Understand The Technology Behind Coffee Machines

Coffee machine has made transition from coffee shops to home countertops. The history of modern coffee machine is a long one. The coffee maker apparatus has transformed throughout the past 400 years.

Before the technological modernization, coffee making process was laborious, lengthy and consumed a lot of time and effort and necessitated some skills and practice. Coffee making instruments were complicated, impractical to use, and took up a lot of space.

The filtering technique was invented 120 years ago, however, the filtering process was not entirely seamless but it prepared a good quality cup with lasting aroma. Before the filtering technique was perfected, roasted and ground coffee would merely be cooked in a small pot with little water. This was the widely used recipe for making coffee by coffee shops all around the world.

Today, coffee machines have become a household item, serving hot mug in mere seconds. Modern coffee machines have made the brewing process fast and efficient at just push of a button. From the start of the 20th century, the technology of coffee machines gradually became standardized.

The coffee shop machines became more functional, handy, with better structure, well-regulated temperature settings to prepare perfect brew. Plastic and new artificial materials have replaced the previous metal structure of coffee machines, making possible various colour coffee maker structure.

Indeed, the contemporary coffee machines are very chic, a centerpiece of any kitchen or coffee shop, and also simplifying the coffee brewing process with a single push of a button.

The automated coffee appliance gives room for optimization of flavour, strength, temperature and volume of the brew according to individual preference. Cleaning and descaling of the coffee machines have also been automated to make it more maintainable and durable for daily household use.

How Coffee Machines Work

Coffee is one of the most favored drink by people to kick start their day and awake themselves with a caffeine jolt. Coffee is the most favourite beverage, but hardly anyone will get into the hassle of making coffee through complex brewing ways. Usually, people grab their regular dose of caffeine from particular coffee shop.

But at times, this is not possible and nobody likes to miss on their daily caffeine intake. Especially, during this pandemic era, people have been mostly restricted to their houses and remote working has become the norm.

In order to get down to business and prep yourself for that endless zoom meetings, most of us need a good caffeine nudge. To remedy this situation, a good cuppa would go a long way, and making a good, efficient and easy to use coffee machine is must household item to help us through these turbulent times.

All coffee machines work with the same basic method of passing heated water through ground coffee beans and finally into your cup. We will look at the anatomy of three most widely used coffee appliances and understand their working procedure.

Drip Coffee Machines

The drip coffee machine is the most common household coffee device and most easy and efficient to use at home. The basic principle is same of running heated water through ground coffee and pouring the resulting brew into your cup.

Components

The drip coffee machine is divided into two main units, the top and bottom unit.

Top Unit

The top units have four components i.e.

Reservoir: The reservoir is basically a simple water containing bucket and is the biggest segment of the coffee machine. The reservoirs vary in size in different coffee machines, having different capacity of water storage.

Hot-Water Tube: The insulated hot water tube goes from the lower seat of the machine up to the faucet at the top. The hot water tube basically transport water from bottom to the faucet at top.

Faucet: The faucet function as diffuser and sprinkle the heated water over ground coffee beans to make the quality brew that you desire.

Drip Area: The drip area is a pierced plastic case that separates the faucet from the coffee. The holes in the plastic case regulate the flow of pouring water.

Bottom Unit: The bottom tier contain.

Cold-Water Tube: The cold-water tube transfers water from the reservoir passing it along to the heating element to get heated up.

Hot-Water Tube: The hot-water tube is connected to the heating element and runs to the faucet at the top, transporting hot water to be sprayed over the coffee shop grounds.

Heating Element: The heating element is made up of aluminum and bridge the cold-water tube with hot-water tube, heating the water along the way.

One-Way Valve: The one way-way valve ensures one-side flow of the heated water to the faucet.

Power Cord: The power cord brings the coffee machine to life to brew you a perfect cup of coffee like a coffee shop.

Espresso Coffee Machines

Espresso machine brews a strong shot of brew with a significant punch. Espresso machine a no more a luxury only coffee shop restricted item. They have technologically evolved and are easier to use household appliance now. The advance automation has taken this complex machine from coffee shops and made it a centerpiece household appliance.

Components

Reservoir: The reservoir is the water storage unit and attached to the machine in household coffee machine model. In commercial coffee shop espresso machines, they are hooked up to continuous water supply source.

Pump: The pump pushes the water through the ground coffee beans. Espresso machine exerts 9 Psi pressure to achieve the desired thrust.

Heating Chamber: Most of the espresso machine have an internally regulated heating element with no external control of the heating thermostat. Although, some advance model gives you outward heating optimization. The heating chamber is a metal flask that stores the water till it is turned into a steam. It is similar to that of the drip coffee machine.

Steam Wand: The steam wand steam and froth the milk for lattes and cappuccinos. It is connected to the heating chamber and is turned on through a valve, to make way for the milk.

Group head: The function of group head is to carry water from reservoir to the porta-filter for delivering a perfect brew into your cup.

Porta-Filter: Ground coffee beans are placed in the metal porta-filter and are compressed firmly with a tamp. After pressing the finely ground coffee beans, porta-filter in placed into the group-head and sealed to begin the process of espresso making.

Keurig Coffee Machines

Keurig Coffee Machines is the most popular and widely use coffee maker currently available in the market. Keurig utilizes pre-packaged coffee container to brew a single-serve coffee. It utilizes both a drip coffee machine and espresso machine technique to brew a cup of coffee like a coffee shop.

Components

Reservoir: It is water holding container hooked to a water level sensor. Sensor has the power to cut the electricity when there is insufficient water in reservoir.

Pump: The pump draws water from the reservoir into the base and later pushed by the pump through the heat resistant tubing.

Heat Resistant Tubing: It is connected to the pump and deliver water to the heating element.

Heating Element: The heating element of Keurig has a sophisticated system and consistently heat water.

Two Needles: Two needles positioned within the brewing compartment allow the water through the coffee grounds, creating a perfectly brewed cup of coffee similar to that of coffee Perth.