An espresso coffee machine is a specialty type of coffee maker that is unique. These fantastic Italian espresso coffee makers are designed to make a perfect, rich, tasty, creamy, hot and frothy cup of one of the world's favorite beverages - a cup of espresso. This drink gives millions of folks around the globe, a good shot of caffeine in a delicious form, to start their days off in the best possible way.
There are commercial espresso machines and home espresso machines that are available these days. The commercial models are primarily used in coffee houses and restaurants, although more and more often, offices are installing them to have various espresso drinks available for employees so that they do not need to leave the premises to get their burst of espresso magic during working hours. Powerful pumps typically drive the commercial espresso machines, while the home models are generally steam driven.
Home espresso coffee machine models are smaller than the commercial versions and are designed to fit in kitchens, in terms of both size and aesthetics. These home units generally have a maximum capacity of eight cups of espresso. However, there are also much smaller units, designed especially for the tiny kitchens found in urban apartments, and these usually will make only two cups at a time.
Home espresso coffee machines have been a wonderful advancement and have allowed folks to make their own espresso, eliminating the need to jog down the street or around the block to get a cup. Rather than having to get dressed and go out just to get their specialty coffee, they are able to relax in their own home and enjoy their espresso at any time of the day.
What makes espresso coffee machines unique from standard, everyday coffee makers is the way that the coffee is brewed. In espresso makers, the hot water is forced through the finely ground coffee beans with a great deal of pressure. This pressure is produced by heating up the water to create steam within a sealed compartment of the Italian espresso coffee maker. This pressure, in addition to the heat, helps to extract additional richness and flavor from the ground coffee.
The most important component of espresso coffee machines, whether a commercial model or a home model, is the pressure pump. The brewing mixture of liquid is put under a great amount of pressure for a short period. The pressurized water is then passed over the ground coffee and the water is just a degree or two shy of the boiling point. This combination results in the best combination of aroma and flavor that can be distilled from the coffee beans, and released into the water to create the espresso.
There is a vast selection of Italian, espresso coffee machine styles available on the market nowadays, most of which are for home usage. Home espresso equipment is priced reasonably, starting at around $100 for a basic model, but you can spend up to $1,000 for a model with all the bells and whistles. Since making espresso with a manual model can be a tricky skill to master, most folks choose one of the automatic espresso machines that are available.