Espresso Machines
To make an espresso an espresso machine is required. There are several types of espresso machines, variety of quality, design, size and different range of prices. Since the invention of espresso machine in the early 20th century all types of machines went through some changes but the final result remains authentic espresso. All types of machines have some common characteristics and elements and all will take about 25-30 seconds to make espresso, however, not all espresso machines produce equally tasteful espresso.
The first machines for making espresso were steam-driven types which remained in use until today. However, when Milanese barman Giovanni Achille Gaggia invented a piston-driven machine in 1940's the majority of coffee-shops and bars began to replace the stem-driven machine with piston-driven which produced much finer espresso. Many people who still use the stem-driven machines also complain that they do not not produce an authentic espresso because they do not use enough pressure recommended for espresso.
In 1961, in the same year when Gaggia died, his rival in espresso machines manufacturing Carlo Ernesto Valente made the Faema E61, a pump-driven machine which introduced an electric driven pump instead of using manual force necessary for espresso brewing. Faema E61 was a great commercial success which played an important role in history of espresso and espresso machines, and also greatly contributed to today's popularity of espresso worldwide.
On today's world market are great variety of espresso machines of all types and are either manual, semi-automatic or automatic which can fit in every home and will make espresso at any time.