Espresso Equipment

Espresso machinery is a ‘high-tech’ method of extracting coffee. Put simply, an espresso machine forces hot water, under pressure, through carefully ground and packed coffee grinds.

When done correctly by a skilled barista, this process brings out the best in the coffee beans. It extracts the coffee oils that are responsible for the full flavour, body and aroma of espresso. The coffee oils form a caramel coloured layer on the surface of the espresso coffee known as a crema.

There are several different types of espresso machine that you may come across: the lever machine, the semi-automatic, the automatic and the super automatic.

In this section we will look at:

• how the automatic espresso machine works

• preparing espresso equipment for use.