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Illy Espresso and other accessories.
Espresso is several
things at once. It is a unique method of brewing in which hot water is
forced under pressure through tightly packed coffee, a cup at a time.
It is a roast of coffee, darker brown than the normal American roast
but not quite black. In a larger sense, it is an entire approach to
coffee cuisine, involving not only roast and brewing method, but grind
and grinder, a technique of heating milk, and a traditional menu of
drinks. In the largest sense of all, it is an atmosphere or mystique:
The espresso brewing machine is the spiritual heart and aesthetic
centrepiece of the European-style cafe.
The word espresso is
derived from the Italian word for express since espresso is made for
and served immediately to the customer. A double espresso is a
47-62.5 mL (1.5-2 ounce) extract that is prepared from 14-17 grams of
coffee through which purified water of 88-95°C has been forced at 9-10
atmospheres of pressure for a brew time of 22-28 seconds. The
espresso should drip out of the porta-filter like warm honey, have a
deep reddish-brown colour, and a crema that makes up 10-30% of the
beverage. Espresso brewing is defined by four "M's": the
Macinazione is the correct grinding of a coffee blend, Miscela
is the coffee blend, Macchina is the espresso machine, and
Mano is the skilled hand of the barista. When each factor of the
four M's is precisely controlled, the espresso beverage that is
produced is the ultimate coffee experience |
