Cozy home - How to choose a carob coffee maker

The carob coffee maker opens up the scope of imagination: it can prepare everything from classic black coffee to all kinds of espresso-based milk drinks. We figure out what you should pay attention to and what nuances you need to consider when choosing a carob coffee maker.

A classic espresso can be prepared in a carob coffee maker. In the traditional version, its extraction takes only 25-30 seconds, from where, by the way, the name of the drink came from.

During this time, substances have time to be extracted from the coffee particles, which, with the right balance, give the drink a pleasant taste: coffee oils, acids and sugars, as well as a small amount of caffeine.

An under-extracted drink will be more acidic, and an «over-extracted» drink will have increased bitterness.

Espresso is characterized by the volume of the finished drink 30-40 ml, has a syrupy texture, astringent rich taste, as well as «cream» coffee foam. In the homeland of espresso, in Italy, it is often consumed in the classic version or even in an even shorter and “strong” form — “ristretto”. Ristretto is also prepared in an espresso machine, but the volume of the finished drink is even smaller — up to 20 ml.

The ristretto is even thicker, the acidity is aggressive, and the bitterness is less pronounced. If, on the contrary, the volume of water is increased during the initial laying of dry grain, then you get «lungo»: a more watery drink with a volume of 50 ml or more, as a rule, has a flat and more bitter taste.

We are used to espresso-based drinks with larger volumes: black coffee drinkers usually prefer americano, and softer drinks drinkers choose something based on milk or cream, such as cappuccino, latte or raf.

Most popular espresso drinks

Modern standards for making espresso are as follows: at a water temperature of 93 ° C, in 25 seconds at a pressure of 9 bar, out of 18 grams of coffee, a serving of espresso weighing 36 grams should be obtained. Seems like too many variables? The water temperature and pressure will definitely be taken over by the carob coffee maker, and some models also allow you to adjust the volume of the finished drink. You just have to measure the required amount of coffee and temper it (tamp it down with a special accessory). It is advisable to measure on the scales, but you can use a measuring spoon.

Carob coffee maker device

The figure shows the device of the simplest — steam — carob coffee maker. In it, pressure is created by steam generated when water boils in a tank. Water passes through a valve that opens at a given pressure and enters the filter with a pressed coffee tablet. A steam coffee maker can be identified by the screw cap on the water tank.

Since water enters the filter with a decent pressure, the connection between the filter holder (holder) and the coffee maker must be reliable, tight and quick-release. Therefore, the holder is tightly tightened with the help of a lever — the very “horn” that gave the name to this type of coffee maker.

To prepare milk drinks, milk or cream is heated and whipped with a jet of steam. To do this, carob coffee makers are usually equipped with a cappuccino machine (steamer) — a device that delivers hot steam through a tube to froth milk.

In more expensive models, pressure is created using a pump, and steam is supplied to the cappuccinatore from a separate boiler, so you can froth milk and prepare espresso on them at the same time.

Characteristics of carob coffee makers

The pressure created inside the filter basket is one of the main parameters of carob coffee makers. For proper espresso preparation, the pressure in the coffee basket must be 8-9 bar.
Pump coffee maker provides stable pressure for even extraction. Unfortunately, it is not easy to ensure a stable pressure of this magnitude in steam coffee makers, so they have less pressure in the filter — 2-6 bar.

You can’t get a classic thick espresso on such a coffee maker. The result will be more like coffee made in a geyser coffee maker, where the pressure is also created by steam.
The passport of a pump coffee maker usually indicates the maximum pressure of the pump. To create 9 bar on the filter, it must be higher, so for making classic espresso, you should look at devices with a pressure of about 15 bar.

Used coffee

Most carob coffee makers are designed to use ground coffee. But just pouring coffee into the filter is not enough — it must be tightly tempered so that the coffee «tablet» creates enough resistance to the flow of water, ensuring the proper degree of extraction.

If the coffee is not compacted, the water will wash the coffee mass along the shortest path and quickly flow through the filter without having time to absorb soluble substances. Coffee will be under-extracted: liquid, with a mild taste and high acidity.

In order not to bother with coffee ramming, some carob coffee makers provide the possibility of using pods — ready-made compressed ground coffee tablets in paper filter bags. It is worth considering that this option of coffee will cost more, and the range of pods is much smaller. Some models combine the possibility of using ground coffee and disposable capsules. Capsules are made of aluminum or plastic, a portion of ground coffee is already contained inside, and a valve is located at the bottom of the capsule.

There are also models with a built-in coffee grinder, where you can pour coffee beans. The aroma of freshly ground coffee is much brighter than that of ground coffee from the package. However, it must be borne in mind that with a built-in coffee grinder, the size of the device and its price increase.

There is a cappuccinatore in almost all carob coffee makers. Most often it is manual, it is a tube with a special nozzle through which hot steam is supplied. However, manual cappuccinators also differ from each other. You can determine the type by appearance. Classic steamers look like tubes and have one to three small steam outlets.

It is with such steamers that milk is whipped on professional coffee machines: it turns out to be glossy, uniform and elastic. However, for a good result, a certain skill is required. The popular pannarello is cylindrical without a bottom and is usually removable. This nozzle forms a lush foam with large bubbles. There are other types of nozzles, for example, with switching between whipping and heating modes.

