TheGreenJoe
New member
Hey Everyone,
I've been getting a lot of questions about how to choose an espresso machine through my website (Green Joe Coffee Truck, Albuquerque New Mexico) . I wrote a blog on the topic and wanted to get this out to the community so we can expand on it. Comments and Questions are welcome! ~Vince
Espresso Machine
A little history of the espresso machine: It was invented by Angelo Moriondo in 1884 in Turin, Italy. However, it wasn't commercialized until 1905, when a man named Desiderio Pavoni got ahold of it. Pavoni made several changes to the machine after purchasing the patent.
The espresso machine should not be underestimated and in my opinion is the center of a coffee truck. In the summer, you can make Fraps. In the winter, you can make latte's. It will literally double your profits. However, it will also double your energy consumption. Plan your power needs accordingly. When you are making you decision, also consider where you will get your parts from when the machine breaks down.
Espresso machines can get pretty complex and by no means am I an espresso machine expert. However, breaking it down into a few different categories can help a person make a decision of which machine might be best for them. Let's take a look at the different characteristics of an espresso machine. The espresso machine uses heat and pressure to increase the extraction of coffee. The more heat, the more power.
.
1. Heat-Heat is generated from the heating elements that are within the boiler. It can be powered by either gas or electric.
2. Pressure: Pressure is generate from a piston (lever), steam or motor.
3. Power: 110v, 220v or Propane
4. Operations: Lever vs. Semi-Automatic vs. Fully Automatic vs. Super Automatic
Heat
The boiler system contains the boiler, the heating element, and 2-3 outlets (steam, group head and hot water).
Outlets
Each of these outlets typically have a gauge which shows the pressure is within that outlets system. The two outlets are under different amounts of pressure. The Steam Outlet typically sits at 1.5 pars or 1.5 times atmospheric pressure. The Extraction Outlet (for the group-head) is much more. It typically sits at 9-11 bars.
Boiler
The boiler can come in single, double or a single with heat exchange (HX). It helps to understand the temperature for brewing coffee (190-204 degrees) and the temperature for steaming milk (above 212 degrees) are different.
Single Boiler
A single boiler is a large cylinder raises water to brewing temperature of 190-204'F. The shot is then pulled from the group head. A valve, button or switch shuts off the group head and allows for the temperature to continue rising until it is high enough to steam milk (240'F +).
Dual Boiler
Dual boilers contain two cylinders. One cylinder is to brew coffee and the other cylinder is to steam the milk. The "Brew Boiler" is dedicated to coffee grounds only. It reaches a temp of 190-204'F and is stopped there. The "Steam Boiler" is dedicated to the frothing wand and will reach temperatures above boiling (240'F+). These are going to be considered your golden standard for commercial operations. But they come with a cost. If you find one for under $2k then you caught yourself either a deal or a lemon.
Single Boiler with Heat Exchange
A clever little contraption is the Heat Exchange (HX). A heat exchange is a small copper pipe that runs through a single boiler. Within that pipe is cold water. This allows the water to heat prior to reaching the group head. However, when reaching the group head, the water is still too hot and must be mixed with some cold water. How much? Every machine is different. Tinkering is a must with these. The nice part about these machines is they don't require as much electricity. Most run off 110v and will be able to steam milk and brew coffee. Cost of these start at $1k and move up.
Pressure
There are generally 3 ways of generating pressure to the group head: Manual (Lever Machines), Steam and Motor Driven.
Manual
Manual machines come in 2 flavors: Spring Piston and Direct Lever.
Spring Piston
These machines have an internal spring that you compress by pulling the lever down. As you release the lever, the spring decompresses and generates pressure to the group head. You can always tell which machines these are because their lever points up.
Direct Lever
These machines generate pressure directly from the baristas arm. They are pointed down in begin position and are lifted up to generate pressure. They give the barista the most amount of control on how much and when the water/pressure is to be delivered. Barista's' call this a "Pressure Profile". By varying the amount of pressure given in the beginning, middle and end of a shot, they are able to deliver different taste.
