How to use a coffee machine - carob, capsule, drip

There are often questions on the Internet about how to use a coffee machine, but there is no clarification of what exactly is meant. There are a huge variety of coffee machines, they can be automatic, semi-automatic, traditional (such as those installed in coffee shops), office, and home. We’ll try to help you understand the device and still make coffee using what you have, or set up a new unit from scratch.

Deciding on the device

Most often, problems arise with office and home devices. Because semi-automatic machines and machines are usually installed in public places, and they have recently been equipped with touch screens, where it is easy to select the type of drink, volume, and press the cooking button.

We will not consider professional traditional ones - everything is too complicated with them, and you need to learn to work with each separately. If you don’t have experience, you’re unlikely to prepare any decent drink.

Professional machines usually have a label with the name and model. Look more precisely, because it is impossible to give general recommendations.

We will deal with coffee machines that are at home or in the office. Labels often fall off with active use, printed logos are erased, and it is almost impossible to determine which device you have in front of you. This is what we will proceed from.

Inspect the coffee machine.

Is there a compartment for coffee beans somewhere? Or is the only compartment you can reach the water container? If the beans fall somewhere, it means it is a coffee maker with automatic grinding. If not, 99% that it is a carob, and it should have a horn handle. There are also capsule coffee machines, and with them everything is also quite simple. And also drip coffee makers, they can be identified by their coffee jug.

How to use a coffee machine with automatic grinding

So, you have found where the water is poured and the grains are poured. Now the machine needs to be configured:

Pour in the grains.
Fill with water up to the mark.
If possible, adjust the grinding. To begin with, it is better to choose a medium one; this is a universal option for any drink.
It may be possible to set the amount of water for one serving.
Temperature - if it is adjustable - set it to about 92-98 degrees.

Most likely, the main panel will have either buttons with the type of coffee or with the volume. Place a suitable size cup under the spout and press the start button. If you are preparing two servings, try pressing the button twice.

Attention: for one serving, place one cup in the center! Often there are two distribution terminals, and if you are preparing one portion, it will flow from two at once.

How to brew coffee in a coffee maker

Brewing coffee is not difficult if you first get acquainted with all the variety of machines in the coffee world. How to use a coffee pot and how to prepare a delicious drink?

Drip

Drip coffee machines can be used in a large family when it is necessary to prepare many servings of an aromatic drink at once. A drip coffee maker works on the principle of passing hot steam through ground coffee beans and special filters. This is ideal for Americano. The prepared drink drips into a common jug, from which it is then poured into cups.

The drip coffee machine is suitable for a large family.

The device has a heating function, so the container with ready-made coffee can remain hot for a long time:

pour the required amount of water according to the scale on a special container;
pour the required amount of ground coffee into the filter;
set the program;
Depending on the model, the coffee will be dispensed into a separate flask or directly into the cup.

In this device, coffee stays hot for a long time.

Capsule

A capsule coffee maker offers a convenient selection of ready-made drinks. Here you can brew latte, Americano, cappuccino and others. The preparation process begins with placing a portioned capsule with ground coffee. Its packaging is pierced and hot water is forced through the ground grains under high pressure. The strength and taste of the finished drink will directly depend on the selected pressure. Of course, you have limited choice in capsule manufacturers.

You can make ready-made drinks in a capsule coffee maker.

But you can choose your own brand that fully meets your requirements and taste preferences:

turn on the machine and fill in the required amount of water;
place the capsule in a special receiver;
Place the cup and wait until the finished drink comes out of the nozzle.

After preparation, the coffee is served in a glass.

Geysernaya

The geyser coffee maker is designed for lovers of strong and rich coffee taste. The drink does not need to be further strained or settled, since this preparation method does not leave sediment in your cup. Hot water is passed through the poured coffee under the influence of steam.

A geyser coffee maker produces a coffee drink without sediment.

The coffee pot is easy to use, easy to disassemble and clean from grounds:

pour water into the lower compartment to the desired level;
pour ground powder into a special funnel;
assemble the device according to the instructions and plug it into the network;
under steam pressure, the coffee drink will flow into the upper container;
after the machine is turned off, the drink is poured into the cup.

The device is quite easy to use.

Rozhkova

This coffee maker got its name thanks to its removable horns. These are models for gourmets, those who like to experiment with drinks and professional baristas. Ground coffee is poured into the cone and compacted as much as possible. Here you yourself vary the grinding size of the beans, cooking time, water temperature and other factors. Each time you will receive a finished drink that is different in taste and strength.

A carob coffee maker allows you to experiment with flavors.

