Before you read about Coffee Espresso Machines, it is vital to know what espresso really is. Espresso or Caffe espresso is a special type of brewed coffee that is prepared by forcing hot water through ground coffee under pressure. With its roots in Italy, Espresso took America by storm after it entered the country just after World War II.

Coffee espresso machines are specialized equipments. They are widely used in coffee houses across the globe and in many homes. The espresso machines used by coffee shops feature several compartments. They are highly ornate and have an intricate plumbing mechanism.

Coffee Espresso Machines: History and Types
The world’s first espresso machine was developed in Milan, which is in Italy. Patented by its developer Luigi Bezzera, this unit was steam driven. He christened it as ‘the Tipo Gigante.’ Since then, the market has been flooded with multiple designs of coffee espresso machines. These designs have been introduced at different times to make the process of brewing espresso more user friendly and delightful. But, there are some common features that can be found in most espresso machines.
Steam-driven: In this machine, steam is a major component that forces water through ground coffee.

Piston-driven: Developed by Achille Gaggia in 1945, in Italy, this unit features a lever that pressurizes hot water for it to pass through the coffee grinds.

Pump-driven: This is the refined version of the piston machine and is widely used in commercial espresso bars. This machine has a motor-driven pump that acts as the main component generating force for espresso brewing.

Espresso machines can also be categorized on the basis of semi-automatic, automatic, and super automatic.

How to buy a right Coffee Espresso Machine

Typically, coffee espresso machines are based on steam pressure. They are generally termed as electric “mocha” style machines. Such machines produce pressure up to 1.5 BAR or 50 PSI (pounds per square inch).  Right espresso machines are capable of producing a minimum of 9 BAR or 135 PSI of pressure.
This is forceful enough for brilliant espresso brewing. Remember, the best quality coffee espresso machine is either steam driven, pump-driven or lever operated.

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