Drip is the most common form of coffee served in the United States. This method essentially pours near boiling water over medium-course coffee grounds to produce coffee. This is probably the easiest method of making coffee. A few words about filters: There are two types of filer available for drip coffee. One type is paper. The other is a metal or plastic permanent filters. Neither is better than the other, but they do produce different coffee flavors. A paper filter will hold some of the oils that are being released from the coffee. Some people have a preference for this. In paper filters there are several brands that have various thickness and types of paper that will absorb more or less of the oils. One selling point for paper filters is that they are very easy to clean up; just throw them away. This of course means more landfill and more trees being cut down. Some people also feel that paper filters give coffee a paper taste. The permanent filter has some obvious advantages and disadvantages in relation to paper. I will add just a couple ideas about them here. One, use metal, plastic won't last as long and may give your coffee an off flavor. Two, permanent filters require a slightly courser grind and you may get some sediment in your cup. This is probably comparable to the sediment in a French press.

The word espresso refers to a method of brewing that is very unique. The word "espresso", translated as "rapid" from Italian, is commonly applied to the coffee beverage itself, a type of coffee blend or a roast, and the equipment used to brew the beverage. In the world of coffee, however, the term espresso is the actual brewing process used to produce the espresso beverage.

When it comes to espresso, small is not only beautiful, it's delicious! After decades of evolution, the optimal espresso brewing process can be defined as forcing at 15 bar about 1˝ ounces of water heated to 195F through 7 grams of finely ground coffee brewed into a warm demitasse. This "express" (quick) method can produce a cup in less than 25 seconds. Filling the cup further produces an over-extracted brew that is both thin and bitter. Any coffee that is ground fine enough may be used to make espresso, though most people prefer Italian style blend of coffees that is roasted slightly darker than traditional dark brown roasts. Java-Roasters recommends grinding espresso just prior to brewing and storing the beans in an airtight container at room temperature.

Espresso is the method of quickly extracting the flavor of the coffee under pressure at a specific temperature, using a certain amount of water. Although many devices claim to be espresso machines, there are only two types that can truly produce café-quality espresso, the piston-lever machine and the electric pump machine. The piston-lever machine relies upon hand-operated mechanical force to create the brewing pressure. Successful operation requires experience and skill, and in general, the piston-lever method is very much a specialty item used by coffee purists. The electric pump espresso machine produces 99.9% of the world's café-quality espresso.

Among the devices claiming to be espresso brewers, many types cannot create the process necessary for authentic espresso extraction. The most common of these devices is the "steam" espresso machine that relies on a boiling chamber to produce steam pressure for extraction. However, because the steam pressure is too low and the temperature is too hot, it scalds the coffee and extracts unpleasant bitter oils. Once the steam has dispersed, the consumer must repeat the cycle, taking several minutes, to make additional beverages. The most widely used commercial and the best home espresso machine is the Electric Pump Espresso Machine shown below:

Electric Pump Espresso Machines:

The main components of the pump machine are:

1. Water reservoir (or water-line connection)
2. Pump
3. Boiler (or thermal block)
4. Brew hand or portafilter
5. Steaming wand (used to heat and froth milk)

Like any electro-mechanical product, an electric pump espresso machine will vary in terms of size, performance, construction, materials, and convenience features. However, the pump machine will include some form of all of these components that play the following roles in the brewing process: Water for the brewing process is supplied by a water reservoir (for home machines) or by a water line (for many commercial units). The pump, either a vibration pump or a rotary vane pump, supplies the brewing pressure and is set usually at 15 bar. A boiler or thermal block heats the water to 195F for use in the brewing process. Upon activation of the pump, the heated water flows through a screen in the brew head and is forced through the coffee contained in a finely perforated metal basket held by the portafilter. In order to create the necessary resistance for good extraction, the coffee should be finely ground and evenly tamped or packed. The liquid, now containing flavorful emulsified oils extracted from the coffee, passes through one or two outlets on the underside of the portafilter into one or two preheated ceramic cups.

If the above process takes place, using fresh coffee, of course, the resulting espresso beverage will be crowned by a quarter-inch layer of golden foam, known as the crema. The crema is smooth, creamy, and intense in bittersweet flavor appreciated as the sign of a proper espresso and savored by coffee connoisseurs around the world. After brewing a shot, the electric pump espresso machine is immediately ready for the next shot; this is often referred to as "zero recovery time".

A true espresso machine can produce steam for heating and frothing milk used in espresso-based beverages such as cappuccino and cafe latte. In a home machine, the boiler or thermal block heats water to steam at 250 to 270F that is then released through the steam arm by manually opening a valve. Many commercial machines can brew espresso and produce steam simultaneously because of a double-boiler configuration.

Convenience features found among different models of espresso machines include volumetric settings, pressurized portafilters, frothing attachments, and cup warming surfaces.

The most advanced electrical pump machines are fully automatic and are known as "super-automatics". At the touch of a button, the "super-automatic" espresso machine grinds the beans, doses, tamps, extracts, and dispenses the shot of espresso. The spent coffee is ejected automatically into a self-contained "dump" box. The brewing operation is controlled by a microprocessor and involves additional components such as a burr grinder, dosing device, and a mechanical brewing mechanism (in place of the brew head and portafilter).

Once you have made your espresso, the world of specialty beverages is at your doorstep. Cappuccino, Latte, Cafe Mocha, Machiato, or flavored drinks, the possibilities are endless!