The Turka, familiar to every coffee lover, has evolved from a small ladle to a professional coffee machine. In the 19th century, drip, geyser and vacuum coffee makers appeared. At the beginning of the 20th century, the invention of the espresso coffee machine by Luigi Bezzer made it possible to make the operations of grinding roasted beans and preparing coffee mechanical, saving the main value of our time - time.
Coffee machines continued to be improved, and in 1978, Eric Favre invented the capsule coffee machine system. Since the 80s of the last century, capsule coffee machines have been gaining increasing popularity around the world, including in Russia.
What is a capsule coffee maker?
A capsule-type coffee machine is a device capable of preparing coffee from special hermetically sealed capsules . Each of them contains roasted ground coffee, from which the coffee maker practically itself prepares the drink intended by the manufacturer.
The capsule coffee machine consists of:
- metal or plastic case;
- thermoblock that heats water;
- a pump that creates pressure to supply water;
- control unit;
- capsule brewing and ejection systems, responsible for capturing, piercing, brewing coffee and removing the used capsule into a special tray;
- water dispenser.
Reference! The patent for the invention of the capsule coffee machine was received back in 1970, but they began to be sold en masse in the country about 5 years ago.
Principle of operation
The operating principle of a capsule coffee machine is simple, regardless of the manufacturer or its price. It is as follows:
- One capsule containing ground coffee is inserted into the coffee maker.
- In expensive versions of coffee makers, you can select the type of drink, while in cheap ones there is only espresso. By pressing the power button, cooking begins.
- The coffee machine determines how much water it needs to brew coffee and takes this volume from the reservoir, which should be filled with water in advance.
- The water heats up almost instantly to a temperature of about 90-95 °C. There is no boiling, so only purified drinking water should be poured .
- The built-in system pierces the capsule with compressed coffee and, under a pressure of 15-19 bar, water is supplied into it, brewing the drink and then sending it into the cup.
By the way! This coffee machine runs on mains power.
Once the cooking process is complete, all that remains is to remove the used capsule.
Gusto KRUPS KP 5002 Circolo
Gusto KRUPS KP 5002 Circolo offers a unique technology for preparing real espresso, which can be prepared very quickly. Thanks to the thermoblock, the water heats up and maintains the temperature very quickly. In the Gusto KRUPS KP 5002 Circolo you can also prepare other drinks, such as choccino for your children, latte, cappuccino, lungo coffee and much more.
How to use?
The set of functions, start-up and preparation features in capsule coffee makers of various brands and types are not very different, so we can outline a list of general recommendations for working with these devices.
The following recommendations exist :
- You should not fill the reservoir with water designed for a volume of only 1 cup, since the coffee machine will independently measure the required amount of liquid . Simple models of such devices are capable of preparing only espresso and always measure the same volume of water; more expensive analogues allow a person to independently choose the type of coffee and portion.
- A disposable capsule does not need to be used twice, since when brewing again, the taste of the drink will be unpleasant and you won’t be able to get anything else except harmful caffeine . Reusable capsules are not so good, because they do not have a sealed package, which means it is almost the same as brewing regular coffee, which has lost some of its beneficial properties due to airing.
- There is no need to help the coffee machine prepare the drink, since all modern models already automatically pierce the capsule, although in older devices the user had to do this. The entire process of brewing coffee with fully automated operation takes only 30 seconds .
Specifications
Let's find out by what criteria an automated coffee machine is evaluated. Main parameters:
- Volume of the water bowl. This takes into account the number of glasses that the machine can prepare in a row.
- Pressure. If this value is lower than 15 bar, then the drink will not be able to fully reveal its taste. The more intense the pressure is applied to the beans, the brighter the notes inherent in the coffee will be felt. An exception in this regard are devices that work with unpressed raw materials. For them, the degree of pressure does not matter.
- Power. This is also an important criterion that affects the taste of coffee. The speed depends on the power, and if the drink is produced quickly, its characteristics will be at a high level. The optimal power rating of the device for use at home should be 1,200 W.
- Additional functions: pan level adjustment lever, tank filling indicator, backlit display showing mode parameters.
- Dimensions. The larger the size of the unit, the more drink it can produce. Therefore, this parameter is the main one regarding the purpose of the device.
Literally all coffee machines have a high noise level. However, this drawback is mitigated by the speed of preparation of the drink. Next, let's look at how a capsule coffee machine works.
Step-by-step instruction
To prepare coffee in a capsule coffee machine, you need to follow these step-by-step steps :
- Prepare the device for the first start:
- remove and rinse the water container, remove stickers from it, if any;
- check whether the container is securely fixed in the coffee machine;
- install the remaining elements in their places, according to the instructions;
- connect the coffee machine to a power outlet.
- Fill the reservoir with water.
The coffee machine automatically pours the required amount of water to prepare the selected drink. Therefore, you should not pour only 200 ml into the container; it is better to immediately add drinking water to the maximum level.
- Use capsules.
For each brand of coffee maker, only capsules from a specific company are suitable, since they all differ in shape and size, and therefore are not interchangeable. The appropriate capsule just needs to be inserted into the compartment and the lid closed. The coffee maker will automatically poke a hole in it and add the required amount of water.
