The group head is a part of any espresso machine. It is the heart of the machine and responsible for creating a great cup of espresso Located on the front of the machine, the group head is a metal, permanent attachment that brings water out of the machine and into the filter basket.
What is group head?
A grouphead (or group head) is the receiver for the removable portafilter (or group handle) A typical consumer espresso machine normally has only one grouphead, while popular professional machines, such as those used at commercial coffee shops, can contain anywhere from one to seven.
Should you keep the group head on the coffee machine?
What I see happen a lot of times is people leave the portafilter off the machine the portafilter cools down and when they go to pull their shot they get sourness in the shot because the portafilter is cold. So you definitely want to keep it on the machine.
How many group heads do I need?
For home use, one group head is usually enough For commercial uses, two group heads are usually the safest, but depending on the demand, you can opt for one or three group heads as well.
Should I leave the portafilter in the group head?
The main reason for leaving your portafilter in the group is for heat IMHO When it is in there, you do not need to wrench it on hard. Keep it lightly on, just enough to keep it from falling out. It does not degrade the gasket any faster than having the machine on all the time.
What is an espresso group?
Located on the front of the machine, the group head is a metal, permanent attachment that brings water out of the machine and into the filter basket A group head is commonly simply called the ‘group. ‘ You might also hear it referred to as the ‘espresso machine group,’ ‘brew group,’ or ‘brew head. ‘.
What are the 3 parts of espresso?
3 parts of an espresso shot. Crema, Body, Heart The second layer is the Body, the middle section of the espresso shot. This should be a caramel color.
Should you leave portafilter in overnight?
Leave portafilters in groupheads overnight to prevent gaskets from drying and cracking Always pull a throwaway shot first thing in the morning to remove cleaning residue.
What is flushing group head?
Flush the group head. The rinse of water prior to brewing, intended to remove spent coffee residue This practice is sometimes used to increase or decrease brew water temperature on machines that are prone to temperature instability. Glossary Term & Definition← Glossary Index.
How does a group head work?
Essentially, the group head is the part of the espresso machine where water from the boiler is dispensed into the coffee filter basket. It acts as a meeting point, connecting the machine to the group handle and the water to coffee.
What is a group head in a coffee maker?
What is a Grouphead? Group heads, sometimes shortened to ‘groups’ simply refers to the component on an espresso machine that allows the connection with a portafilter During the process of extracting espresso, hot water is forced through the grouphead under pressure.
What is a 2 group espresso machine?
The 2 group coffee machine is able to make up to four cups of coffee within the same time frame Lastly, the 3 group coffee machine can make a maximum of six coffees at the same time. For instance, you can easily make a cappuccino, a latte, and 2 Americanos at the same time with a 2 group machine.
Do you clean portafilter after each use?
We recommend cleaning the portafilter every 10 shots At home, however, the demand is far less so there’s no reason to leave it dirty. For convenience, consider cleaning the portafilter right after pulling your shot and before drinking your coffee – just get it out of your way.
Should you heat up portafilter?
Step 1: Preheat Portafilter The coffee grounds would be extracted with water that is too cold, resulting in a sour espresso. This is why the warm-up phase is so important.
Should you preheat portafilter?
To make espresso, it is good to preheat the portafilter by running hot water through it You should also start with a pre-warmed espresso cup. Cups can be warmed on the heating tray of your espresso machine (if your espresso machine has one), or you can pour some hot water into the cup, and then drain it.
Why is it called espresso?
Espresso is the word borrowed from Italian to mean “coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground darkly roasted coffee beans.” In Italian this word means “made for one serving” or “made at the customer’s request,” to distinguish it from coffee brewed in a pot.
What is an espresso portafilter?
That’s the portafilter (also sometimes referred to as a “group handle”). This spoon-looking device harbors a basket which is actually what holds the coffee grounds during the pulling or extracting of the espresso shot.
What are the parts of an espresso maker?
- GROUP HEAD. This is where all the magic takes place
- PORTAFILTER
- PORTAFILTER FILTER SPRING
- PORTAFILTER BASKET
- GROUP GASKET
- GROUP SCREEN
- GROUP DISPENSE SWITCH
- GROUP DOSING KEYPAD.
How many espresso machines does a coffee shop need?
20 for small to mid-size towns, 50 for larger cities A one-group machine will work well for your needs. The masses walk bleary-eyed through your doors, expecting their daily caffeine fix. Y need a machine that won’t let you down during the morning rush.
What is a 3 group coffee machine?
