How Does A Stove Top Espresso Machine Work?Article by Andréanne Hamel, espresso machine expert. Andréanne helps her visitors choose among the four types, from the simplest stove top espresso maker to the most fully automated espresso machines.
When you get out of bed in the morning, there is nothing better than a great cup of caffeinated coffee to start your day. Making your own espresso however, can be difficult at best and it generally depends on the type of machine you have purchased.
Great Beans Make Great Coffee
Another option for really great espresso includes the type of beans that will be infused. You should buy whole beans and crush them yourself. While it is not extremely difficult to make espresso, you will find that making a regular cup of coffee is much simpler, cheaper and less time consuming but it can’t replace the great taste of a rich cup of espresso.
Inner Workings of an Espresso Machine
A stove top espresso maker, the simplest kind (much less complex than fully automated espresso machines), has three different parts that all work as one. The top part of the espresso machine is an empty compartment, followed closely by a middle chamber. Between the top and middle chambers, you will find a filter container used to strain away the undesirable leftovers before they can reach your coffee cup.
The container houses a tube that hangs out of the bottom of this chamber and it is submerged in the water below it. The maker will also have a corresponding tube that will point upward. In just a few minutes, you will now have a delicious cup of coffee ready and waiting for you to indulge.
Using a Stove Top Espresso Maker
An espresso machine is easy to use and after your first few sessions, you will feel like an expert as you set it up for your daily caffeine.
To begin, you will simply have to unscrew the machine so that the top and bottom pieces are separated. Remove the filter container and add water to the lower section of the stove top espresso maker. On the side of the machine you will notice a pressure release valve. You will have to pay attention to the amount of water, to make sure that the water does not go above the valve.
Grab your container of finely ground coffee and fill the container, being careful that you do not press down on the grounds. This part of the process is similar to what you would do if you were making regular coffee in a coffee pot.
Replace the container back into the lower section of the espresso machine, before screwing the top and bottom back together. You will have to make sure that you tighten the two sections as much as possible because you want as much pressure as possible during the making of your espresso.
Place the espresso pot on a heat source such as a stove and wait a few minutes for it to boil. In approximately five minutes, your brew will be complete once all of the water has moved to the top of the machine. Your espresso is now ready to be served and sipped. | 
