Espresso coffee isn’t called that because it’s prepared quickly or expressly, although that’s also true. The Italian word literally means pressed. In the early 20th century, Luigi Bezzera patented the first espresso machine, which used steam pressure to force hot water through ground coffee, producing a concentrated, rich beverage in seconds. This revolutionary method quickly spread, especially in Italian coffee shops, and laid the foundation for the modern coffee culture we know today.
Coffee is an infusion, just like tea. The water on the ground coffee beans extracts the caffeine, flavors, and antioxidants to create the beverage we call coffee. Several factors influence this process, mainly the extraction time, the water temperature, and the thickness of the ground coffee. Cold-pressed coffee or cold infusion This is done in cold water for at least 12 hours. The Italian coffee maker or moka uses very hot, almost boiling water, which passes through the ground coffee propelled by its own steam and prepares the coffee in a few minutes.
In the case of espresso coffee, a pump is used that pushes hot water (about 90 degrees, never boiling) through very finely ground coffee, with a high pressure of between 15 and 18 bars. The result is a very concentrated coffee, in a few seconds. Another characteristic of this coffee is the crema, a very fine foam that comes from the CO2 trapped in the coffee beans and released under pressure.
To achieve this pressure, the first espresso machines were equipped with a manual pump operated by a lever. Nowadays, it is possible to obtain coffee makers with a manual pump, and they are very popular with experts. However, in most bars and in home espresso machines, a machine with an electric pump is used.
However, it is necessary to control the extraction time, the water temperature and the grinding of the coffee until you get the perfect result. Capsule coffee machines simplify this process. The capsules contain ground and calibrated coffee, as well as the pressure of the coffee maker, to obtain the same quality of espresso every time.
With all this, it may seem impossible to bring espresso coffee to a place without electricity like a wild beach or the mountains, but that is not the case. Here are some of the options available to prepare espresso anywhere.
WACACO Nanopresso
About the size of a large beer can, the Nanopresso is an espresso machine that can be carried in your pocket. Made of durable plastic, it has a compartment inside where the ground coffee is placed.
Hot water is then poured into the top, closed and the hand pump on the side is activated until coffee starts to come out. Then all you have to do is take it apart and clean it to prepare it.
It costs around 75 euros and has an optional accessory, purchased separately, to be able to use it with Nespresso capsules.
Outin Nano
The Outin Nano is a slightly more expensive option that costs around 150 euros but, in exchange, this small machine does everything by itself. It has a powerful battery that takes care of heating the water and extracting the coffee at high pressure with the push of a button. In addition, it has the capacity to prepare three to five cups if fully charged, unlike the previous model that can only prepare one cup. Cold water only takes about three or four minutes to heat to 94 degrees. An adapter for Nespresso capsules is also included in the price. It is waterproof, thermally insulated and waterproof to avoid accidents. The battery can be recharged with a USB-C cable.
Flair Coffee Maker
Much more expensive, the Flair espresso machine, which costs around 300 euros, provides a professional coffee that has nothing to envy to that of a cafeteria. It is an aluminum support with a large lever and a stainless steel infuser. It can be folded and transported in a suitcase. But, in addition, the manufacturer offers the Flex model, much smaller and less than 100 euros, with the same results. The process is completely manual: the ground coffee is placed in the infuser, the water is poured at the right temperature, around 90 degrees, and the lever is operated, which reaches a pressure between 6 and 10 bars, and has a pressure gauge to measure it. accurately.
The importance of the grinder
Yes, espresso can be prepared with pre-ground coffee, but demanding coffee makers know that there is a big difference when using freshly ground coffee. If we want to enjoy this advantage anywhere, we will need a portable coffee grinder. The most suitable are those equipped with burrs, as they offer the most uniform grinding. But be careful, not all grinders are capable of achieving the finer fineness necessary for espresso coffee, with a texture finer than table salt. Those equipped with stainless steel conical wheels, such as the Timemore Chesnut C2 model, can easily achieve this.