Steam
For years, steam was the most used method of drawing espresso shots. But as technology of the machine advanced, steam fell behind. Steam pressure is still used in most household espresso machines. The best feature of a steam machine is its cost. They are incredibly cheap. The biggest draw back is its lack of functionality for the commercial setting and it's safety. They are known to blow up.
Pumps are used in most commercial espresso machines these days. They come in two flavors: Vibration pumps and Rotary pumps.
Vibration Pumps
Made for smaller commercial venues, vibration pumps are recommended to handle less that 50 espresso shots per day. They are low cost for replacement and are able to pre-infuse group heads.
Rotary Pumps
These are the big boys of commercial machines. They can pump 100-200 liters of water per hour. The motor is separate form the pump and they have a direct water line.
Power
There are three main power sources here in the USA. They are 110v, 220v and propane.
110v
110v heating elements are nice because you can plug them in anywhere! It's so much easier to find an outlet. However, the largest heating coil I've seen come out of a 110v was 1800 watts. Which is going to leave you waiting to boil water. Because there is less draw of electricity, there will be a longer wait time between shots and between steaming milk.
220v
Its not atypical for a 220v heating element to pull 4,000 watts. 220v machines can draw a huge amount of electricity, thus keeping dual boilers at peak performance constantly. These machines are the type that once you get them warmed up, you can pull from them all day and never worrying about waiting to steam milk or pull another shot.
Propane
Propane machines had faded out but are making a comeback. Currently Astoria has the market on them, offering their "Gloria". Conversions espresso machines to handle propane will allow you to use propane when operating without power. Specifically in the Gloria, if you are within's powers reach, you can switch over to electric. So it would be considered a Dual Power machine.
Operations
There are several different methods for operating the espresso machine depending on how much control you'd like...
Manual
Manual gives the barist the most control. As mentioned previously, manual or lever operated espresso machines have a lever the barista uses to generate pressure and operate the shot.
Semi-Automatic
These amazingly user friendly machines generate pressure with a push of the button. The devil however is in the details. Semi-automatic machines require programing ahead of time. The only negative aspect to these machines are users have to push the off button.
Fully-Automatic
Fully automatic machines are just like semi-automatic machines, but you don't have to push the off button. It just clicks off. This is what I personally use and I love it. My machine has a semi-auto feature if I want it, but I don't use it much. I like being able to go hands-free. While my shot is drawing, I'm cashing someone out or putting syrup in a cup.
Super-Automatic
This machine is an all in one. Simply push the button and it will grind, measure, tamp and pour the drink. Think of those coffee makers at the hospitals, the one's with the cards on it. Same gig. This is as close to "hands off" as you're going to get.
Conclusion
So there's a lot of combinations here that will give you different performance.
You'll have to think about what operation you are going to run and how much capital you have for the machine. If you're hurting on cash, then you may want to start small and upgrade later on. If you have the cash on hand, then I would encourage purchasing more machine than you need. After all, your business is only going to get more busier, right
I've been getting a lot of questions about how to choose an espresso machine through my website (Green Joe Coffee Truck, Albuquerque New Mexico) . I wrote a blog on the topic and wanted to get this out to the community so we can expand on it. Comments and Questions are welcome! ~Vince
Espresso Machine
A little history of the espresso machine: It was invented by Angelo Moriondo in 1884 in Turin, Italy. However, it wasn't commercialized until 1905, when a man named Desiderio Pavoni got ahold of it. Pavoni made several changes to the machine after purchasing the patent.
The espresso machine should not be underestimated and in my opinion is the center of a coffee truck. In the summer, you can make Fraps. In the winter, you can make latte's. It will literally double your profits. However, it will also double your energy consumption. Plan your power needs accordingly. When you are making you decision, also consider where you will get your parts from when the machine breaks down.