You can create rich foam, wonderful espresso and balanced cappuccino:

if the model is equipped with a function for self-grinding beans, then pour them into a special container;
Place ground coffee in the cone and press firmly;
set the required parameters for water temperature, pressure supply and others;
place a cup under the nozzle spout;
If desired, froth the milk using a cappuccino maker.

If desired, you can make a thick foam.

How to use a carob coffee machine

It is these devices that often raise a lot of questions. But they are actually very easy to handle. There should be a compartment for water in the back or side - make sure there is enough of it, or better yet, fill it with new water.

Usually in front you see a sticking out handle - a horn. It needs to be turned to the left by 30 degrees. This may not be very easy, but don’t overdo it.
When the grooves come together, it will come out easily. Be careful - there may be used grounds in there.
Usually there is a strainer in the cone where the coffee is poured. Gently shake it into a knock box or saucer.
Take out the strainer and rinse.
Insert a strainer into the cone and add ground coffee. There is no point in putting grain. The coffee should be medium grind.
Usually there is a tempera on the left - like a small circle on a stem. It is usually next to the horn area. Press the coffee down lightly, but not too tightly.
If there is anything left on the edges, wipe it off with a napkin.
At the same angle as you took it out, insert the horn and turn it, securing it.
There is no need to turn to a right angle. If only he didn't hang out.
Now turn on the coffee machine. Often there is a separate button on the front panel for this.
Wait until the button turns red and the whole machine heats up.
Place a cup in the middle.
Press the coffee button.

It is advisable to remove the horn after a while, pour the grounds out of the strainer, and rinse the strainer.

How to care for your coffee machine

The main care for a coffee machine is timely cleaning. In modern top models, information about clogged units is displayed on the display.

Interesting! How to brew coffee at home without a Turk

Owners of budget or older models will have to clean the car themselves, following the instructions. Read more about cleaning in the article “How to descale a coffee machine.”

If you use your car daily, wash it at least once a week. After each cooked portion, sediment remains in the device.

How to use a coffee machine with capsules

You found the capsules and realized that this was a capsule coffee machine. This clarifies a little, since capsules can be inserted from the side, from above, into the compartment. However, you need to find where.

Fill the reservoir with water. Don’t waste time on trifles, pour to the mark, the machine itself will measure out the required amount.
Insert one capsule into the coffee machine. Most models have been piercing capsules on their own for a long time, in any case, try it. If all else fails, take it out and make a puncture, in case you got a rarity.
If you have a choice of drinks, choose them. The most budget models do not prepare anything other than espresso.
The machine itself will heat the water and brew the drink.

Attention: capsule coffee machines usually do not boil water, only heat it. Therefore, use the water that you could drink raw, preferably purified or filtered.

Choosing a coffee machine for your home

If you regularly grab coffee on the way to work, a home coffee machine may be a good investment. But how much time and effort are you willing to spend making a cup of coffee every day? When choosing a home coffee machine, there is also something to think about.

All espresso machines require some maintenance: removing coffee grounds or empty capsules, cleaning the drip tray, refilling the water reservoir, etc. Also decide whether you need a machine with a removable brew group or not. This is the part of the machine where you insert the portafilter.

Some machines have removable brew groups that can be easily opened for cleaning or inspection. Coffee machines with a built-in brew group provide automatic cleaning. These are harder to get into if something goes wrong.

If you want to have everything in your hands, choose a coffee machine with a removable brew group. If you prefer to let the machine clean itself, you are more likely to have to pay extra for service if something breaks.

As with professional machines, you need to consider the pressure of the pump. The pressure determines how intense the flavor of the resulting coffee will be, as well as the quality of the cream. Look for a machine with a pressure of 9 bar or more.

By the way, here you can see a selection of budget coffee machines for your home: The Best Budget Espresso Machines for Your Home (English).

Lever coffee machines

Lever coffee machines (sometimes called manual coffee machines) use a lever lever to create the pressure needed to brew espresso. They look great and definitely have their customers, but they require a lot of effort to work with. It's unlikely that you'll want to do this every day.

Semi-professional coffee machines

Alternatively, you may want to consider purchasing a professional or semi-professional single group machine with a cappuccino maker. They allow you to prepare the same espresso-based drinks as in coffee shops. But ask yourself if a complex machine is right for you.

With semi-professional machines, you will need to monitor the espresso parameters, just as baristas do: adjust the grind and amount of ground beans, know how to temper correctly, etc. It will take time to learn everything. Maybe you'll like it; in that case, go ahead, buy and enjoy mastering these parameters.

However, if you just want a quick, hassle-free coffee in the morning, this is not the type of machine you need.

Breville espresso machine. ©Cultura Coffee

Semi-automatic and super-automatic machines

If you feel like using semi-professional machines requires too much attention, consider a semi-automatic machine. These coffee machines take on some of the work.

