Home espresso equipment is exploding onto the kitchen appliance scene in ever greater numbers and designs with ever lower prices, but what is the true definition and origins of espresso coffee and what are the crucial factors in a good home espresso ?
Cafe espresso or simply, espresso, as it is now popularly known, is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
The term cafe-espress was first used in the 1880s, well before espresso machines were invented and simply means coffee custom made, expressly for the person ordering it.
The first espresso coffee machines were introduced in the early 20th Century, and the first patent being filed by Luigi Bezzera of Milan, Italy, in 1901. However these early machines used steam pressure not water to brew the coffee and it wasn't changed until the mid-1940s, when the design was updated to the piston lever home espresso machine.
Because of the pressurized water used in the coffee brewing process, the flavours and chemicals in a great espresso become very concentrated. Because of this, espresso is commonly used as a base for other coffees, for example mocha and macchiato, latte and cappuccino.
The main differences between a great espresso and either drip or coffee from other brewing processes are a thicker consistency, more dissolved solids and crema, a red or brown foam that floats on the top of the coffee which is a mixture of vegetable oils, proteins and sugars.
While it clearly depends on the particular coffee beans used and the maker or barista, as a rule of thumb there is usually 2 to three times the amount of caffeine in an espresso than in the same volume of drip brewed coffee. The expert operator of an espresso machine is a barista, the Italian word for a barkeeper.
Home espresso coffee machines have risen in popularity with the general rise of interest in espresso, mainly since the 1990's and the explosion in the number of coffee houses and chains on every street.
We are currently experiencing a new wave of creativity as the electronics industry turns it's attentions to home espresso machines and we will now find a large range of espresso equipment in expert kitchen and appliance stores, online vendors and shops.
Most are fully automatic, push button home espresso coffee makers which can both grind and brew a fresh cup with only one press. They usually make a better espresso than poorly trained humans, but rarely as good as the best trained baristas.
It may be that the success of the big coffee chains in educating the masses in the joys of espresso will be their undoing as many more people can now enjoy their espresso at home.
Cafe espresso or simply, espresso, as it is now popularly known, is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
The term cafe-espress was first used in the 1880s, well before espresso machines were invented and simply means coffee custom made, expressly for the person ordering it.
The first espresso coffee machines were introduced in the early 20th Century, and the first patent being filed by Luigi Bezzera of Milan, Italy, in 1901. However these early machines used steam pressure not water to brew the coffee and it wasn't changed until the mid-1940s, when the design was updated to the piston lever home espresso machine.
Because of the pressurized water used in the coffee brewing process, the flavours and chemicals in a great espresso become very concentrated. Because of this, espresso is commonly used as a base for other coffees, for example mocha and macchiato, latte and cappuccino.
The main differences between a great espresso and either drip or coffee from other brewing processes are a thicker consistency, more dissolved solids and crema, a red or brown foam that floats on the top of the coffee which is a mixture of vegetable oils, proteins and sugars.
While it clearly depends on the particular coffee beans used and the maker or barista, as a rule of thumb there is usually 2 to three times the amount of caffeine in an espresso than in the same volume of drip brewed coffee. The expert operator of an espresso machine is a barista, the Italian word for a barkeeper.
Home espresso coffee machines have risen in popularity with the general rise of interest in espresso, mainly since the 1990's and the explosion in the number of coffee houses and chains on every street.
We are currently experiencing a new wave of creativity as the electronics industry turns it's attentions to home espresso machines and we will now find a large range of espresso equipment in expert kitchen and appliance stores, online vendors and shops.
Most are fully automatic, push button home espresso coffee makers which can both grind and brew a fresh cup with only one press. They usually make a better espresso than poorly trained humans, but rarely as good as the best trained baristas.
It may be that the success of the big coffee chains in educating the masses in the joys of espresso will be their undoing as many more people can now enjoy their espresso at home.
About the Author:
As a coffee connoisseur, Daniel Markovic has traveled the world in search of the perfect espresso. This year, he has spent many hours with his home espresso coffee machine trying out a wide variety of coffee blends. For more information on machines you can visit his blog in it's quest for the perfect home espresso.
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