portafilter.
What is the handle thing on an espresso machine called?
The portafilter is the device that has a handle and holds the basket filled with finely ground coffee. This is locked into the group head. The pressure forces the water through the coffee and out the bottom nozzles of the portafilter, into the cup or carafe.
What is wand on espresso machine called?
The steam wand is used to make milk-based beverages, like cappuccinos and lattes. As its name implies, it steams milk to get it textured and hot.
What is a lever coffee machine?
The lever espresso machine The barista uses a lever (i.e. pulls the shot) to force the spring to compress. On release of the lever the spring then expands and forces water through the coffee at diminishing pressure.
Why is it called portafilter?
Bottomless portafilters get their name because they don't have a spout on the bottom portion. As a result, these naked portafilters are considered a great way for a barista to refine their technique.
What are the 3 parts of espresso?
3 parts of an espresso shot. Crema, Body, Heart. The second layer is the Body, the middle section of the espresso shot. This should be a caramel color.
What is a manual steam wand?
0:003:45Barista Academy : Manual and Auto Steam Function - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRunning down the screen here now first of all is our manual steam button this means that the baristaMoreRunning down the screen here now first of all is our manual steam button this means that the barista will be starting and stopping the steam they're also going to be manually aerating the milk.
What is a panarello wand?
The Pannarello Wand is a device that attaches to the steam arm of the espresso machine and aids in simplifying the frothing process, which can be intimidating to first time users. Depending on the machine, the wand may be made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both.
What are the parts of the espresso?
3 Parts of an Espresso Shot - Body, Heart, CremaTop Layer: The Crema.Middle Layer: The Body.Bottom Layer: The Heart.Buying Espresso Beans.Specialty Espresso Drinks.Espresso Brewing Tips.
How do you use a lever on an espresso machine?
The Direct Lever machine is quite easy to use. Just push the lever into an upward position in order to form a water port. This way, the water will reach the coffee grounds and stay here for a few seconds. This helps to produce more flavorful espresso.
How does a manual coffee machine work?
However, all manual coffee machines use the same method of creating water pressure and forcing the water through tightly packed coffee in the handle. This elevated pressure extracts more of the coffee granules, allowing for a richer, fuller and stronger cup of coffee.
What is a spring lever espresso machine?
A spring lever machine is different to the espresso machines we normally see in coffee shops, in that they use a spring to achieve the required pressure while “normal” machines use pumps.As a result, lever machines lack any push buttons or paddles to produce shots because there is no pump to turn on.
What are the parts of the espresso?
3 Parts of an Espresso Shot - Body, Heart, CremaTop Layer: The Crema.Middle Layer: The Body.Bottom Layer: The Heart.Buying Espresso Beans.Specialty Espresso Drinks.Espresso Brewing Tips.
What is a Grouphead?
Essentially, the group head is the part of the espresso machine where water from the boiler is dispensed into the coffee filter basket. It acts as a meeting point, connecting the machine to the group handle and the water to coffee.
WHAT IS A PORTAFTILER?
If you’ve ever seen an espresso machine, you’ve probably noticed a “handle” that sticks out where the coffee comes out of.
PORTAFILTER COMPONENTS
The handle is the portion of the portafilter that the user holds to secure onto the group-head. While it’s not the most technical part of the device, the weight and feel of the handle can play a big role in the ergonomics or how the portafilter feels in the user’s hand.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PORTAFTILERS
While all portafilters serve the same function, there are different types that work in slightly different ways.
HOW TO USE A PORTAFILTER
Here’s a quick and easy run-down so you can get a demonstration how you’d use a portafilter.
What is a grouphead in espresso machines?
Grouphead. The grouphead is the heart of the machine and it's the final stop for water as it moves through an espresso machine. L ocated on the front of the machine, the grouphead brings water out of the machine and into the filter basket. All groupheads involve four basic parts: a portafilter, a place for the portafilter to lock in, ...
What is a portafilter?
The portafilter is a metal filter basket set inside a handle. It holds the ground and compressed coffee to be brewed.
How many parts does a grouphead have?
All groupheads involve four basic parts: a portafilter, a place for the portafilter to lock in, a way to activate the pump, and a pathway for the water to move from the boiler to the portafilter. The number of groups you need depends on how many baristas will be operating the machine, and of course, how many cups of coffee you need to produce daily.
How does a piston pump work?
A piston attached to a magnet is set inside a metal coil. An electrical current runs through the coil causing the magnet to rapidly move the piston back and forth, pushing water through the machine. These kind of pumps are smaller, inexpensive and tend to be easier to replace.
