This is where a lever machine really shines, there is very little electronically going on. The more automation therefore, the more likely that something could go wrong, thus resulting in high costs of repair.
Manual espresso machine software#
A mechanical solutionĪnother factor to bear in mind is the more automated a machine becomes, the more we are relying on computers and software to allow for the extraction to occur. An important point to bear in mind however is that there may be some residual pressure left in the group handle, especially if you have had a particularly slow extraction, so care must be taken when removing the handle to allow this pressure to release safely. The advantage of this is there is no back-flushing required at the end of the day to clean the machine. Unlike most automated espresso machines, lever machines have no three way valve built into the back of the group to release pressure after the shot. This ensures the water is at a perfect brewing temperature to avoid bitter shots. For some machines this may be the case but most machines, as with the Fracino Retro, the group-head is separated from the boiler and is therefore designed in a such a way that allows for some heat to dissipate by the time the brewing water enters the group head. Some may say that an issue with lever machines is that the water is too hot as it is at a temperature in the boiler to allow for milk steaming to be carried out at the same time as pulling a shot. It is through such changes that we must 'feel' the coffee, this is where the true art of espresso lies: watching, tasting and timing to ensure we extract the best flavour from the coffee we are working with. We can do this either by forcing the lever back to its resting position or by restricting it from moving back this again will alter the resulting shot. However, with a spring lever machine we are also able to alter the pressure if desired. The spring automates the pressure, but we as the barista are able to affect the pre-infusion time, the volume of water through the coffee and the time in which to pull the shot.Ī direct lever does not use a spring to automate the pressure, it is only the 'pull' of the barista that forces the water through the coffee, allowing for even more play in the espresso's production. On release of the lever the spring then expands and forces water through the coffee at diminishing pressure. pulls the shot) to force the spring to compress. A spring piston lever works via an internal spring that pushes water through our ground coffee under pressure. There are now two types of lever machines on the market: the spring piston lever and the direct lever. The introduction of traditional lever machines in 1947 saw the first coffee extracted via high pressure, not steam power, as seen previously and changed the way the world saw coffee. The use of this machine is a lot more to do with the 'feel' of the coffee, it is almost romantic in its production as the barista has so much more affect on the resulting drink. There is a lot more knowledge and input required from the barista to create the perfect shot, but when used correctly, these machines are capable of producing the most beautiful shots you have ever tasted.
This is where the classic phrase of 'pulling a shot' comes from.
The most hands on form of creating espresso is, without a doubt, a lever espresso machine. But which machine is for you? Which will give your customers their caffeine fix and also allow you as the barista the level of interaction you crave? Hands on coffee Clearly the two will produce the same outcome if used correctly: a stunning espresso, but the method to get there and the amount of barista interaction differs massively.
Manual espresso machine manual#
At Limini we offer a range of traditional automatic and semi-automatic espresso machines as well as the option of a fully manual lever machine: the Fracino Retro. There are a number of different espresso machines on the market at present, from fully automated bean to cup machines to fully manual traditional lever machines. Lever espresso coffee machines versus automatic espresso coffee machines