The right equipment

To brew a good coffee the right equipment is essential. In Vietnam everyone knows the small aluminum filter called "phim". An advanced version of this are paper filters used for all drip coffees. In this page however we would like to focus on all machines which can produce an espresso. The difference to drip coffee is that the water is forced with high pressure through the coffee powder. This way the full aroma is extracted from the ground, but not all the coffeine. Espresso therefore has less caffeine content than drip coffee. The challenge of all espresso machines is the temperature and pressure control. Only well made machines which are carefully maintained  can extract the perfect aroma and produce a good crema. We show below a selection of machines available in Vietnam. There are many more but we try to find those which are reliable and with official service centers. 

appia 3grd

Above: The Nuova Simonelli Appia II - 3 Group

Espresso machines categories:

Manual machines: Machines without any electric pumps.

Piston-driven - The design uses a lever, pulled by the operator, to pressurize hot water and send it through the coffee grinds. There are two types of lever machines; manual piston and spring piston design. 

Automatic machines: Machines that have pumps, sensors, valves, and grinders to automate the brewing process.

•   Semi-automatic                                                                  use a pump rather than manual force to deliver water. The remaining brew pressure in the basket is released via a three-way valve.

•   Automatic machines                                                            These machines automate the brewed volume (hence indirectly brew time). They do this by adding an in-line flowmeter to the grouphead: when the programmed amount of water has passed through the meter, the pump turns off. Grinding and tamping are still manual.

•   Super-automatic machines                                                   These machines automatically grind the coffee, tamp it, and extract the espresso shot. The operator only has to fill the bean hopper and, if the machine is not connected to a water line, add water to a reservoir. Some models contain an automated milk frothing and dispensing device. 

•   Capsule / Pad machines                                                     Since few years compact machines are available which brew espresso from a capsule or pad. This technology is lately also adopted for commercial machines eliminating the need of a grinder.

Commercial machines:

ProntobarSWb

Manual machines:

Nuova Simonelli - (italy)
La Pavoni
 - (italy)
Bezzera
 - (italy)

Semi-automatic /Automatic:

Nuova Simonelli - (italy)
La Marzocco
 - (italy)
La Cimbali - (Italy)

Superautomatic:

Nuova Simonelli - (Italy) 
Melitta - (Germany)
Jura - (Switzerland)

Capsule / Pad

Ascaso - (Spain)                      Above: Nuova Simonelli Prontobar


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Household machines:

Manual machines:

Severin  - (Germany)
La Pavoni
 - (italy)

Semi-automatic /Automatic:

Gaggia - (italy)
La Pavini - (italy)

Superautomatic:

Melitta (Germany)
De Longhi (Italy)
Saeco (Holland)                  Above: Melitta Barista TS Superautomatic




© Vinabarista 2013