Espresso Yourself.(restaurant coffee brewing machines)

Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, September, 2001 by Doucette, Larissa

Espresso machines can be intimidating to operators who are new to specialty coffee drinks, but most are surprisingly simple to use and maintain.

Espresso machines have come a long way since their invention in the early 1900s when water was moved directly from a boiler to a distribution unit, a complicated procedure requiring operators to create a perfect balance between water and steam. Today, operators can choose from basic semi-automatic machines to "superautomatic" machines that automatically dose, grind and tamp coffee, produce shots of espresso and, sometimes, foam milk.

At Seattle's Best Coffee units, automatic machines are used, according to David Wickberg, director of quality assurance for the Seattle-based company. According to Wickberg,...