Those crazy chemists call it C8H10N4O2, and doctors think it's hip to refer to it as trimethylxanthine. But to everyone else, caffeine is a popular mild stimulant. Essentially it keeps a person awake for a while, and causes an increase in heart beat speed and metabolism speed. Caffeine is a drug, of course, and it is possible to overdose. However, unless you're a baby or have severe health problems it's pretty damn difficult to die from a caffeine overdose.
What is the proper water to coffee ratio for a shot of espresso?
The basic guideline for espresso is this: a single shot is 30 to 44 mL (1 to 1.5 ounces) of water and 7 grams of coffee. Multiply by two for a double shot, etc.
Some espresso machines have pumps, and some don't. Why? Does it matter?
Yes it does matter, and I'll explain why. The water is supposed to be between 190 and 204 degrees Fahrenheit (88 to 96 Celsius) as it is forced through the coffee in the filter basket. Machines without a pump simply use the pressure of the boiling water to force the water through. But what temperature does water boil at? Yep, 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 Celsius, obviously.) But that slight heat problem isn't the only issue here. You see, the water is supposed to only touch the coffee for around 25 seconds. (No, I don't know what that is in metric time, sorry.) Now most machines without pumps can't get the water through nearly that quickly -- which results in a much more bitter shot of espresso. On the other hand, pumpless machines typically cost as little as $40 USD. They also make great Christmas gifts, which means that you'll find a couple working pumpless espresso makers at any thrift store or flea market in the entire western world.
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