What is the E61 grouphead made of?
The E61 has a few distinct features. Most importantly, the whole grouphead is machined out of brass, providing high thermal inertia.
Where is the group head on an espresso machine?
The espresso machine seems like a complicated machine, but most of the magic happens inside the group head. What's a group head, you ask? You'll find it on the front of your espresso machine; it's the piece you lock the portafilter into. The group head is, essentially, where water meets coffee and espresso is born.
How does an espresso machine work?
How an Espresso Machine Works 1 The portafilter is the device that has a handle and holds the basket filled with finely ground coffee. This is locked into the group head. 2 When it's time to pull a shot of espresso, the 'group' sends hot, pressurized water from the machine, through a diffusion plate, and into the basket of grounds. 3 The pressure forces the water through the coffee and out the bottom nozzles of the portafilter, into the cup or carafe. The result is the concentrated coffee we know as espresso.
What Is a Group Head?
Located on the front of the machine, the group head is a metal, permanent attachment that brings water out of the machine and into the filter basket.
What does a group do when pulling an espresso shot?
When it's time to pull a shot of espresso, the 'group' sends hot, pressurized water from the machine, through a diffusion plate, and into the basket of grounds.
What is group gasket?
Group Gasket–A large rubber O-ring that fits inside a groove in the group head. This ensures a tight fit between the portafilter and the group head. If your portafilter is leaking water, it's likely time for a new gasket.
What is a group head in espresso?
A group head describes a multi-faceted fixture which allows for dispensing into multiple cups at once.
Why is the basket of an espresso machine important?
Make sure to choose one with a straight-walled basket because curved sides will create an uneven brew and ultimately, deter from the taste of your espresso.
How to clean espresso grounds?
Between dispensed shots, use a brush to clean out espresso ground desposits that have settled into your machine. This will keep it running efficiently and provide the best tasting beverage.
What is a doser in coffee?
A doser is the part of a grinder that automatically releases a pre-determined amount of coffee grounds for brewing. Some machines are equipped with adjustable dosers, while others aren’t. Single-shot servings, or doses, are usually around 7-9 grams, while a 14-18 gram dose merits a double shot.
How many bars of pressure does an espresso pump have?
A widely-used variant of the pump consists of between 8-10 bars of pressure.
What is a tamper in espresso?
This process is referred to as ‘tamping’ and is recognized as a forgotten art form. Tamping pressure is most commonly applied in increments of 20 and then 30 pounds of pressure for highest quality.
What is a barista?
The term used to describe a person who has reached an expert level of espresso making, whether professionally-trained or personally achieved, through practice. A Barista also possesses a wide knowledge of all things coffee. It’s an Americanized word derived from the Italian phrase for ‘bartender’ as most Baristas prepare and serve espresso from behind a cafe counter or ‘bar’.
How does a touch pad work in a coffee machine?
These touch pads operate the water which comes out of the group head 'coffee water', by allowing the solenoid to operate, and in a volumetric coffee machine allowing the solenoid and flow-meter to operate.
Where does coffee water flow through a boiler?
This is a pipe which transverses the boiler in which the 'coffee water' flows from the pump, directly to the group head through the boiler (not the same water as used for hot water and steam).
Why remove bridges on a contactor?
Removing the bridges will reduce the heating strength and power consumption of the element and reduce the recovery of the machine.
Where do the seals sit on a portafilter?
These seals sit in the group head of the machine to seal between the machine and portafilter.
Do manual machines have touchpads?
Manual machines don't have a touch pad and are operated by leavers.
Do different brands use different filter baskets?
They are brand specific, and to an extent differing brands will use different filter baskets.
What is a coffee pot?
Coffee pots are simply containers that are used to hold coffee that has been brewed by the coffee maker. Glass coffee pots or carafes are the most common. There are also stainless steel coffee pots or thermal carafes, that either come in stainless steel, or in some cases, ceramic. When people are talking about parts about coffee pot, ...
What is vacuum coffee pot?
Vacuum coffee pots are the most interesting and fascinating processes of brewing coffee. At first glance, it looks more like a science lab apparatus than a coffee maker.
How many cups of coffee can you brew in a coffee urn?
To brew for up to 100 cups, coffee urns are required. Coffee urns are large sized percolators that can brew a massive amount of coffee for social gatherings. Coffee urns work in the same principle as percolators and have the same set of coffee pot parts.
How many cups of coffee can a percolator make?
