How Does a Coffee Machine Work?
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The Basics
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Coffee machines all work in a similar manner. Water is boiled and dripped over coffee grounds. The liquid passes through the grounds, steeping and mixing with the oils of the coffee, then through a filter to prevent the solid grounds from draining. The liquid passes into a decanter which holds it.
Percolation
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Percolating coffee pots were a step up from stovetop boilers, as the pot has an interior heating element to activate the boiler. When the water reaches its boiling point, pressure builds in the pot and pushes the water through a stem. The stem feeds the water to the top of the pot. The water comes out of the stem and floods a basket which is where coffee grounds are loaded. The water seeps through the basket, saturating the grounds and pulling the flavor and oils from the grounds and into the basin. This cycle continues for a pre-programmed amount of time until the pot is done brewing, at which point it stops percolating.
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Drip Coffee Maker
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A drip coffeemaker uses basic gravity to brew a pot. Water is poured into a reservoir based on the number of cups desired. When the machine is turned on, a heating element raises the temperature of the water. A vacuum is created between the water and a tube which carries the hot water from the reservoir to a spigot. This outlet dispenses water into the filter basket, where it mixes with a premeasured amount of coffee. The water and coffee marry together and flow through the bottom of the filter and into a pot.
Commercial Coffee Machine
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Coffeemakers found in restaurants or outlets like Starbucks Coffee or Peet's Coffee and Tea are basically high-capacity drip machines. Coffee is loaded into a large filter and set between a water outlet and a holding unit for the coffee. Commercial pots use a dedicated water supply. Water flows into a boiler, filling it completely based on the amount needed to brew a batch. The water heats and, just like the drip machine, it flows from the reservoir to the coffee basket and then to the holding area, where it is dispensed cup by cup..
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