Automatic machines which have a lot to offer

The fully automatic coffee machine is characterised by easy operation and great diversity. Coffee Times takes a look at the complex interior of these powerful machines. Fully automatic coffee production at the touch of a button – what looks simple is actually rather complex: It takes sophisticated technology to ensure the enjoyment of a high-quality product in the end! A multifunctional coffee machine, which is the correct name of an automatic coffee machine, can have a capacity of about 260 cups of espresso and about 120 cups of café crème per hour.

Each machine consists of several components which are adjusted to each other. The grinder grinds the beans to the desired degree and fills the brew group. A pump supplies water through a continuous-flow water heater, which starts the brewing process in the brew group. The pressure generated by the boiler, at which the coffee is pressed through the piston, is decisive for the characteristic formation of crema on the espresso and the extraction of disturbing oils. There may be differences in the piston diameter, which also makes a decisive contribution to the taste of the coffee. If it is typically 44 mm especially for espresso (in Italy), machines which are mainly designed for long cups (for the market outside Italy) have a diameter of 50 mm. Among the extras available for fully automatic machines the most important one is the milk frother.

The milk needed for cappuccino or latte macchiato is frothed with hot water steam or a so-called cappuccinatore. Even if there are sceptics – the results achieved by fully automatic machines do meet professional requirements; and there is the added advantage that their operation and maintenance is easier and requires less staff than is the case e.g. for portafilter machines. On top of this correct programming allows a broad range of beverages (cup lengths) of consistent quality. Nevertheless there is always the limitation that a fully automatic coffee machine cannot be a substitute for the perfect espresso made by a trained barista with its crema prepared manually in a portafilter machine. What should you bear in mind, if you want to find the best coffee for your fully automatic coffee machine?

Special composition

It takes a very special composition of beans to create a coffee blend that allows you to prepare all types of coffee without losing any flavour. Long cup, espresso or cappuccino: any length must be covered and flawless in flavour. The classical espresso bean is not suitable for this purpose, because it may produce a bitter nuance in a long cup on the one hand, and on the other hand it needs the high exit temperature of a traditional espresso machine, which a fully automatic coffee machine does not reach, for the full development of its characteristic taste. In commercial use fully automatic machines are usually adjusted for all lengths of coffee by specially trained technicians, when they are first installed. For private purposes – if possible – you are urgently advised to adjust the degree of grinding, water quantity and temperature of the automatic coffee machine to the coffee blend to achieve best results.

More practical coffee tips worth exploring

Harvesting & Processing

Harvesting methods

The fruit of the coffee tree takes a long time to reach maturity: coffee plants first produce yields after three or four years and reach their maximum production capacity after six to eight years. This period is also influenced by climate, soil and fertilisation. These circumstances make the coffee tree a plant that needs to be harvested with the utmost care, as not all fruits are ripe at the same time. Various traditional harvesting methods more or less guarantee this.

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