Espresso machines are among the most popular types of coffee machines worldwide. While they tend to be quite expensive, their capabilities make them a great choice for anyone who enjoys a variety of coffees. Whether you prefer a large or small cup, milk coffee or black coffee, an espresso machine can make them all. In this article, we’ll introduce you to espresso machines and explore what makes them so interesting.
3 types of espresso machine technology: let’s take a look
Espresso machines come in many different types, each with its own features and capabilities. Their prices also vary. Today, we’ll introduce you to the following types of espresso machines.
- THERMOBLOCK espresso machines
THERMOBLOCK espresso machines are relatively affordable and well suited to home use. They have a single boiler and usually offer 2 heating modes. The first heats water to the right temperature for brewing coffee, while the second heats water to produce steam for frothing milk. These machines cannot maintain a precise water temperature, and you have to choose between brewing coffee and steaming milk, which limits how many coffees you can make. For this reason, they are not very popular for commercial use or in cafés, but are suitable for home use where only a few cups are made each day.
However, Thermoblock technology has the advantage of heating fresh water for each brew, rather than leaving it sitting in a boiler. This helps keep the coffee’s aroma and flavor clean, since water is not left in the boiler for long periods when the machine is used infrequently. It also reduces the chance of scale building up in the boiler or water pipes.
These machines often use a vibration pump to create water pressure. One drawback of this type of pump is that it can be quite noisy. The pressure needed is 9 bar or 130 PSI, but these pumps are set much higher, at 15 bar or 220 PSI. As a result, these machines have a valve that opens when the pressure exceeds 9 bar to reduce it. Users may need to readjust this valve after using the machine for a while.
Today, manufacturers have improved Thermoblock technology to make it more stable and effective for both brewing coffee and steaming milk at the right pressure. You can find this technology in brands such as ascaso.
- Heat Exchanger espresso machines
Heat Exchanger espresso machines are well suited to cafés and offer a good level of technology. They have one main boiler, along with a smaller boiler at around 120 degrees Celsius that produces steam for frothing milk. This temperature may be too high for brewing coffee, so these machines pump cold water through a heat exchanger. The exchanger consists of a pipe that runs through the boiler, where the water is heated by the boiler water to the desired temperature. The advantage of this technology is that you can steam milk while brewing coffee, reducing the time needed to prepare each cup and letting you combine the espresso shot with the milk in time.
These machines use mechanical controls to measure temperature, so results can vary. Higher-quality machines can also control the boiler temperature more effectively. Heat Exchanger espresso machines may come with a vibration pump or a rotary pump, which is used in commercial machines because it is quieter and easier to adjust. Heat exchanger systems are suitable for home use and small-scale commercial use, depending on the boiler’s capacity.
- Dual Boiler espresso machines
Dual Boiler espresso machines have separate water supplies for brewing and steaming. They have one boiler for brewing coffee and another, separate boiler that heats water to a higher temperature to produce steam for frothing milk. The temperature of this boiler is controlled digitally, making it easy to adjust and more stable. These machines are well suited to large commercial cafés and offices. They are also more expensive than the two types described above.
Those are the 3 types of espresso machines we wanted to introduce. They differ in how they work and in how precisely they control the temperature for brewing and producing steam to froth milk as desired. If you have questions about espresso machines or would like to learn more, visit our website.