- Select programs and enable.
In simple models, you just need to press the power button and the coffee maker will make espresso. In modern, more advanced models, you can select the type of coffee by pressing the button with the corresponding program, and then the power button.
- Heat the water.
After selecting a program, the coffee maker heats the water and takes from the reservoir the volume needed to prepare coffee with the ideal taste and strength.
Attention! If there is not enough water in the tank, the coffee machine will signal and the brewing process will be paused.
- Bottom line.
When the coffee brewing process has begun, you need to select a low cup for espresso or a tall one, about 140 ml, for a lungo, for example, and place it in the appropriate compartment from where the finished coffee will be poured directly.
Cooking features
Anyone can make this drink—no special knowledge is needed.
The brewing process is very simple thanks to the automatic operating principle of the coffee machine. You need two basic steps:
- Insert the cup between two filters where it is pierced. On one side there is a supply of hot water pressure.
- Place the cup on the other side. Coffee will come out of the opposite hole.
Tips for use
Despite the ease of use, some still have questions regarding use. Answers to the most common questions below.
How to post
How to insert a reusable cup for the first time and replace the refiller:
- The container in the coffee machine must be placed so that the loop on the lid is strictly in the center.
- You need to close and open the machine lever again to make sure that the needle has pierced the membrane. If this does not happen, you will need to pierce it manually.
- Finally, you need to check how freely the lid of the coffee machine closes: opening with force means that the hole for the needle is not wide enough.
How to refill
For each subsequent use, you must first install one stainless steel filter, fill the container with refill and secure the second filter. After which the glass should be tightly closed with a lid.
How to use again
Reusable containers should be rinsed, dried, refilled with coffee, and secured with foil.
How to choose
Disposable products must be used to prepare drinks in machines from the same manufacturer. Reusable containers are universal and designed for all compatible devices.
How long
Multiple containers help save money. The service life depends on the brand and manufacturer. For example, one reusable Dolce Gusto is enough for 50–100 cups.
Caring for your device
Despite the fact that all the coffee grounds remain in the used capsule and do not stain the coffee maker, you still need to occasionally take care of the device, as drops from the finished drink, milk can get in, and scale forms in the tank.
Manual washing with water can be done once a week, thoroughly wiping the cappuccino maker tube, capsule container and water compartment .
Complex washing to remove scale should be done approximately once every 3 months . It consists of using such means as:
- washing with decalcifier;
- cleansing capsule, for example, Caffenu;
- lemon acid.
Important! If you plan to leave home for several days, then you need to drain the water from the tank, as it will stagnate, which will cause an unpleasant odor and mucus to appear on the walls, which are difficult to get rid of even by washing.
Dosage
The recommended volume of the resulting drinks ranges from 35–40 (for ristretto, the values had to be written with a hyphen because the capsule packaging says 35 ml, and the manual says 40 ml) to 220–240 milliliters (for drinks with milk).
For each type of drink, the content of various ingredients is indicated: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as energy value. The declared composition for capsules of different varieties can be “100% Arabica” or “Arabica + Robusta”. The shelf life indicated on the packaging for different types of capsules can be exactly a year, or a little more - twelve and a half or thirteen months.
| Model | Power, W) | Dimensions cm (WxHxD) | Volume (l) | |
| Krups KP 1201/1205/1206/1208 Mini Me | 1500 | 28x18x20 | 0.8 | More details |
| Krups KP 1002/1006/1009 | 1500 | 21x38x27 | 0.6 | More details |
| Krups KP 1101/1105/1108 (editor's choice) | 1200 | 31x20x31 | 0.8 | More details |
Can capsules be used without a coffee machine?
It is possible to make coffee from a capsule without a coffee machine.
To do this, you will need an ordinary Turk or a geyser coffee maker, in which good coffee can be brewed on a regular gas stove. The capsule must be opened manually, like a tin can, cutting its lid in a circle .
Then pour the contents into a container and cook. As a result, the coffee will turn out no worse than in an electric coffee maker. You cannot pour coffee from a capsule into a cup and pour boiling water over it ; only the instant version is suitable for this.
Krups Nescafe Dolce Gusto Melody 2 KP210025
Krups Nescafe Dolce Gusto Melody 2 KP210025 is an elegant coffee machine that will be an excellent addition to your interior. Thanks to the unique system, you can get high-quality, aromatic coffee without much effort. You just need to turn on the device, put the capsule in the container, turn the lever and get an exquisite drink. The variety of flavors will simply surprise you: espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte macchiato and much more. The water container in this coffee machine has a volume of 1.4 liters. It is also possible to use a cup of any height, since the bowl tray is height adjustable.
Dolce Gusto are coffee machines that are distinguished by their simplicity, minimalism and small size.
Can the capsules be reused?
Capsules intended for one-time use should not be re-brewed, as they are intended for one use only .
Note! Repeated preparation will result in coffee that is tasteless and lacks flavor.
Reusable capsules have appeared on sale, but this option is not very good, because after the first use, the coffee powder will be stored without vacuum packaging and will lose its properties .