Espresso machines can get pretty complex and by no means am I an espresso machine expert. However, breaking it down into a few different categories can help a person make a decision of which machine might be best for them. Let's take a look at the different characteristics of an espresso machine. The espresso machine uses heat and pressure to increase the extraction of coffee. The more heat, the more power.
.
1. Heat-Heat is generated from the heating elements that are within the boiler. It can be powered by either gas or electric.
2. Pressure: Pressure is generate from a piston (lever), steam or motor.
3. Power: 110v, 220v or Propane
4. Operations: Lever vs. Semi-Automatic vs. Fully Automatic vs. Super Automatic
Heat
The boiler system contains the boiler, the heating element, and 2-3 outlets (steam, group head and hot water).
Outlets
Each of these outlets typically have a gauge which shows the pressure is within that outlets system. The two outlets are under different amounts of pressure. The Steam Outlet typically sits at 1.5 pars or 1.5 times atmospheric pressure. The Extraction Outlet (for the group-head) is much more. It typically sits at 9-11 bars.
Boiler
The boiler can come in single, double or a single with heat exchange (HX). It helps to understand the temperature for brewing coffee (190-204 degrees) and the temperature for steaming milk (above 212 degrees) are different.
Single Boiler
A single boiler is a large cylinder raises water to brewing temperature of 190-204'F. The shot is then pulled from the group head. A valve, button or switch shuts off the group head and allows for the temperature to continue rising until it is high enough to steam milk (240'F +).
- Pros: These are going to be cheap (less than $1k). This is what you will find in household espresso machines.
- Cons: The wait time. You will have to wait between pulling a shot and steaming your milk. Not too fitting for a commercial environment.
Dual Boiler
Dual boilers contain two cylinders. One cylinder is to brew coffee and the other cylinder is to steam the milk. The "Brew Boiler" is dedicated to coffee grounds only. It reaches a temp of 190-204'F and is stopped there. The "Steam Boiler" is dedicated to the frothing wand and will reach temperatures above boiling (240'F+). These are going to be considered your golden standard for commercial operations. But they come with a cost. If you find one for under $2k then you caught yourself either a deal or a lemon.
- Pros: No wait time on steaming milk.
- Cons: Larger machine. Requires more energy to heat.
Single Boiler with Heat Exchange
A clever little contraption is the Heat Exchange (HX). A heat exchange is a small copper pipe that runs through a single boiler. Within that pipe is cold water. This allows the water to heat prior to reaching the group head. However, when reaching the group head, the water is still too hot and must be mixed with some cold water. How much? Every machine is different. Tinkering is a must with these. The nice part about these machines is they don't require as much electricity. Most run off 110v and will be able to steam milk and brew coffee. Cost of these start at $1k and move up.
- Pros: Nice mixture between single and dual. Doesn't require as much energy to power but can still steam milk without waiting. You can steam milk and brew coffee on a 110v machine.
- Cons: More of a finicky machine and takes trial and error to dial it in. Requires more attention to detail.
Pressure
There are generally 3 ways of generating pressure to the group head: Manual (Lever Machines), Steam and Motor Driven.
Manual
Manual machines come in 2 flavors: Spring Piston and Direct Lever.
Spring Piston
These machines have an internal spring that you compress by pulling the lever down. As you release the lever, the spring decompresses and generates pressure to the group head. You can always tell which machines these are because their lever points up.
- Pros: By cocking and re-cocking the lever, you can manipulate not only how much water is delivered but also when the water is delivered. This gives the Barista more control on the espresso shot.
- Cons: More room for perfection also comes with more room for error. Spring lever espresso machines hold the title for the most shots thrown away. Lots of trial and error with these babies.