The usual set of functions includes a digital display, buttons with ready-made programs, grain grinding, pre-wetting and temperature control. Select a program and press the button. It's much harder to mess up, but you're still in control.

Super automatic machines are even easier to use. You start the pump by pressing a button and turn it off when the extraction is complete. This machine does most of the work itself. And this is the most popular type of coffee machine for home use.

A barista froths milk at a coffee shop in Barcelona, Spain. ©Fernando Pocasangre

Automatic and capsule coffee machines

Automatic machines do all the work themselves. Just make sure there are coffee beans and water in the machine and press the button. They won't give you any control over the extraction, but they will produce pretty good espresso with minimal effort.

Capsule machines almost completely eliminate human error. Make sure the water tank is full, insert the sealed coffee capsule into the machine and press the button.

They don't need to be cleaned of coffee grounds, but don't forget about the harmful effects of single-use plastic packaging on the environment. Some manufacturers are switching to recyclable or biodegradable materials, but do you really need that capsule? Many automatic machines leave a neat “puck” of ground coffee after preparation, which is convenient to throw away.

Capsule coffee machines are not popular among specialty coffee producers. And you are limited in the choice of capsules for use with a particular machine model - most of the brands that produce capsules are quite minor. But there is a growing market for specialty coffee capsules, with companies working to create high-quality specialty coffee capsules, including those made from recyclable materials.

How to use a drip coffee machine

To use, you will most likely need ground coffee and paper filters. Sometimes the filters are reusable, but they are similar in shape so you'll likely recognize them.

Take out the pitcher for the finished coffee, place it on a flat surface and pour the required amount of water.
Pour water into the upper compartment, usually everything is filled without opening the lid, but options are possible.
Return the jug to its place.
Find a compartment where you can insert the filter. Paste.
Pour a portion of ground coffee into the filter. Close the compartment.
Find the power button and start the cooking process.

When you hear a clearly changed sound, turn off the device, otherwise the coffee will be burnt. Carefully remove the container and pour into cups.

How to use your new coffee machine

If you just bought a coffee maker, most likely you have instructions for it. Read it before you start the device for the first time. However, sometimes it happens that there are no instructions, or they are uninformative, or in an incomprehensible language. There is a certain list of steps that you must do before you start up your new coffee machine and prepare your first cup of your favorite drink.

Place the coffee machine on a flat, dry and clean surface.
Remove all containers that you can reach without using excessive force, wash them from dust and dry them inside and out. The inside of the water tank does not need to be dried.
If there is a water connection, connect it. Connect the device to a 220V network.
Turn on the device, there is usually a very obvious button for this.
When turned on for the first time, an increased noise level is acceptable, not for long, for about 20 seconds. This is normal, then it will most likely be quieter.
If the device is not connected to a water supply, fill the tank with cold water up to the mark. As a last resort, do not add 3-4 centimeters to the edge. It is better to use filtered water, since when heated it will inevitably form calcium deposits, and this will extend the time before cleaning.
If there is a temperature regulator, set it to 95-98 degrees. It is usually located on the front panel.
If there is a water hardness indicator, set it. If you don’t know, bet on average numbers.
If there is a grinding regulator, set the value you need, but not too fine and not too coarse. The best one is medium, it will suit almost everything.
Pour the entire reservoir into the cup, making as many servings as you need until all the water is gone. There is no need to add coffee.
Before using the coffee machine, set the amount of water for one serving, if possible.
Adjust the amount of coffee per serving. On average, 7-8 grams of coffee are used for espresso, and 15 for a double shot.
If you have a capsule machine, place the capsule in the compartment.
Select the type of coffee, if offered, and press the button.
It is better to pour out the first cup.
You can try the second one.

Most coffee machines go into standby mode after 15-20 minutes and need to be turned on again. No fine tuning will be required later.

In general, using the coffee machine is not at all difficult: it just looks complicated, but you just need to do the whole procedure once, and then you will easily perform it automatically. It might be worth watching a video, or finding detailed instructions. If you can identify the manufacturer, you may be able to find a specific model on the company's website.

Outskirts

In order to have aromatic, delicious coffee at home like in a coffee shop, you just need to buy a coffee machine and good coffee beans. The energy charge will be provided for the whole day. The device itself will set the necessary parameters, grind the grains, heat the water and prepare an invigorating drink. So, how to use a coffee machine ?

