Espresso Machine Lingo
Filed Under Best Espresso Machines | Leave a Comment
The language of the espresso machine is easy to learn. With a few basic terms and you can show the retailer that you know how many beans make five, and come away with the espresso machine that’s best suited to you.
Bar
A measure of the pressure the pump in the espresso machine can create. You need 8 to 10 bar to make espresso.
Boiler
One method of heating the water before it is pumped through the coffee. Another method is a thermoblock.
Bypass doser
Some automatic machines let you use two different types of coffee, e.g. arabica and decaf. The second coffee will generally have to be pre-ground.
Crema
The creamy brown foam on top of the cup of coffee.
Descaling
A process to remove mineral deposits from the inside of your machine. This needs to be done regularly, especially if your water is hard.
Filter
The filter fits into the portafilter. It holds the ground coffee and has holes in the bottom to let the liquid coffee — but not coffee grinds — through. Espresso machines usually have two filters, one for a single cup and one for a double cup.
Group head
Where the portafilter joins the espresso machine.
Portafilter (or group handle)
Holds the filter and attaches to the group head.
Puck
The used coffee left in the filter. If the coffee is tamped properly, the puck should be dry and easy to knock out.
Tamping
Pressing the ground coffee into the filter. If the coffee is not tamped enough, the cup of coffee will be watery with a poor crema. But if it is tamped too tight, the water will take too long to pump through and the coffee will be bitter.
Thermoblock
An alternative to a boiler. The water or milk is passed through a metal block to reach the required temperature.
Water reservoir
The tank where water is held before heating.
You can read more about espresso machines at http://espressomachinecenter.com
If you’re looking for an espresso machine then you’re either a coffee lover or you know someone who is. You can already impress your friends with your lattes and the depth and colour of your crema, well now it’s time to impress them with your knowledge of coffee trivia.
Of course you know that coffee contains caffeine, but did you also know:
What has caffeine in it?
- coffee, tea and chocolate, where it occurs naturally
- more than 60 plants contain caffeine in their leaves, seeds and fruits
- animals can’t stand the bitter taste and it’s the plant’s protection mechanism to avoid being eaten
- you can use cold, strong Lapsang Souchong tea to repel possums in your garden
- cola, energy drinks and alco-pops, where it is added because it has a stimulant effect
- over-the-counter medications like painkillers and cold and flu remedies
How long does the effect last?
- caffeine is metabolised by your liver and passes through your body within two to 10 hours
- smokers metabolise caffeine more quickly than non-smokers
- pregnant women take longer to metabolise it
- oral contraceptives slow the rate of caffeine metabolism
Compare the caffeine content
Espresso 40-90 mg / 30 ml shot
Drip coffee 75-125 mg / 250 ml cup
Instant coffee 20-40 mg / 250 ml cup
Tea 10-50 mg / 250 ml cup
Energy drink 80 mg / 250 ml can
Cola drink 49 mg / 375 ml can
For more about espresso machines, not all trivia, visit http://espressomachinecenter.com