We’ve all heard of Espresso, the term used to describe a shot of strong black coffee that has been brewed by pressurized hot water flowing through very fine ground coffee beans. This strong brew can be consumed as is with a cream foam on top, or is also used in making other coffee drinks such as cappuccino, mocha, and latte. With the availability of consumer espresso coffee makers, it is not just the barrister that can make great espresso. Manual, semi-automatic, and automatic espresso machines give the coffee enthusiast a wide range of choice in making their own espresso, depending on their skill and tastes.
Manual espresso machines allow the user to have control over how their espresso is made. This means you can control how much water flows through the ground coffee beans and how long for the pre-infusion. Pre-infusion improves coffee extraction by wetting the coffee bed before brewing. Manual units are available with either spring piston levers or manual levers that pump the water through the coffee grounds. Another factor that people like about manual espresso machines is the price. Since the design is simpler than automated units, this option becomes the most affordable. (more…)