In commercial settings where there are constantly back-to-back orders, a three-group commercial espresso machine can make all the difference. With three groups, baristas can make multiple drinks at a time, and you start to get enough room for more than one barista to work at the machine simultaneously.
How many cups can an espresso machine make?
Traditional Espresso Machines: As a guide, each group handle will offer around 150 cups per day as a capacity, with the exception of some 1 group machines which will be right for sites that require around 100 cups per day. Milk is manually frothed by placing a jug of chilled milk in its steam wand.
How tight should a portafilter be?
Portafilter needs to be turned towards a point whereby it is snug and fit, NOT tight There is not a need to push the portafilter towards to the extreme tightness all the way.
How full should portafilter be?
Fill the portafilter basket loosely with ground coffee and level off the basket using the side of your pinky finger to discard any excess coffee grounds. For a single shot of espresso use 6 to 7 grams (1 ½ teaspoons) of ground espresso. For a double shot of espresso use 12 to 14 grams (1 tablespoon) of ground espresso.
What is brew group?
The “brew group” is the projection on the front of the machine into which the barista locks the portafilter to make espresso Note that the brew group is large and heavy (so that it retains heat evenly), and it is only a few inches above the drip tray.
What are the espresso bases?
- Latte. A latte is a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk and foam
- Cappuccino. A cappuccino is a shot of espresso with steamed milk
- Ristretto. A ristretto is a single shot of espresso
- Macchiato. A macchiato is equal parts espresso and steamed milk
- Americano
- Mocha
- Red Eye.
What is a E61 group head?
E61 group heads are an espresso machine group head design that have been around since 1961. It’s a design that is very tried and true and is one that is used on many of our prosumer grade espresso machines and even some commercial machines like the Faema Legend and the Faema Jubile.
What is the top of espresso called?
What Is Crema ? Crema is a flavorful, aromatic, reddish-brown froth that rests on top of a shot of espresso. It is formed when air bubbles combine with fine-ground coffee’s soluble oils.
What is the top layer of espresso called?
Sitting on top of the espresso shot in a thin layer is the thin, golden-brown to brownish-red layer called the crema This foamy layer atop the fine espresso shot holds the finest tastes and aromatic qualities of the espresso shot. The composition of the crema includes proteins and sugars as well as vegetable oils.
What is the foam on top of espresso called?
Coffee beverage known as espresso, must be topped by a velvety thick, reddish-brown foam called crema, to be considered properly prepared and to be appreciated by connoisseurs.
How many times can you use the same espresso?
With a manual espresso machine, I have used the same grounds for two pulls They are ok in a pinch if I want that volume but don’t want to redo the grind, tamp etc. But honestly it is not as good as the first time through. The only thing I can suggest is that when I do them one after the other, it is ok.
Can you use espresso puck twice?
Yes and No. The coffee after your espresso is good for a lot of uses except for having another shot of espresso. Unlike tea which can be reused for the next, less intense brew, coffee powder however cannot be used more than once The first extraction is the only enjoyable brew.
How does a portafilter work?
A portafilter is a component of an espresso machine. It’s the spoon-like device that holds the ground coffee. You attach the portafilter to the group head of the espresso machine, where the hot water comes into contact with the ground beans and extracts espresso.
Why is there water in my portafilter?
You are probably using too much coffee in the portafilter mhoy wrote: You are probably using too much coffee in the portafilter.
How long should you backwash group heads?
Run the machine in this manner for about 5 seconds , and then stop.
How often should you backflush?
Home machines typically only need backflushed once per week with plain water, but it won’t harm your machine performing it more often or with cleaners. Commercial machines should be backflushed at the end of every busy business day with a sufficient cleaner.
Why do people purge espresso?
Purging ensures that only water at the target temperature is used to extract the espresso To Flush Brew Water that May Be Too Hot. This is particularly important if you’re working with a single-boiler machine.
What is a saturated group head?
Answer: A saturated group head is one that is surrounded in water from the boiler Instead of a completely separate component, the group head acts as an extension of the coffee boiler, allowing for consistent water temperature throughout.
What is a tamper for espresso machine?
Tampers are tools used to pack (or “tamp”) espresso grounds into the basket of an espresso machine The purpose of a tamper is to pack the grounds evenly for a quality shot. Essentially, you’re taking it from a loose pile of ‘dosed’ grounds to a tightly compressed cake inside the basket.
What is group gasket?
Group gaskets, the thick rubber rings that fit between the portafilter and group head , can wear out over time. It is important to regularly check your gasket and replace as necessary in order to maintain a proper seal and pressure at the group head.