Once it stops, it’s the indication that the perked coffee is ready to be served. Percolators can only brew for up to 12 cups. To brew for up to 100 cups, coffee urns are required. Coffee urns are large sized percolators ...
How to brew coffee in a coffee pot?
To brew coffee, place coffee grounds in the upper chamber and place water in the lower chamber. Place the lower chamber on top of a heat source, such as a stove. Then, attach the tube into the base of the upper chamber and attach the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
Why do you need a coarser grind in a coffee filter?
A coarser grind is required so that the coffee grounds won’t seep through the filter and into the coffee.
Why is coffee brewed every time?
Additionally, because of the vacuum process, all the essential oils and moisture of the coffee grounds are absorbed into the coffee, leaving only dried up coffee grounds in the upper chamber. Therefore, full-flavored coffee is brewed every time.
What is the portafilter in an espresso machine?
The portafilter is the component of the espresso machine where hot water is run through the grounds and the espresso flavor is extracted from the grounds, at which point the extracted espresso continues on its journey down to the bottom of the portafilter, through a hole and/or chute at the bottom, into the waiting espresso cup below.
What type of portafilter do baristas use?
Baristas who use a non-pressurized, commercial type of portafilter are trained regarding both the correct consistency of ground coffee to work best with the hands-on method, as well as the correct compression (tamping) required for the ground coffee. Summary about non-pressurized portafilters.
What is a non-pressurized portafilter?
Non-pressurized portafilters are the type of portafilter offered with many of today’s semi-automatic home espresso machines. A non-pressurized portafilter is also the type commonly used by professional baristas at Starbucks and other commercial coffee stands.
How are coffee grounds compressed?
The coffee grounds are then compressed (tamped) to just the right compression with a tamper. (This is the other step that will take some practice to master.) After tamping the grounds, the portafilter unit is then affixed into the “brew group” of the machine.
How is portafilter determined?
The type of portafilter on any particular machine is determined mostly by the classification of that particular machine. Below is a rundown of information regarding each type of portafilter, and in what type of machine (s) you can expect to see each type of portafilter.
What is the portafilter made of?
This fits inside the exterior of the portafilter. It is normally made of metal and has tiny holes all over the bottom of it which act as a screen and allow the water with the extracted espresso flavor to run through, down towards the bottom and out a hole or chute into the cup sitting below the portafilter.
What goes into a portafilter?
More accurately, however, learning how to correctly prepare what goes into the portafilter, which are the ground espresso/coffee beans, as well as how the ground coffee is compressed (tamped) after it is put into the portafilter, is actually the most important part of brewing up great espresso.
How to distribute coffee in a portafilter?
Distribution: Once the coffee is in the portafilter basket, often it is necessary to move the ground around a bit to create an even bed of coffee. There are many ways you can choose to distribute coffee within the portafilter basket. Some baristas use their finger or a fancy distribution tool and others just tap the edges of the portafilter to move the grounds around in the basket. The goal here is to be as even as possible before tamping.
What is tamping coffee grounds?
The goal here is to be as even as possible before tamping. Tamping: This is the process of compacting the coffee grounds into the portafilter. Tamping serves two purposes; one is to create headspace between the grouphead and the coffee, the other is to evenly pack the coffee ground to their maximum density.
WHAT DOES A BARISTA’S JOB LOOK LIKE?
Barista’s have many responsibilities throughout their workday. Below we’ve compiled everything you need to know as a barista, from making coffee to cleaning at the end of the day. Not every cafe is exactly the same but here are the basics to get you started.
What is the best way to prepare espresso?
Grind: Your grinder is where good espresso preparation begins. A high quality grinder with big sharp burrs will produce more even and consistent little coffee particles to extract all the good coffee flavors from. A barista can adjust the size of particles the grinder producers by tightening or loosening the grind.
What does tightening a portafilter do?
Tightening makes the grind finer and loosening makes the grind courser. Dose: Your dose is the amount of coffee you place in your portafilter . It is the coffee part of your recipe. Your range of dose is dictated by the size of basket you are using.
How to clean a group head?
Rinse with hot water. Backflush using blind filter and EP Clean. Turn water on for 10 seconds, stop then turn on for an additional 10 seconds. Continue this procedure until water becomes clear. Back flush again using same procedure, without using any detergent. Scrub inside of group head. Wash drain trays, portafilters, baskets, etc. Never use a scouring pad on any part of your machine, it can remove the metal plating and damage it.
What are the ingredients in espresso?
Luckily espresso only has two ingredients: finely ground coffee and water.
