The purpose of this article is to discuss the
differences between the traditional espresso machine and the fully
automatic bean to cup coffee machine.
There are other types of coffee machine available too, such as
the filter coffee machine, pod machine or instant coffee machine,
but these are not considered in this article as they cannot produce
‘proper’ speciality coffee drinks such as latte, espresso,
ristretto etc.
In order to produce authentic specialty coffee drinks you must
first be able to produce a genuine espresso shot. This is made by
passing hot water under pressure through a wad of ground coffee, to
produce a short, strong and concentrated coffee liquor. When the
espresso shot is blended with foamed or steamed milk then most
popular types of specialty coffee drinks such as cappuccino, latte,
macchiato can be made.
Both the traditional espresso machine and the bean to cup
machine are able to produce espresso shots and foamed milk.
Firstly we will consider overall drink quality. Here the
traditional espresso machine comes out on top. This is assuming
that the operator (barista) is well trained and both types of
equipment are clean and well-maintained.
An espresso based drink produced on a traditional espresso machine
and prepared by a top barista is the best you can get! Drinks from
a bean to cup machine are can be excellent and many people would
not be able to tell the difference, but a top coffee connoisseur
would.
Secondly when considering the consistency of the final beverage
the bean to cup machine would usually win. The quality of drink
from a traditional espresso machine depends on the barista and his
frame of mind at the time and so can vary greatly. Bean to
cup machines however produce the same drink at the push of a button
and are not dependent on the operator.
Thirdly, ease of use. Here again the fully automatic bean to cup
machine comes out on top as most drinks are prepared by the push of
a button. To prepare and serve a quality beverage from a
traditional espresso machine is a skilled art and takes
considerable practise to master.
Fourthly to consider is ‘theatre’ or ambience of the drink
preparation. Whilst a bean to cup machine is purely a functional
device to produce a quality beverage, the traditional espresso
machine adds that special magic to the whole coffee experience.
Customers can watch as the barista skilfully prepares their
beverage and this can enhance the overall experience.
Honours are even then on the main four criteria, so the choice
is yours. Decide which are the most important factors in your
particular case before contacting your local coffee machine
supplier.
Enjoy.
Written by Fenton Wayne - (Fenton Wayne is an independent
advisor in the coffee and vending trade where he has over 25
years experience. This article has been submitted to and
distributed by www.submityourarticle.com)