An automatic espresso machine is used to prepare the traditional Italian coffee drink called espresso. It is prepared by forcing water at about 9 bar of pressure over ground coffee beans. This results in a rich and syrupy beverage by extracting and emulsifying the oils of the ground coffee. There are various types of espresso machines to choose from: stove top espresso maker, steam espresso maker, piston driven espresso maker, pump driven espresso machine, automatic espresso machine and the super automatic espresso machine.
Fully Automatic espresso Machine
In a fully automatic espresso machine water is delivered by a pump rather then by manual force and has a flow meter installed in line with the group head. When the programmed amount of water has flowed through the flow meter the pump is automatically turned off and brew pressure is released through a three way solenoid valve. With these machines you calibrate the exact temperature you want the water before the machine pumps it through the coffee grounds. In a fully automatic espresso machine there are brewing buttons which you can program to yield a specific amount of espresso. So in a fully automatic machine you add the coffee and the water and program the coffee maker to yield a perfect cup of espresso.
Super Automatic Espresso Machine
The super automatics do everything and that too with great style. Just with the press of a button the super automatic espresso machine grinds whole beans inside the machine, tamps down the grounds, brews a delectable shot and holds the waste in an internal container for later disposal. Some of the super automatics even get rinsed and cleaned all by themselves. There are various types of super automatics available and all of them perform the functions mentioned above. The difference comes down to the programmable features and any extra features that different machines have. The added features that these machines have are strength setting of your drink, temperature setting , digital display, powder quantity setting ,ground size selection, decalcification cycles, self diagnostic print outs and many more. Most automatics and super automatics have a plastic hull which is less sturdy and more easily damaged than metal machines. These machines are expensive but are nearly operator fool proof.
Commercial Semi Automatic Espresso Machine
The commercial semi automatic espresso machines are used in cafés, restaurants, hotels, airports and places where there are a large independent number of coffee consumers. These machines can easily produce continuous espressos to serve to the customers. The equipment is much larger than the ones that are used at home for family consumption. These machines require a certain amount of control over the grind setting of the coffee and the pressure with which this coffee is tamped down to create a properly brewed cup. The operator has to manually have to stop the length of the espresso pour. To master the art of making espresso in a semi automatic machine requires both practice and knowledge. These machines demand more staff training to get the perfect shot of espresso. There are four forms that coffee can take in a semi automatic, fresh ground, pre ground, pods and capsules. The semi automatic does well in single group applications compared to the multi group because when only one or, at the most, two drinks are made at a time as it is easy to watch and control and brew the perfect cup of espresso.