In the pictures below, in order of priority, the panarello nozzle, the nozzle with mode switching and the classic milk frother. The automatic cappuccinatore prepares the froth on its own — you just need to pour the milk into a separate tank and press the button. Among the disadvantages of an automatic cappuccinatore, one can single out the higher cost of the device, as well as the need to rinse the milk tank and pipe after each use.

Coffee makers with a manual cappuccino maker are much cheaper, but it should be noted that making foam with it requires some skill and experience. The steamer tube also needs to be cleaned after each use.

Heater type

There are two main types. The boiler is a metal vessel of a certain volume with a heating element located inside — for simple steam coffee makers, the water tank itself is the boiler, for pump coffee makers, the boiler is located separately from the tank, water is supplied to it using a pump.

In the thermoblock, the water heats up while passing through its heat exchanger, thus heating up in small portions. The thermoblock can be compared to a flow heater. The advantages of the thermoblock include a high heating rate — coffee makers with this type of heater are ready for use within 20-30 seconds after being turned on. However, the thermal block has a weaker thermal stability. If you cook a large portion of 150-200 ml at once, then at the end of the cooking cycle the water temperature may already be lower than at the beginning, because the fuser is quickly cooled by the water flow.

The boiler, on the contrary, takes longer to heat up before the first cooking, but then provides better thermal stability. It should be noted that thermal stability is affected not only by the type of heater, but also by its volume and material of manufacture.

As mentioned above, advanced models can have several heating elements, including different types: a boiler for brewing coffee and a thermoblock for supplying steam. Professional devices are also equipped with a heated working group to keep heat loss to a minimum.

The volume of the coffee maker determines how much coffee the coffee maker can make in one cycle. At the same time, the need for a large volume arises infrequently. Firstly, 200 ml will be enough to prepare a couple of espresso shots. Secondly, in steam coffee makers, the boiler is combined with a water tank, and coffee preparation will begin only when the entire volume warms up to the boiling temperature — on devices with a large tank, this can take quite a long time. It is also recommended to fill in fresh water each time for making coffee.

Adjusting the portion of hot water allows the coffee maker to pour the programmed amount of drink on its own. As a rule, such devices are equipped with buttons for preparing a single and double portion, however, in some models, the required volume can be set independently. In the absence of this option, the coffee maker, after the start of making coffee, will work until the tank is completely empty, or you will have to turn it off by pouring it manually.

If you pour hot coffee into a cold cup, it will cool down quickly. To keep your drink warm, many coffee makers have a cup warming platform. However, in many household models, such a platform heats up by inertia from the main boiler, so this happens for quite some time.

If you are not drinking coffee alone, then you may find the function of simultaneous preparation of several cups useful. In devices with this option, the holder is equipped with two holes for coffee to exit. You should also pay attention to the width of the cup holder, otherwise two large mugs may simply not fit. If you need to pour one cup, it is placed in the middle of the pan, so that both jets fall into it.

Some models are equipped with two filter baskets: 7-8 and 14-16 grams for preparing one and two servings of espresso, respectively. You can check the information about this from the description of the device.

Adjusting the coffee temperature may be necessary to fully develop the flavor when using beans of different roasts. A standard temperature of 91-93°C is recommended for medium roast beans. For light roasted beans, the temperature will need to be higher — 93–95 ° С, for dark roasted beans — 88–91 ° С. Also, this parameter can be changed depending on your own preferences in the temperature of the drink.

The automatic shutdown feature will allow you not to worry if you suddenly forgot to turn off the device — it will turn itself off after a while. However, it is better to turn off the coffee maker immediately after making coffee: this way you will save the life of the heating element, prevent the formation of excessive scale, and also save on electricity.

Automatic decalcification makes it easier to clean the coffee maker from scale. To care for the coffee maker, you just need to pour some recommended cleaning agent into the tank and start the program.

And in coffee makers without automatic decalcification, you will have to do the descaling yourself. The decalcification process should be described in the instructions: it usually consists of several starts of the coffee maker with the cleaning agent in the tank, and then without the agent.

If the water is hard, you should not forget about decalcification — scale impairs heat transfer between water and the heating element, which can lead to both water undercooling and failure of the heating element.

Almost all devices have a light indication of readiness for making coffee or frothing milk. Some models also display the water temperature and signal the need for decalcification.
The anti-drip system is an electric valve that instantly relieves pressure after the coffee has been brewed. This avoids extra drops and dries the coffee tablet, making it much easier to remove.
The supply of hot water is useful for Americano lovers — it will be possible to dilute coffee with hot water from the coffee maker, and you will not have to boil the kettle.

Choice of carob coffee makers

If you want to make coffee and froth milk at the lowest possible price, choose among inexpensive steam coffee makers. Just keep in mind that their slight pressure is not enough to get a real espresso. If the ability to prepare espresso with foam is the main thing you expect from a coffee maker, choose among pump models with a pressure of 15 bar and higher.

If you love cappuccino but don’t want to mess around with manual cappuccino frothing, opt for automatic cappuccino machines. For more information, choose models with an indication of the heating temperature. To make the drink as fragrant as possible, take a closer look at models with a built-in coffee grinder.