Considering the length of the cable, place the machine in a convenient place . Depending on the model, it has a water tank of 0.8 to 5 liters, so it is not dependent on water supply networks. Before turning on the coffee machine, fill the reservoir to the required level. To preserve the taste of true coffee, use filtered or bottled water. Tap water can form scale.
Set the water temperature (minimum, low, medium, high and maximum). It is adjustable within 90-98 degrees Celsius. Then you will need to select the water hardness level (up to 3 mg/l; 3-3.5 mg/l; 3.5-4 mg/l; 4-4.5 mg/l) and calculate the amount per serving. There are coffee machines that can remember how much water you poured last time. There are some simple ones where you need to adjust the amount of water using a special rotating knob.
There are also coffee machines on sale that work with beans and special capsules . The grains are poured into a special compartment and compacted so that they are in the same plane. In this case, you will need to adjust the grinding after reading the machine's instructions. These parameters can only be set on a rotating coffee machine. If water flows poorly from the dispenser, then the culprit is that the grains are ground too finely, which leads to clogging of the strainer. Capsules with coffee and milk (for cappuccino, espresso, latte) are placed in a special niche.
Next, you need to adjust the amount of coffee per serving . For example, for a classic espresso, approximately 8 g is used, for a double espresso – 16 g.
Before turning on the device, place a glass or cup preheated with steam on the tray and adjust the dripper in height. Start the coffee machine and wait until it warms up. The starting lever is responsible for preparing a portion of coffee: a high-pressure jet flows through the compressed coffee. Cooking takes 25–30 seconds.[ads-pc-2]
A common problem when using coffee machines is the formation of an air lock. During this, the message VENTILATE appears. Problems must be corrected for further use. Open the water supply tap by pressing the appropriate button and drain the water to remove air from the system. If after this the inscription does not disappear, then you should contact the service center.
When using a coffee machine, special attention should also be paid to its care . The first thing to do is remove the used capsules from the container. Every 220 cups of finished coffee, the elements of the machine should be washed under running water. This is done to eliminate coffee oils so that there is no strange aftertaste in the coffee. To wash the device, do not use conventional detergents, for example, AOS, Fairy. Otherwise, the coffee will taste like detergent. To remove scale, use special tablets.
Milk foam and plaque must be removed in a timely manner. To do this, place a container of water in place of the milk container, start the foaming cycle and run the water until it becomes clean and free of impurities.
Knowing how to use and care for the coffee machine, all that remains is to enjoy a wonderful invigorating drink.

Conclusions:

Using a coffee machine is not difficult, but when asking such a question, it is better to clarify the brand and model, or at least the type of device.
We told you how to use capsule, carob, semi-automatic and drip coffee machines; professional models should be dealt with separately.
Try to find out at least the brand in as much detail as possible, and then find instructions or videos.
Experimenting and clicking everything is not a good idea.
Using the coffee machine for the first time is difficult, because everything needs to be washed and set up, but then the settings will be saved, and you will prepare a drink with just one button.

Choosing a coffee machine for a coffee shop

Professional machines allow you to have complete control over your espresso. There are many factors that affect the taste, aroma and quality of espresso: grind size, pressure, temperature, extraction time and much more. Some machines give you the ability to fine-tune these parameters so you can emphasize acidity, enhance flavor, or hide grain defects.

The machine can smooth out human error, but a good barista who understands his machine and knows how to make the best espresso is equally important to making quality drinks. Some professional machines have a touch screen to make it easier to control the espresso preparation. But if it breaks, will you be able to continue using the machine and will your baristas know how to manually control these factors?

Before choosing a machine, study how it works when preparing two or more drinks at the same time.

How many groups in the car do you need? Do you need one steam wand or more? Having two or more groups will help prevent queues of orders, but will add to the hassle of cleaning and maintenance. Accordingly, more space will be required to install a two- or three-group coffee machine.

Ask the seller about the number of boilers and how quickly the pressure is restored after preparing one espresso. Pressure stability is an important performance indicator, and the most popular models have at least two boilers. In a busy café or coffee shop with good customer traffic, it is important to be sure that the espresso is consistent even during peak periods.

You may need an adjustable pressure coffee machine. Different pressure settings can significantly affect the final result. Adjusting the pressure can in some cases improve extraction and reduce the formation of cracks in the formed tablet, which also negatively affect the quality of the espresso.

And while you may think you just want a consistent water pressure reading, adjusting the water pressure is another way to control your extraction. Can your coffee machine do this, and how important is it to you?

Below are a few more factors to keep in mind before purchasing a machine for your coffee shop:

Find out how long it takes for your coffee machine to heat up after it's turned on to ensure it's ready when your barista's shift starts each morning.
If you're going to make drinks using frothed milk, check out how easy it is to use a steamer. Some machines control steam more accurately than others.
Check your energy consumption. Larger coffee machines require more power, but some models have energy-saving options.
Sometimes coffee machines require the installation of water filters. Can you provide this?