Espresso machine: how it works, price and statistics
Posted on avril 5, 2014 by Frank
Coffee is a one of the most important drugs in today’s society. We depend on caffeine to wake us up in the morning or to supply some very-need fuel to end a day of hard work. It is drank almost everywhere around the world, from America to Asia, although it is more popular in the Western world.
Everyone drinks coffee, but we all have preferences over the type of coffee that we want to drink! Espresso, for example, is a very concentrated type of brew that is served in a very small cup. The average size of an espresso is approximately 44 milliliters and it contains close to 77 milligrams of caffeine. This type of brew is generally produced by a type of equipment called espresso machine and it is served in most coffee shops, at least the good ones!
In this article, we will study how a regular espresso machine works.
Ground coffee is required
As you can see on the following image, which is a courtesy of How Stuff Works, the ground coffee is a lot finer that the regular beans that are used to brew the “regular” coffee.
It takes an average of 25 seconds for an espresso to come out of the machine because of the fine grains. If it takes less time, you are probably in front of a lesser quality of espresso!
What is the process used?
As most regular machines, the espresso machine will push hot water through the ground coffee beans and through a filter that prevents beans from getting through. The water is contained in some kind of vessel. The heater will make it hot enough to be drank and to properly dissolve the coffee into itself.
In some cases, the water is not heated directly in the reservoir but it is pumped instead through a heating chamber. Thanks to a one-way valve, the water that is pumped in this little chamber cannot go back in the reservoir. There can also be a steam wand, a small piece that releases steam into the milk chamber.
Setting up the machine
To make an espresso, you start by turning the machine on and pour water into the reservoir. Then, thanks to the control panel, you will simply turn the machine on and wait until the water is hot enough, which is usually indicated with a LED. Then, you add ground coffee beans into the basket and you put a small cup under the spout; then, by starting the pump, the espresso will slowly come out.
What is the average price of a machine?
The price of an espresso machine will depend on its usage. Cheap alternatives can be bought between 70 and 250$, and mid-range products, which are still sold for residential purposes or for small offices, could reach up to 1000$.
Of course, you will find higher-end equipment on the market. Maison Lipari, for example, offers deluxe Jura espresso machines for up to 6000$! Of course, they’ll come with a slew of cool options and accessories to make you enjoy your coffee experience.
A few statistics about coffee
To conclude this informative article, here are a few statistics that could surprise you:
The main consumers: The countries with the highest consumption of this delicious brew are Finland (with an average yearly consumption of 12 kg per capita!), Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The United States, with its huge population, is the first absolute drinker of coffee with 400 million cups on a daily basis.
The main producers: The biggest producers of this commodity are Brazil (38 million 60kg bags of coffee beans), Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia. Most countries are located in South America but Africa and Asia also contributes to the industry
Coffee shops revenues: Around the world, independent coffee shops account for more than 12 billion dollars in annual revenues.
Daily average consumption: The average consumer drinks 1.6 cups each day. However, if you narrow the statistics to people that drink coffee (excluding all non-drinkers), it raises to 3.2 cups a day.
The time of the day: It is said than 65% of all coffee consumption happens in the morning, during breakfast hours.