Direct Lever
These machines generate pressure directly from the baristas arm. They are pointed down in begin position and are lifted up to generate pressure. They give the barista the most amount of control on how much and when the water/pressure is to be delivered. Barista's' call this a "Pressure Profile". By varying the amount of pressure given in the beginning, middle and end of a shot, they are able to deliver different taste.
- Pros: The most control over the variables of the espresso shot.
- Cons: Requires an incredible amount of technical skill.
Steam
For years, steam was the most used method of drawing espresso shots. But as technology of the machine advanced, steam fell behind. Steam pressure is still used in most household espresso machines. The best feature of a steam machine is its cost. They are incredibly cheap. The biggest draw back is its lack of functionality for the commercial setting and it's safety. They are known to blow up.
- Pros: Cheap.
- Cons: Long recovery time. Safety issues.
Pumps are used in most commercial espresso machines these days. They come in two flavors: Vibration pumps and Rotary pumps.
Vibration Pumps
Made for smaller commercial venues, vibration pumps are recommended to handle less that 50 espresso shots per day. They are low cost for replacement and are able to pre-infuse group heads.
Rotary Pumps
These are the big boys of commercial machines. They can pump 100-200 liters of water per hour. The motor is separate form the pump and they have a direct water line.
- Pros: You can draw from it all day and never miss a beat.
- Cons: Typically cost more. A bit more noisy then the vibration pumps.
Power
There are three main power sources here in the USA. They are 110v, 220v and propane.
110v
110v heating elements are nice because you can plug them in anywhere! It's so much easier to find an outlet. However, the largest heating coil I've seen come out of a 110v was 1800 watts. Which is going to leave you waiting to boil water. Because there is less draw of electricity, there will be a longer wait time between shots and between steaming milk.
220v
Its not atypical for a 220v heating element to pull 4,000 watts. 220v machines can draw a huge amount of electricity, thus keeping dual boilers at peak performance constantly. These machines are the type that once you get them warmed up, you can pull from them all day and never worrying about waiting to steam milk or pull another shot.
Propane
Propane machines had faded out but are making a comeback. Currently Astoria has the market on them, offering their "Gloria". Conversions espresso machines to handle propane will allow you to use propane when operating without power. Specifically in the Gloria, if you are within's powers reach, you can switch over to electric. So it would be considered a Dual Power machine.
Operations
There are several different methods for operating the espresso machine depending on how much control you'd like...
Manual
Manual gives the barist the most control. As mentioned previously, manual or lever operated espresso machines have a lever the barista uses to generate pressure and operate the shot.
Semi-Automatic
These amazingly user friendly machines generate pressure with a push of the button. The devil however is in the details. Semi-automatic machines require programing ahead of time. The only negative aspect to these machines are users have to push the off button.
Fully-Automatic
Fully automatic machines are just like semi-automatic machines, but you don't have to push the off button. It just clicks off. This is what I personally use and I love it. My machine has a semi-auto feature if I want it, but I don't use it much. I like being able to go hands-free. While my shot is drawing, I'm cashing someone out or putting syrup in a cup.
Super-Automatic
This machine is an all in one. Simply push the button and it will grind, measure, tamp and pour the drink. Think of those coffee makers at the hospitals, the one's with the cards on it. Same gig. This is as close to "hands off" as you're going to get.
Conclusion
So there's a lot of combinations here that will give you different performance.
- A single group, HX, 110v machine with vibration pump or rotary pump would be awesome for a small set up like a farmers market or food truck that doesn't have a high demand for espresso. It'll cost you about 1k.
- If you're looking for a work-horse, consider a dual boiler, 2 group, automatic with 220v. It'll pull a lot of power, but it will keep pumping out drinks.
- If you are trying to get off the grid, then a manual, propane powered machine might work best for you.
You'll have to think about what operation you are going to run and how much capital you have for the machine. If you're hurting on cash, then you may want to start small and upgrade later on. If you have the cash on hand, then I would encourage purchasing more machine than you need. After all, your business is only going to get more busier, right
